Payroll Manager in London

Location: London – Hybrid Working

Contract Type: 1 year Fixed Term Contract

Work Pattern: Full Time

About The Role

We are looking for an experienced Payroll consultant to lead the delivery, governance and transformation of our payroll function. The consultant will drive the changes needed to enable the delivery of a modern, efficient and high-class payroll. In addition, operating within a co-sourced model, the role is accountable for the successful management of four UK payrolls and two international payrolls, ensuring accurate, compliant and timely payroll processing whilst delivering an exceptional employee and client experience.

The role will act as the primary relationship manager for our external UK payroll provider and pension partner, providing robust governance, oversight and controls. In addition to operational excellence, this position will play a key role in shaping and delivering payroll transformation initiatives, driving process improvement, enhancing controls and supporting wider people and systems change programmes.

This is an exciting opportunity for a payroll professional who combines strong technical expertise with the ability to lead through change and continuously improve payroll operations in a dynamic environment.

What You’ll Spend Your Time Doing

• Payroll Transformation & Continuous Improvement
• Act as the SME for payroll transformation initiatives, driving the evolution of payroll processes, systems and operating models for our clients.
• Review the current co-sourced payroll model and recommend the most appropriate set up going forward.
• Upskill the two Payroll Advisors to remove any key-person dependencies.
• Play a key role in HR and payroll system implementations, upgrades and integrations.
• Review existing processes to identify opportunities for greater efficiency, automation and control.
• Drive standardisation and simplification across UK and international payroll operations as appropriate.
• Manage change projects from design through to implementation, ensuring successful adoption by stakeholders.
• Support broader People, Reward and business transformation programmes where payroll expertise is required.
• Develop reporting and analytics capabilities to enhance payroll insight, governance and decision-making.

• Payroll Operations
• Manage the end-to-end delivery of four UK payrolls and two international payrolls through a co-sourced operating model.
• Ensure payrolls are processed accurately, compliantly and on time in accordance with statutory and internal deadlines.
• Review payroll inputs, outputs, reconciliations and exception reporting to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Manage payroll calendars, workflows and approvals.
• Act as the escalation point for complex payroll queries and issues.
• Oversee month-end and year-end payroll activities, including statutory reporting requirements.
• Line management of the two Payroll Advisors.

• Stakeholder Management
• Serve as the primary relationship manager for the UK external payroll provider (SD Worx).
• Monitor service delivery against agreed service levels, KPIs and contractual obligations.
• Lead regular governance meetings with SD Worx and key stakeholders.
• Build strong relationships internally with HR, Finance, Tax, Workday Team and with key stakeholders in our client entities for which we provide payroll services.
• Ensure effective communication and coordination across all parties involved in payroll delivery.

• Pension & Benefits Administration
• Manage the administration and governance of the Company's pension arrangements.
• Ensure compliance with pension legislation, Auto Enrolment requirements and scheme governance obligations.
• Oversee pension contribution submissions, reconciliations and provider relationships.
• Partner with Reward colleagues on pension-related projects and employee communications.

• Governance, Risk & Compliance
• Maintain a robust payroll control framework and documented operating procedures.
• Ensure compliance with UK payroll legislation, HMRC requirements, employment taxes and statutory payment regulations.
• Oversee compliance activities relating to international payrolls through local providers and advisers.
• Manage payroll audits and implement recommendations arising from audit findings.
• Identify, assess and mitigate payroll-related risks.

• Data & Reporting
• Ensure payroll data is maintained securely and in accordance with GDPR and internal data governance requirements.
• Monitor payroll metrics and identify trends, risks and improvement opportunities.

You’re Going To Enjoy This Job If You…

• Are passionate about continuous improvement
• Thrive in an evolving environment
• Understand the importance of great customer service

What We Need From You

• Proven experience managing multiple Payroll across the UK and internationally
• Strong experience operating within co-sourced payroll models
• Experience managing occupational pension schemes and Auto Enrolment requirements.
• Demonstrable experience leading payroll transformation, process improvement or systems implementation projects.
• Strong vendor and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and comfortable operating in a changing environment
• Desirable to have experience within a regulated or financial service environment
• Strong excel skills and ideally experience of Workday

We are stronger together because of our common interests and rich differences. You may be the strength we didn’t know we needed. Believe in yourself, and click apply today!

What Can You Expect From Us?

• Competitive Base Salary
• Performance Related Discretionary Bonus
• Holiday: 28 days core annual leave, and you can buy up to 5 days
• Pension: A minimum 2% employee contribution plus 7% MS Amlin contribution (9%) up to a maximum of 5% employee contribution plus 13% MS Amlin contribution (18%)
• Private Medical: cover for yourself. Family members/dependants can be added
• Flex Fund: £1,000 (pro-rated based on start date) to spend on flexible benefits
• Life Assurance: 5x annualised base salary
• Bank Holidays: To support the diverse backgrounds and beliefs of our team, we offer employees the flexibility to exchange bank holidays for alternative dates that better reflect their personal, cultural, or religious preferences.

Each one of us is unique because of our backgrounds, what we have learned so far and how we express that. Establishing an inclusive attitude helps us, organisationally, to ‘think outside the box’ because it calls on that diverse range of ideas, perspectives and lived experiences.

We commit to continuing our work towards a more diverse and inclusive future by recognising that our business, our teams and every colleague has a part to play in driving the positive change we all want to see.

Our values demonstrate our commitment to providing an environment in which each and every colleague is respected for who they are and what they can contribute to the business, regardless of nationality, race, ethnicity, religion/faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, socio-economic background, sex or age.