Head of Payroll and Pensions

Join to apply for the Head of Payroll and Pensions role at Lewisham Council.

Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities! We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.

The Lewisham payroll service supports the efficient operation of the Council. This includes the monthly payroll and the completion of statutory returns for 6,500 employees, including 1,500 teaching staff and 8,000 former employees in receipt of an occupational pension. The function is strategically located in the finance service because of the significant requirement to discharge the employer’s responsibility properly in the context of constantly changing legislative requirements.

The Head of Payroll and Pensions forms part of the senior leadership team in the Finance Service, reporting to the Director of Finance (deputy S151). The Payroll service has recently been restructured with the following outcomes achieved:

• Review staffing levels in the light of the loss of some academies and efficiencies gained through the introduction of Oracle.
• Introduce a flatter management structure to facilitate more succession planning and a career path for staff working in the service.
• Ensure comparability and consistency with the pensions service which has already been through its own restructuring process.
• Provide an improved service to customers through the introduction of clearer and more consistent job descriptions and person specifications linked to a well-defined learning and development plan for all staff working in the service.

As the Head of Payroll and Pensions you will be the strategic lead and responsible for Lewisham Council’s payroll and pensions services. The annual payroll for the Council is over £170m and the value of the Lewisham LGPS is circa £1.85bn. As a member of the Finance Leadership team you will contribute to the overall leadership and management of the Finance function by taking leadership of the payroll and pensions service: setting direction, developing and managing an efficient, effective and responsive payroll and pensions administration service, fostering a skilled, customer-focused, and high-performing environment that seeks to innovate and improve.

You will be the Council’s principal expert on all payroll and pension related matters, offering advice and support to senior management and stakeholders on payroll and pension issues and identifying the impact and implications of national imperatives and legislation developments. You will also be the subject matter expert on the complex legislative framework governing pension administration, including LGPS Regulations 2013, Transitional Regulations 2014, Pensions Acts 2004 and 2011, Public Services Pensions Act 2013 and Data Protection Act 2018.

What’s in it for you? Excellent training and development opportunities, plus a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday allowance
• Local Government Pension scheme
• Flexible working and family-friendly policies
• Season ticket and bicycle loans
• A range of staff discounts including local subsidised gym memberships
• Supportive staff networks

As the Head of Payroll and Pensions you will be a confident, experienced and suitably qualified professional, able to utilise your detailed and extensive knowledge of the complex legislative and regulatory environment governing payroll and pensions and ensure that the service delivers to a consistently high standard. You will be a strong and highly motivated leader and team player with energy and credibility who commands the confidence of Members, senior managers, staff, business partners and stakeholders.

You will be:

• Ambitious, driven and energetic
• Visible, approachable and accessible
• Resilient, determined and confident
• Outward facing

The job is primarily based in Laurence House, Catford, London, SE6 4RU but we operate a hybrid approach where you will be required to work both in the office and from home on a regular basis.

The recruitment process is anonymous and we don’t accept CVs. It is essential that you complete the application fully and that your supporting statement covers how you meet each of the person specification criteria listed.

For an informal discussion about this job, please contact Shida Ashrafi on 07730 399625.

Salary £79,629 – £86,121 per annum (SMG3). All appointments will be offered at the minimum salary point (MSP) for the grade of the role. The only exception to this will be when matching current salary (up to the maximum of the scale), which is subject to evidential proof.

Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to ensure disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout the recruitment process.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service, Lewisham Works, which offers Lewisham residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you want to join Lewisham Works, please email JobsAndSkills@lewisham.gov.uk and an advisor will be in touch.

The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response and reserves the right to close any adverts early if it deems such action necessary.