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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead payroll operations across the UK and Ireland, ensuring compliance and efficiency.
- Company: Join a large, complex organisation with a strong focus on payroll excellence.
- Benefits: Competitive salary and the chance to shape payroll systems in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by improving payroll processes and leading a talented team.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in senior payroll leadership and strong people management skills required.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a supportive and innovative workplace.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
VANRATH are delighted to be recruiting for a Head of Payroll on behalf of a large, complex organisation operating across the UK and Ireland. This is a senior leadership position with full accountability for payroll delivery within a high volume, multi-entity environment. The role would suit a strategic, hands-on payroll leader with strong people management capability and a passion for improving systems, controls, and service delivery.
The Role
As Head of Payroll, you will be responsible for the end-to-end payroll function across the UK and Ireland. Key responsibilities include:
- Leading and delivering accurate, compliant payrolls for a large workforce, consistently meeting SLAs
- Ensuring full compliance with payroll legislation, pensions, statutory reporting, and governance standards
- Developing and embedding strong payroll controls, reporting, and risk mitigation processes
- Driving continuous improvement, standardisation, and efficiency across payroll operations
- Leading payroll input into wider HR systems and transformation initiatives
The Ideal Candidate
Essential:
- 10+ years' experience in senior payroll leadership within a large or complex organisation
- Proven experience managing managers and multi-layered teams
- Strong working knowledge of payroll compliance, controls, and best practice
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
- Highly detail-driven with the ability to identify issues and deliver improvements
Desirable:
- Experience in a SOX-controlled or highly regulated environment
- Exposure to Time & Attendance systems
- Involvement in payroll or HR system implementations (e.g. SAP)
Qualifications
- Degree in Finance, Accounting, HR, or a related discipline
- Professional payroll qualification or accreditation (preferred)
Head of Payroll - Interim in Craigavon employer: VanRath
Contact Detail:
VanRath Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Payroll - Interim in Craigavon
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the payroll and HR sectors. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know. Attend industry events or webinars to meet potential employers and get your name out there.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its payroll processes. We want you to be able to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs, especially in compliance and efficiency improvements. Practice common interview questions and have your own ready to show your interest.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your achievements! When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers, highlight specific examples of how you've improved payroll systems or led teams effectively. We want them to see the value you can bring to their organisation right away.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. We’re here to help you land that Head of Payroll role, so make sure you take advantage of all the resources we offer to support your job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Payroll - Interim in Craigavon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Payroll role. Highlight your experience in payroll leadership and any relevant achievements that showcase your ability to manage large teams and complex payroll systems.
Showcase Compliance Knowledge: Since compliance is key in this role, emphasise your understanding of payroll legislation and best practices. Mention any specific experiences where you ensured compliance or improved payroll controls.
Highlight Leadership Skills: This is a senior position, so don’t shy away from showcasing your people management skills. Share examples of how you've successfully led teams and driven improvements in payroll operations.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get you on the path to joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at VanRath
✨Know Your Payroll Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your payroll knowledge, especially regarding compliance and legislation in the UK and Ireland. Be ready to discuss how you've managed payroll in a complex environment and any specific challenges you've faced.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As this role involves managing teams, be prepared to share examples of how you've successfully led payroll teams in the past. Highlight your people management skills and how you've motivated your team to achieve high performance.
✨Demonstrate Continuous Improvement Mindset
Talk about any initiatives you've implemented that improved payroll processes or systems. Companies love candidates who can drive efficiency, so come armed with specific examples of how you've made a difference in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Engagement
Since strong communication is key, think about how you've engaged with stakeholders in the past. Be ready to discuss how you've built relationships and communicated effectively with different departments to ensure smooth payroll operations.
