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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and transform payroll for a fast-growing hospitality sector bureau.
- Company: Join Williams, Stanley & Co, a top accountancy firm in the hospitality industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, career progression, and enhanced parental leave.
- Why this job: Take ownership and make a real impact in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: 10+ years payroll experience with strong leadership skills required.
- Other info: Be part of a collaborative team across multiple global locations.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 ÂŁ per year.
We are hiring a Head of Payroll to lead and transform a fast‑growing, multi‑client payroll bureau serving the UK hospitality sector. This is not a maintenance role but a build‑and‑lead mandate. You will take full ownership of payroll delivery, operational control, team capability, client experience, and commercial performance. You will co‑create a high‑performing payroll function that is scalable, client‑trusted, and operationally resilient. If you are a senior payroll leader who thrives in complex, high‑volume, multi‑client environments and you are looking for ownership and impact this role is designed for you.
About Us
Williams, Stanley & Co is a leading accountancy firm catering to a diverse range of clients within the hospitality industry, from high street chains to family‑run cafes. Our company began with a mission to provide accurate and actionable financial insights to businesses, drawing from our founders' own experiences in managing multiple rapidly growing ventures. Driven by a commitment to customer‑first accounting, we've assembled a team of experienced and trusted accountants who share our vision for excellence. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and expertise, our team operates seamlessly across different locations, including the UK, Philippines and Dubai.
The role
As Head of Payroll, you will lead payroll as a standalone business unit within the firm, with full accountability for delivery quality, compliance integrity and team performance. You will set standards, install controls, develop future leaders, and create a function that can scale. This role combines strategic leadership with informed operational oversight. You will lead from the front while building a structure that does not depend on individual heroics.
What you will own
- Operational control & delivery excellence
- Full oversight of end‑to‑end payroll delivery across multi‑client, multi‑frequency payrolls
- Absolute compliance across PAYE, NI, pensions, statutory payments, and tronc schemes
- Strong controls, QA frameworks, and audit‑ready processes
- Clear run disciplines, sign‑off frameworks, and exception governance
- High‑risk and complex payroll case resolution
- Payroll migrations and new client onboarding at pace
- Leadership & capability building
- Lead, coach, and develop small team of Payroll Supervisor Manager and Administrators
- Build a capability‑dense, accountable payroll team
- Install performance standards, run metrics, and delivery KPIs
- Develop bench strength and succession capability
- Create a culture of ownership, calm under pressure, and delivery discipline
- Set the behavioural standard for client service and internal collaboration
- Client & stakeholder leadership
- Act as senior escalation point for complex payroll and advisory matters
- Build trusted senior client relationships
- Translate payroll complexity into clear commercial and operational guidance
- Partner with Finance, People, and Operations teams across locations
- Process, systems & automation
- Drive continuous process improvement and standardisation
- Optimise payroll systems and workflow automation
- Implement SOP frameworks and runbooks
- Establish measurable SLAs and service reporting
- Reduce manual dependency and operational risk
- Commercial & strategic ownership
- Own payroll department commercial performance and margin
- Manage budgets, headcount planning, and resource modelling
- Improve profitability through efficiency and control
- Contribute to pricing, service design, and growth strategy
- Support new service development and expansion opportunities
About you
You are a senior payroll leader who combines technical mastery with operational leadership and commercial awareness. You are calm under pressure, structured in your thinking, and decisive in execution. You build strong teams, install control, and improve systems – not just process payroll.
Experience & capability
- 10+ years payroll experience with senior leadership responsibility
- Bureau, outsourced, or high‑complexity multi‑site payroll experience essential
- Proven leadership of payroll teams at scale
- Strong UK payroll legislation and compliance expertise
- Experience with tronc schemes highly desirable
- Demonstrated operational improvement and control implementation
- Experience contributing to departmental budgets or P&L performance
- CIPP qualified (preferred)
Core behaviours we value
- Curiosity / diagnostic mindset
- Control orientation – structured and process‑driven
- Calm authority
- Clear confident communicator
- Builds trust through reliability and standards
- Develops people, not dependency
What we offer
- Hybrid flexible working model
- Career progression and qualification support
- Employee recognition and wellbeing platform
- Employee Assistance Programme & coaching support
- Enhanced parental leave (LOS dependent)
- Birthday leave
- Mental health half‑days
- Pension scheme
- Increasing holiday with service
Head of Payroll employer: Williams Stanley and Co
Contact Detail:
Williams Stanley and Co Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Payroll
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the payroll and hospitality sectors. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your expertise! Prepare a portfolio that highlights your achievements in payroll management, especially in complex environments. Use real examples to demonstrate how you've improved processes or led teams. This will set you apart when you meet potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers or recruiters, be ready to explain why you're the perfect fit for the Head of Payroll role. Focus on your leadership skills and how you can transform their payroll function into a high-performing unit.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We want to see your application directly. It shows initiative and gives us a chance to see your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it’s a great way to ensure your application doesn’t get lost in the shuffle!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Payroll
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Head of Payroll role. Highlight your experience in leading payroll teams and managing complex, multi-client environments. We want to see how your skills align with our mission at Williams, Stanley & Co.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've transformed payroll functions and improved operational performance in your previous roles.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a senior payroll leader, we’re keen to see how you’ve built and developed teams. Include details about your coaching style and how you've fostered a culture of ownership and accountability within your teams.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Williams Stanley and Co
✨Know Your Payroll Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of UK payroll legislation and compliance. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've navigated complex payroll scenarios in the past, especially in multi-client environments.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare to talk about your experience in leading payroll teams. Highlight how you've built team capabilities and installed performance standards. Think of specific instances where you developed future leaders or improved team dynamics.
✨Demonstrate Your Strategic Thinking
Be ready to discuss how you've contributed to commercial performance and operational control in previous roles. Share examples of how you've driven process improvements and optimised payroll systems to enhance efficiency.
✨Build Rapport with Stakeholders
Think about how you can translate payroll complexity into clear guidance for clients and stakeholders. Prepare to share your approach to building trusted relationships and collaborating with other departments like Finance and Operations.