At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team of Payroll Specialists, ensuring accuracy and compliance while driving automation.
- Company: Join Sona, an innovative AI-native workforce management platform transforming frontline operations.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, hybrid working, generous leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with excellent career growth and a focus on continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in payroll management while embracing cutting-edge technology and team leadership.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in payroll management and strong people management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 80000 £ per year.
Frontline work keeps the world running. Restaurants, hospitals, schools, nurseries, airlines, stores, emergency services. Together they employ 80% of the global workforce, over 3 billion people, and they're among the hardest businesses anywhere to run. By-the-minute scheduling, HR and payroll make them far more operationally complex than the average office, yet just 1% of venture funding has ever gone to software built for them. Rising costs, wage increases, labour shortages and tighter regulation have made fixing that urgent. Sona is the AI-native workforce management platform for frontline organisations, with agents that match staffing to real demand and take the admin load off managers.
We're growing our payroll bureau fast and looking for a Payroll Manager to lead a team of Payroll Specialists, driving accuracy, compliance and client experience across their portfolio. This is a people-management role: you'll coach and develop your team, own escalations, and stay hands-on with payroll when it matters. You'll also be a driving force behind automation and continuous improvement, using AI to cut manual effort and building best-practice, auditable payroll flows as you go.
Responsibilities
- Lead, coach and develop a team of Senior Payroll Specialists, Payroll Specialists and Payroll Assistants, signing off their output before it reaches clients.
- Act as senior point of contact for your team's client payrolls, stepping in hands-on for onboarding or escalations.
- Advise clients directly on legislative and regulatory change, and keep the team compliant with a regular gap analysis.
- Own the team's support ticket queue and drive continuous improvement against KPIs and SLAs.
- Lead incident resolution and root-cause analysis, escalating major issues to the Head of Payroll Bureau.
- Identify and implement AI and automation opportunities, and coach the team to build their own.
- Ensure Tax Year-End processing is accurate and on time, and review the team's BACS payments.
Requirements
- Proven, hands-on experience as a Payroll Manager, including in bureau/outsourced environments with enterprise clients.
- Strong track record coaching and developing a payroll team, combining technical knowledge with people management.
- Comfortable managing the variability of multiple payrolls across different industries within a bureau.
- Strong background in payroll compliance and audit, with good working knowledge of payroll/HR systems and GL structures.
- Bonus: Republic of Ireland payroll experience, CIPP qualification (or working towards one), demonstrable use of AI to automate payroll work.
Benefits
- Salary: £70,000 - £80,000.
- Hybrid working - 2+ days/week in our London office (Soho).
- Share options.
- 35 days annual leave (25 days standard plus 10 flexible public holiday days).
- Extra day of leave for every year of service.
- Pension contributions matched up to 5%.
- Comprehensive health insurance.
- Enhanced parental leave & pay.
- Salary sacrifice childcare scheme (Workplace Nursery).
- Annual all expenses paid team retreats.
- The latest Macbook and equipment budget for your home office.
- Professional development budget.
- Unlimited free books.
Note: this represents a typical benefits package for a UK-based, full-time employee. Exact details may vary based on location and employment type but we try to be as fair as possible to all of our team members. Please ask your contact in the Talent team to clarify the available benefits for you.
Payroll Manager in London employer: Sona
Sona is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of London’s Soho, where innovation meets frontline operational needs. With a strong focus on employee development, our Payroll Manager role not only provides competitive salaries and generous leave policies but also fosters a culture of continuous improvement through AI-driven solutions. Join us to lead a talented team while enjoying unique benefits like share options, professional development budgets, and annual retreats, all aimed at creating a fulfilling and rewarding workplace experience.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Payroll Manager in London
✨Join HR Networks
Get involved in HR-specific communities, like the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and local HR meetups. This is a fantastic way to connect with industry professionals and learn about job openings before they even hit job boards!
✨Make Your Presence Known
Attend HR conferences and workshops in your area to network with potential employers. Don't be shy—introduce yourself, exchange business cards, and let them know you're keen on a full-time role in HR. Who knows, you might just land a friendly face at Sona!
✨Leverage Your University Connections
If you’re a recent grad or still in uni, tap into your career services and alumni network. Many universities have connections with companies looking for HR talent, so get those leads and apply through our website for a smoother application process.
✨Showcase Your HR Passion
Create content around HR topics you’re passionate about, like employee engagement or diversity initiatives. Share articles or insights on LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge and get noticed by recruiters. It’s a subtle yet effective way to show you’re the right fit for a full-time role at Sona.
We think you need these skills to ace Payroll Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your HR Skills:When you’re crafting your CV, make sure you highlight specific HR skills that are relevant to the role at Sona. Include any experience with recruitment processes, employee relations, or performance management, and don’t forget to mention your familiarity with HR software or tools that could give you an edge.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tailor it to Sona and the specific HR role. Highlight your passion for people management and how your unique approach can help foster a positive workplace culture. Be sure to sprinkle in examples from your past experiences that illustrate your problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills.
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any HR certifications or relevant training under your belt, be sure to showcase them! These qualifications can really set you apart from other candidates when applying for this full-time HR position at Sona. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.
Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to Sona's values and culture. Research the company and align your experiences or values with what they stand for. This will show them that you're not only a fit for the role but also for the overall vibe of the team and organisation.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sona
✨Brush Up on HR Best Practices
As you're diving into human resources, it’s crucial to be well-versed in the latest HR practices and legislation. Get familiar with key topics like employee engagement, talent acquisition, and diversity initiatives, as these could easily pop up in your interview with Sona.
✨Know Your Recruitment Tools
Most HR roles involve using various recruitment tools and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). Make sure you can comfortably discuss platforms like Workday or Greenhouse. If you've had direct experience, share those examples; if not, show your eagerness to learn!
✨Highlight Your People Skills
A full-time HR role at Sona will require strong interpersonal skills. Prepare to share stories that demonstrate how you’ve successfully navigated conflicts or supported team members in past experiences. Authenticity goes a long way in this field.
✨Stay Current with HR Trends
Being up to speed with current HR trends, like remote working protocols or mental health initiatives, can set you apart. Be ready to discuss how these trends could impact Sona and how you would contribute to adapting HR strategies.
