Payroll Systems Manager in Havant

We’re making a difference: Together, we can ensure that there is enough water for everyone, now and in the future. As our Payroll Systems Manager, you’ll take the lead in managing Portsmouth Water’s end-to-end payroll function, ensuring accurate and compliant processing across statutory payments, deductions and pension responsibilities. You’ll be the go‑to expert for maintaining high standards of governance, accuracy and service, supporting colleagues across the business with a reliable and well‑controlled payroll operation. You’ll also oversee the performance and development of our payroll systems, from user access and cyber security to configuration, API troubleshooting and implementing enhancements. With a focus on continuous improvement, you’ll drive forward the evolution of our payroll, pensions and benefits processes, ensuring they remain compliant, efficient and aligned with changing business needs.

What will you be doing?

• Manage end‑to‑end payroll processes through to BACS, ensuring that the monthly PAYE payroll is accurate, completed on time and all statutory submissions are performed within the required deadlines.
• Process non‑salary payments including overtime, holiday pay, pension, bonuses, sickness, maternity, paternity, and other ad hoc payment calculations.
• Day‑to‑day management responsibility for the People and Payroll Administrator including the setting of annual performance and development objectives.
• Act as lead contact for investigating and resolving any employee pay, non‑salary, or pension related queries.
• Ensure starters, leavers and employee lifecycle changes are all processed correctly within the payroll system.
• Responsible for maintaining payroll system performance including software updates, testing and reporting.
• Carry out rigorous data validation checks to ensure the highest standards of payroll data quality.
• Manage compliance with HMRC regulations and UK tax law including submission of RTI monthly and annually.
• Generate statutory payroll documents, generate and submit P45, P60, P11D information and process P6 tax code notices.
• Responsible for day‑to‑day pension administration tasks connected to the defined contribution arrangement, such as scheme governance, query handling, contribution monitoring, compliance with automatic enrolment requirements, and responding to changes in pensions legislation.
• Produce reporting for the Finance team as and when required, for example monthly, half‑year and year‑end processes including variance analysis, journalling, and gross to net reporting.
• Ensure all work carried out is processed and stored in the relevant Company system in accordance with current GDPR guidance.

What do you need?

• Proven experience of end‑to‑end payroll administration using complex payroll systems, controls, and reporting in a highly regulated environment.
• Advanced understanding of UK PAYE legislation and knowledge of how to calculate deductions such as overpayments, maternity, sickness payments, tax and National Insurance.
• Proven experience of preparing all payments from gross to net, including social security, all statutory payments, pension contributions and salary sacrifice schemes.
• Knowledge/experience of UK pension legislation.
• System configuration, testing, and support activities, including user acceptance testing, troubleshooting, and implementing system enhancements, resulting in more streamlined payroll and people team operations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to deliver an enhanced customer experience.
• Knowledge of internal controls and audits.
• Strong organisation and prioritisation skills to manage a complex and varied workload.
• Advanced attention to detail, analytical and methodical.
• Excellent IT skills to include intermediate to advanced level usage of Microsoft Excel.
• Role will require Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance and pre‑employment credit checking.

What can Portsmouth Water offer you?

• Holidays Made Better: Enjoy 27 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays.
• A Pension That Works For You: We’ll help secure your future with a generous pension scheme, contributing up to 15%.
• Performance Pays Off: You could earn a non‑contractual bonus of up to 6% of your basic salary, linked to company performance.
• Family Comes First: Whether you’re welcoming a new arrival through birth or adoption, we’ve got your back with enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave and pay.
• Social Events: All expenses covered summer and winter social events.
• Peace of Mind, Always: Our life assurance scheme gives your loved ones extra security, with a 4x salary lump sum benefit in case the unexpected happens.
• Comprehensive Wellbeing Support: Confidential mental health and wellbeing advice 24/7 through our Employee Assistance Programme, and physical health support via our Virtual GP service (available 8am–10pm, 7 days a week for you and your immediate family), help is always close at hand with the HealthHero app.
• Additional Support When You Need It: Private Medical Insurance provided by Bupa giving you access to expert healthcare and 24/7 confidential support.
• PW Perks – Treat Yourself! Enjoy exclusive discounts at thousands of retailers, plus exciting benefits such as electric vehicle scheme after 1 year, Cycle to Work scheme, and Health cash plan.

We’re committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and we actively encourage applications from all sections of society. The Company has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.