Client Payroll Team Lead

Join IRIS in a leadership role where your payroll knowledge, people skills, and calm approach will make a real impact. We’re looking for an experienced payroll professional who enjoys supporting others, solving problems, and keeping service standards high.

If you’re ready to step into team leadership – or you’ve already led a team and want a fresh challenge – this role gives you the platform, support, and progression to grow.

🧾Why This Role Matters

As our Client Payroll Team Lead, you’ll look after the success of a team of around eight Client Payroll Executives. They manage payrolls for clients across a wide range of industries (excluding Education and Hospitality), and your job is to guide, coach, and support them so every client receives accurate and reliable payroll service.

You won’t manage your own portfolio – your focus is on people, service quality, and keeping everything running smoothly.

This involves monitoring performance, helping with tricky queries, planning workloads, and stepping in when needed to protect service levels.

👥About the Team You\’ll Join

You’ll be part of the Corporate vertical within our Managed Payroll Services division – we manage payrolls for clients across a range of industries (excluding Education and Hospitality). This team sits at the heart of our service delivery, working closely with Implementation, Support, Sales, and Account Management to ensure everything runs smoothly.

You’ll report to a Regional Operations Manager and work alongside other Team Leads to share ideas, solve problems, and create the best possible experience for our clients – and our colleagues.

📊What You\’ll Be Doing

• Lead and support a team of around 8 payroll specialists, making sure they hit deadlines, deliver high-quality work, and feel supported.
• Handle escalations and challenges, keeping calm under pressure and guiding the team to solutions.
• Coach and develop your people, holding 1:1s, giving feedback, and helping them strengthen their skills.
• Work closely with other teams such as Implementation, Finance, IT, Sales, and Account Management to give clients a smooth, joined-up experience.
• Plan workloads and monitor service levels, adjusting quickly when things change.
• Help with key operations including onboarding, invoicing, migrations, compliance checks, and maintaining accurate CRM/SharePoint records.
• Encourage a positive team environment, sharing updates clearly, recognising good work, and driving improvements.
• Spot where processes can be better, and help bring those improvements to life.

🔎What We’re Looking For

You’ll shine in this role if you have:

• Strong payroll processing experience – ideally in a bureau, outsourced, or multi-client environment.
• A natural ability to support and guide others.
• Confidence handling multiple priorities and staying organised.
• Great attention to detail, plus good working knowledge of Excel and other tools.
• Clear, calm, professional communication skills.
• A collaborative, helpful approach with the confidence to escalate when needed.

You don’t need previous formal leadership experience – if you’ve acted as a go-to person, supported colleagues, or helped train others, you may already be ready for this step.

🎁What You’ll Gain

• A supported move into leadership, with coaching and structured development.
• The chance to influence how payroll services are delivered across our Corporate client base.
• A friendly, inclusive environment where ideas are welcomed.
• A clear career path through the IRIS Career Framework.
• Real impact – you’ll see the difference you make to your team and our customers every day.

📝 What Can You Expect From Our Application Process?

We understand that exploring a new opportunity within IRIS is a big decision – so we’ve kept the process simple, supportive, and focused on helping you shine.

Here’s what happens once you hit “apply”:

1️⃣ Apply online

Just upload your CV and tell us why you’re interested in the role.

2️⃣ Initial Interview (plus Online Assessments)

A short chat with our Talent team plus two quick assessments:

• CCAT (15-minute timed test).
• EPP (untimed personality questionnaire).

3️⃣ Final interview

A competency-based interview with members of the Managed Payroll Services leadership team.

Ready for the Next Step in Your Payroll Career?

If you enjoy leading by example, supporting others, and keeping service running smoothly, this is an exciting opportunity to grow your career while helping others succeed.

Apply now and become a key part of our Corporate Payroll leadership team at IRIS.