Group Payroll Manager in Newcastle upon Tyne

The Group Payroll Manager is accountable for the accurate, timely, and compliant delivery of payroll across the Shackleton Group. The role ensures that all payroll, pension, and statutory obligations are met, whilst delivering a professional, people-focused service aligned to organisational values and regulatory expectations. Working collaboratively with HR, Finance, and external payroll providers (including Cintra), the role plays a critical part in ensuring payroll governance, data integrity, and financial control across the Group. A significant focus is supporting business growth through acquisitions, ensuring smooth payroll integration, continuity for colleagues, and adherence to statutory and TUPE requirements. This role operates as a key control function, safeguarding compliance, mitigating risk, and contributing to the ongoing development of efficient, scalable payroll processes across the Group.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver end-to-end monthly payroll processing across the Group, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and full compliance with statutory and internal requirements.
• Act as the primary point of accountability for payroll accuracy, controls, and deadlines.
• Ensure accurate processing of starters, leavers, contractual changes, and variable pay inputs.
• Oversee salary payments, including validation and submission through Bankline within agreed timescales.
• Prepare payroll journals, reconciliations, and month-end reports to support management accounts and financial control.
• Maintain accurate, auditable payroll and employee records across HR and payroll systems.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant UK payroll legislation, including PAYE, NIC, SSP, SMP, Attachments of Earnings, and statutory reporting obligations.
• Prepare and submit all statutory payroll returns, including RTI, P11Ds, and HMRC correspondence, within prescribed deadlines.
• Maintain robust payroll controls, audit trails, and documentation to support internal and external audit requirements.
• Identify, escalate, and remediate payroll risks, control weaknesses, or compliance issues in collaboration with Finance and Compliance.
• Ensure all payroll and personal data is handled securely and in line with Data Protection and GDPR principles.

Pensions & Benefits Oversight

• Oversee pension administration including auto enrolment, contributions, re enrolment cycles, and employee queries.
• Reconcile renewal data for Pension, GLA, GPHI, and Group Medical schemes, including the communication of mid-year changes with Benefits colleagues.
• Work closely with HR and Benefits colleagues to ensure taxable benefits are accurately reflected in payroll and reporting.

Group Growth & Acquisition Support

• Lead payroll input and coordination during acquisitions, TUPE transfers, and system migrations.
• Ensure continuity of pay and compliance during the integration of acquired businesses into Shackleton’s payroll, pension, benefits, and HR systems.
• Liaise with third-party payroll providers to ensure service quality, accuracy, and alignment with Group standards.
• Contribute to the harmonisation of payroll policies, processes, and controls across the Group.

Stakeholder Engagement & Continuous Improvement

• Act as a trusted professional advisor on payroll matters to HR, Finance, and senior stakeholders.
• Provide a responsive and professional payroll service to colleagues, resolving queries with clarity and credibility.
• Work closely with the Senior HR Administrator to ensure consistent and efficient HR and payroll service delivery.
• Support audits, reviews, and payroll-related projects, contributing to continuous improvement and operational efficiency.

This Job Description may be reviewed and subsequently amended to better reflect any changes required in the role.

Person Specification

Professional Knowledge and Experience

• Demonstrable end-to-end knowledge of UK payroll processing, including PAYE, NIC, statutory payments, pensions, and year-end activity.
• Strong understanding and application of HMRC regulations, RTI reporting, P11Ds, and statutory compliance obligations.
• Sound working knowledge of workplace pensions and auto‑enrolment legislation, including assessments and re enrolment.
• Experience preparing payroll reconciliations, journals, and reports to support financial governance and audit.
• Proven ability to interpret legislation and apply it accurately within payroll operations.
• Experience working with third‑party payroll providers and managing service delivery standards.
• Experience supporting TUPE transfers, acquisitions, or payroll system migrations.

Desirable – CIPP qualification (Foundation Degree, Diploma, or equivalent) or clear commitment to ongoing professional payroll development.

Systems, Data & Analytical Capability

• Confident user of integrated HR and payroll systems in a multi-entity environment.
• Strong Excel capability, including reconciliations, data analysis, and reporting.
• Ability to produce clear payroll analysis, cost breakdowns, and management information.
• Strong understanding of payroll controls, governance frameworks, and audit requirements.
• Proven ability to manage sensitive personal and financial data with integrity and discretion.

Professional Behaviours

• Ethical Practice: Demonstrates integrity, accountability, and discretion in all payroll activities.
• Professional Courage: Confident in challenging inaccuracies, escalating risks, and advising on compliant solutions.
• Stakeholder Focus: Communicates complex payroll information clearly and professionally to colleagues and leaders.
• Judgement & Decision Making: Applies sound judgement balancing accuracy, compliance, and colleague experience.
• Customer Orientation: Takes ownership of payroll queries and issues through to resolution.

Personal Effectiveness

• Exceptional attention to detail with a highly organised, methodical approach.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a cyclical and deadline-driven environment.
• Proactive, resilient, and adaptable within a fast-paced, acquisition-led organisation.
• Collaborative and credible, able to build strong working relationships across HR, Finance, and senior leadership.