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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate national payroll services, driving operational excellence and compliance.
- Company: Join a leading UK accountancy firm with a people-first culture.
- Benefits: Hybrid work, career progression, and a collaborative environment.
- Other info: Empower teams and foster collaboration across regions for growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of payroll while making a real impact in a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in payroll leadership and transformation initiatives.
The predicted salary is between 75000 - 100000 £ per year.
Location: North West or London (Hybrid with national travel)
Type: Permanent
Supporting a leading UK accountancy firm and part of a global network, combining international reach with a strong local presence. Our people-first approach sets us apart. We foster a collaborative and inclusive culture, investing heavily in learning, development, and career progression. This is an environment where individuals are empowered to grow, make an impact, and be part of a forward-thinking organisation.
The Opportunity
We are seeking an experienced National Payroll Director to lead and shape a national payroll service line. This is a strategic leadership role with responsibility for driving operational excellence, innovation, and growth across both onshore and offshore delivery models. You will play a key role in defining the future of payroll—enhancing scalability, improving processes, and ensuring the highest standards of compliance and client service.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership
- Lead the national payroll function, setting direction and ensuring alignment across regions
- Own and develop the end-to-end payroll operating model, including offshore delivery
- Drive transformation initiatives, including automation, digitisation, and AI adoption
- Shape and implement offshoring strategy and governance frameworks
- Represent payroll at senior leadership and governance levels
- Operational Excellence
- Oversee payroll delivery across UK and offshore teams, ensuring accuracy and quality
- Optimise resource planning and workflow distribution across locations
- Standardise processes and systems to improve efficiency and scalability
- Manage escalations, complex cases, and high-value client deliverables
- Ensure compliance with UK payroll legislation, including HMRC, RTI, pensions, and GDPR
- Lead risk management, quality assurance, and business continuity planning
- Maintain strong controls across offshore and outsourced delivery models
- Build and maintain strong client relationships, acting as a senior point of contact
- Support business development and advisory services within payroll
- Handle complex client scenarios and provide strategic payroll guidance
- Oversee payroll systems, vendor relationships, and technology strategy
- Drive system improvements, integrations, and automation initiatives
- Enhance reporting, MI, and performance dashboards
- People & Culture
- Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing payroll teams
- Foster collaboration across regions and support a unified national model
- Build capability across both UK and offshore teams
About You
- Proven experience leading a national or multi-regional payroll function
- Strong background in payroll operations within a professional services or bureau environment
- Experience managing offshore or global delivery models
- Demonstrated success in transformation, automation, or process improvement initiatives
- Deep knowledge of UK payroll legislation and compliance
- Strong stakeholder management experience at senior leadership level
- Passion for developing teams and driving continuous improvement
Director of Payroll in London employer: JGA Recruitment Group | B CorpTM
Contact Detail:
JGA Recruitment Group | B CorpTM Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Payroll in London
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the payroll industry! Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that dream job.
✨Show Off Your Skills
When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to highlight your experience in payroll operations and transformation initiatives. We want to see how you’ve made an impact in previous roles, so come prepared with examples that showcase your expertise!
✨Be Ready for the Interview
Prepare for those tricky interview questions by practising your responses. Think about how you would lead a national payroll function or handle complex client scenarios. We recommend doing mock interviews with friends or using online resources to boost your confidence.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage with us directly. Let’s get you one step closer to that Director of Payroll role!
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Payroll in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Director of Payroll role. Highlight your experience in payroll operations and any leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your background aligns with our people-first approach and strategic vision.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about leading a national payroll function and how you can drive innovation and operational excellence. Let us know what makes you the perfect fit for our collaborative culture.
Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your experience, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to lead transformation initiatives or improve processes. We love numbers, so if you can quantify your successes, even better!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Plus, it shows you’re proactive—something we value highly!
How to prepare for a job interview at JGA Recruitment Group | B CorpTM
✨Know Your Payroll Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of UK payroll legislation and compliance. Be ready to discuss how you've navigated complex payroll scenarios in the past, as this will show your expertise and confidence in the field.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Director of Payroll, you'll need to demonstrate your strategic leadership abilities. Prepare examples of how you've led teams, driven transformation initiatives, and improved processes in previous roles. This will highlight your capability to shape the future of payroll.
✨Understand the Company Culture
Familiarise yourself with the company's people-first approach and collaborative culture. Think about how your values align with theirs and be ready to share how you can contribute to fostering an inclusive environment within the payroll function.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making process. Practice articulating your thought process when handling escalations or complex client situations, as this will showcase your ability to manage high-stakes challenges.