At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead UCL's payroll service for over 19,000 employees, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
- Company: Join UCL, a leading global university committed to diversity and innovation.
- Benefits: 41 days holiday, pension scheme, on-site gym, and employee support services.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in payroll operations while enhancing employee experience.
- Qualifications: Proven payroll leadership experience and a recognised professional payroll qualification required.
The predicted salary is between 49500 - 60500 £ per year.
About us
The Professional Services (PS) Hub brings together key customer-facing and transactional services across HR, Finance, Estates and IT. The PS Hub is committed to delivering high-quality, efficient and responsive services, with a strong emphasis on customer experience, effective controls and continuous improvement.
Reporting to the Director of Financial Services, the Head of Payroll is accountable for the compliance, completeness, accuracy and timely delivery of UCL's payroll service. UCL operates a large and complex monthly payroll for more than 19,000 employees, encompassing a wide range of contract types, payment bases, pay elements, deductions and working arrangements.
About the role
This is a significant leadership role with responsibility for the accurate, timely and compliant delivery of UCL's monthly payroll for more than 19,000 employees. Our payroll is both large and complex, covering a wide range of contract types, payment arrangements, pay elements, allowances, deductions, multiple employments and variable payments. Reporting to the Director of Financial Services, you will have overall accountability for payroll delivery, statutory compliance, payroll controls, reconciliations and the quality of service provided to employees and managers across UCL.
You will lead and develop a team of payroll professionals, creating clear standards, strong accountability and a culture of continuous improvement. You will oversee the full payroll cycle, including gross-to-net validation and sign-off, statutory reporting and payments, pension processing, general ledger interfaces, year-end activity and exceptional payments. A key priority for the role will be strengthening UCL's payroll control environment. You will ensure that robust approval processes, reconciliations, segregation of duties, exception reporting and audit trails are embedded throughout the service.
You will work closely with colleagues across HR, Finance, Internal Audit and our wider Professional Services Hub to identify risks, address control weaknesses and implement sustainable improvements. You will also lead improvements to the customer experience, using service data, feedback and performance measures to ensure the payroll service is responsive, accurate and easy to engage with.
About you
You will be an accomplished payroll leader with substantial experience of managing and administering a large and complex payroll of more than 10,000 employees. Your experience may have been gained within an in-house payroll function or while delivering payroll services on behalf of clients through a payroll provider. You will hold a recognised professional payroll qualification, such as a CIPP qualification at Level 5 or above, or an equivalent professional qualification.
You will bring strong technical knowledge of UK payroll legislation, statutory reporting, tax, National Insurance, pensions and payroll year-end requirements. You will also have experience of managing complex payroll arrangements involving different contract types, payment bases, pay elements, deductions, allowances, multiple employments and significant volumes of monthly change.
You will be able to demonstrate:
- Successful leadership of a large payroll service and specialist payroll team.
- Strong experience of payroll governance, controls, reconciliations, exception reporting and formal payroll sign-off.
- A track record of identifying and resolving payroll risks and control weaknesses.
- Experience of implementing audit recommendations and improving payroll procedures.
- Strong systems knowledge, including payroll interfaces, data quality, testing and controlled system change.
- The ability to manage competing priorities and deliver accurately against immovable deadlines.
- A strong customer focus and commitment to delivering a responsive, high-quality service.
- The confidence to work effectively with senior stakeholders, auditors, statutory bodies and service partners.
You will be a calm, credible and decisive leader who combines technical payroll expertise with strong judgement, a clear control mindset and a commitment to improving both service quality and employee experience.
What we offer
At UCL, you will have the opportunity to lead one of the largest and most complex payroll services in the higher education sector and play a central role in strengthening payroll operations, controls and customer experience. You will join a collaborative Professional Services environment and work with colleagues across Finance, HR and the wider institution to deliver a payroll service that supports UCL's people and academic mission.
As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:
- 41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave, 8 bank holidays and 6 closure days)
- Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
- Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
- On-Site nursery
- On-site gym
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
- Discounted medical insurance
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.
We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.
You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/
Head of Payroll in London employer: University College London
University College London is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture, particularly within the Cultural and Community Engagement team at UCL East. As an apprentice, you will benefit from hands-on experience in communications while being supported by a team dedicated to your professional growth and development. With a focus on diversity and community involvement, this role offers unique opportunities to engage with various events and initiatives that make a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Payroll in London
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Payroll 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 University College London. 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 University College London 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 University College London. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.
Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to University College London'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 University College London
✨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 University College London.
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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!
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A full-time HR role at University College London 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.
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