Payroll Manager

Job Title: Payroll Manager

Location: Hertfordshire

Working Structure: Initially office-based; hybrid after probation

Salary: £55,000 – £60,000

Type: Full-Time – Permanent

We are partnered with a well-established and trusted payroll provider delivering fully compliant, efficient payroll services to contractors and recruitment agencies throughout the UK. Our reputation is built on professionalism, transparency, and a strong commitment to service excellence.

Role Overview

We are seeking a seasoned Payroll Manager with extensive expertise in payroll to take full ownership of strategic, operational, and compliance-related payroll functions. This senior-level position plays a critical role in ensuring the accurate and timely processing of high-volume contractor payrolls, while maintaining regulatory compliance and contributing to key business initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Strategy

• Lead and manage the payroll function, from daily operations to strategic development.
• Define and execute payroll strategies aligned with company growth and service goals.
• Mentor, manage, and develop a high-performing payroll team.
• Collaborate across departments (Operations, Compliance, IT, Client Services) to optimize payroll processes.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure full compliance with HMRC, IR35, off-payroll working rules, and employment law.
• Manage internal controls, audits, and responses to external regulatory reviews.
• Oversee accurate and timely RTI submissions, P45s, P60s, and other statutory documents.
• Serve as the subject-matter expert on statutory payments and deductions, including holiday pay and pensions auto-enrolment.

Process Management & Systems

• Continuously improve payroll systems, automation workflows, and reporting frameworks.
• Maintain strict data security, payment accuracy, and GDPR compliance.
• Liaise with payroll software vendors to ensure systems are scalable and up to date.

Stakeholder & Client Engagement

• Act as the primary point of contact for payroll-related matters with recruitment agencies and end clients.
• Provide detailed reports, insight, and recommendations to executive leadership.
• Lead initiatives such as onboarding new contractor cohorts and rolling out system/process changes.

Required Skills & Experience

• Minimum 5 years\’ experience in a payroll leadership role.
• Advanced knowledge of UK payroll legislation
• Proven experience managing weekly/monthly high-volume payroll, including gross-to-net calculations.
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement and team leadership.
• Familiarity with My Digital payroll software (preferred).
• CIPP qualification or equivalent (preferred but not essential).

Benefits

• Competitive salary and discretionary performance bonus
• Company pension scheme
• 25+ days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Flexible/hybrid working options
• Private medical insurance
• Career development support and professional training
• Collaborative and innovative team environment

Interested?

Contact me:

JGA are dedicated to delivering the best possible candidate experience. Due to the high volume of applications, we regret that we are not always able to respond to every individual applicant. If your application is shortlisted, a member of our team will be in touch. Thank you for your understanding.

JGA Recruitment Group Ltd (\”We\”) are committed to equality of opportunity for all applications regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships. We strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply.

We are also committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. We are a specialist Payroll and HR recruitment agency and recruitment business as defined in the Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 (our business). These statements together with our privacy notices set out the basis on which any personal data we collect from you, or that you provide to us, will be processed by us.