UK Payroll Renewal Manager in Basildon

Our client is entering one of its most exciting and significant periods of change for UK Payroll. As they embark on a major transformation programme to replace their existing payroll application, we have a fantastic opportunity for a motivated, talented and forward-thinking individual to lead delivery of the transformation project. This is more than an opportunity to lead a system implementation. It's a chance to play a meaningful role in transforming how payroll is delivered to thousands of employees, helping to shape new processes, influence solutions and build a more modern, efficient and future-ready payroll service.

You'll be part of a collaborative team leading delivery of a high-profile project, gaining valuable experience, developing new skills and making a tangible impact on the future of UK Payroll. It's a temporary project position for a fixed period of 18 months.

The Supervisor will provide leadership and direction to the Business Development team, ensuring changes are effectively scoped, controlled, tested and implemented while maintaining payroll accuracy, compliance, and operational stability. The role will act as a key interface between Payroll, HR, Finance, IT, third-party system integrators, and other internal and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• Team Leadership and Delivery: Lead, prioritise and coordinate team activities across payroll transformation and business-as-usual change. Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching and support, ensuring clear ownership and delivery expectations. Review team outputs, develop capability and act as an escalation point for complex issues and risks.
• Payroll Transformation: Lead payroll activities supporting implementation of the new payroll system. Manage requirements with internal stakeholders and third-party system integrators. Review and challenge system designs to ensure payroll, control, statutory and end-user requirements are met. Develop strong system knowledge to support effective decision-making and delivery.
• Change Governance and Control: Lead payroll changes through requirements, design, testing, approval, and deployment. Review and approve key project documentation and ensure appropriate governance and controls. Assess risks, establish mitigation actions and support go/no-go decisions. Escalate significant risks, issues, and control concerns appropriately.
• Continued Testing and Quality Assurance: Lead and coordinate Payroll testing and User Acceptance Testing. Ensure UAT provides appropriate coverage of payroll requirements and controls. Review testing evidence and oversee defect identification, prioritisation, and resolution. Assess significant defects and their potential payroll, financial, employee and compliance impact.
• Project and Change Management: Coordinate project plans, priorities, resources, milestones, and dependencies across multiple change initiatives. Monitor progress, identify risks and drive issues through to resolution. Ensure accurate project documentation and provide clear status reporting to management and stakeholders.
• Stakeholder and Supplier Management: Build strong relationships across Payroll, HR, Finance, IT, and external partners. Represent Payroll in project, design, and governance forums. Communicate complex payroll and technical requirements clearly to different audiences. Manage expectations and constructively challenge suppliers and project teams where required.
• Process Change, Deployment and Training: Lead payroll process changes and identify opportunities for simplification, standardisation, and automation. Ensure changes maintain appropriate payroll and financial controls. Coordinate end-user engagement, deployment readiness, training, and supporting documentation. Oversee post-implementation support and lessons learned.

Skills Required:

• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, dependencies, and tight deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
• Advanced Excel skills with the ability to analyse, reconcile and interpret complex data.
• Strong logical and process-orientated mindset.
• Strong control mindset with the ability to identify and manage financial, operational and compliance risks.
• Ability to review and challenge requirements, system designs, testing outcomes, and proposed solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate confidently at all levels of the organisation.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the confidence to challenge, influence and escalate where appropriate.
• Ability to work autonomously, make informed decisions and take accountability for delivery.
• Ability to maintain accuracy, judgement and effective control while working under significant time pressure.

Skills Preferred:

• Logical, process orientated mind-set.
• PowerBi, Power Automate.

Experience Required:

• Experience with Payroll Applications SAP/Global View.
• Knowledge of UK payroll processes, statutory requirements, and payroll controls.
• Experience with enterprise Payroll/HR systems.

Experience Preferred:

• Experience with Alteryx, Beyond Compare or similar analytical and data comparison tools.

Education Required:

• Degree or Equivalent.

Education Preferred:

• Payroll Qualification.

Additional Information:

• INSIDE IR35 18-month contract.
• Onsite 4 days per week.
• You must have the right to work in the UK and sponsorship is not offered for this role.