Payroll Manager – AR

Payroll Manager

PO6 salary scale  – £54,267 to £57,402

We’re looking for an experienced and forward-thinking Payroll Manager to lead our Payroll and function and help shape the future of payroll delivery across the Council.

This is a pivotal operational leadership role, sitting within Culture Workforce & Development department, where you will take ownership of payroll and pension services, ensuring the accurate, timely and compliant delivery of payroll for a workforce of approximately 2,600 employees.

You will act as the Council’s subject matter expert on payroll and pension matters, making informed decisions, managing risk and serving as the key escalation point for complex issues.

Beyond operational excellence, this role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a significant transformation programme. You will play a leading role in modernising payroll processes, driving service improvements and supporting the future development of payroll provision.

About the Role

As the Payroll Manager, you will lead a dedicated team responsible for delivering a high-quality payroll and pensions service that supports employees throughout their employment journey.

You will oversee the end-to-end payroll process, ensuring compliance with all statutory and regulatory requirements while delivering an efficient, customer-focused service. Working closely with senior leaders, HR, Finance, Pensions and external providers, you will build strong relationships that enable seamless service delivery and support organisational performance.

The successful candidate will be equally comfortable managing operational delivery, leading people, driving continuous improvement and influencing strategic change.

>> Click here to download the Role Profile << 

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing Payroll team, creating a culture of accountability, customer focus and continuous improvement.
• Ensure the accurate, timely and compliant delivery of monthly payroll services.
• Act as the senior escalation point for complex payroll and pension enquiries.
• Drive service excellence through effective performance management and quality assurance.
• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing through Oracle Payroll.
• Manage HMRC submissions and all statutory reporting requirements.
• Lead year-end activities, including P60s, P11Ds and associated compliance processes.
• Ensure accurate administration of Local Government and Teachers’ Pension schemes.
• Manage BACS payments, payroll reconciliations, deductions, salary sacrifice arrangements, overpayments and court orders.
• Ensure compliance with National Minimum Wage, Living Wage and wider legislative requirements.
• Lead payroll improvement initiatives, reviewing processes and controls to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
• Support wider workforce transformation and service modernisation programmes.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual processes and improve the employee experience.
• Contribute to the future design and delivery of payroll services across the organisation.
• Build effective relationships with senior stakeholders, external providers and partner organisations.
• Produce meaningful payroll reporting, analysis and insight.
• Ensure stakeholders receive a responsive, reliable and customer-focused service.

Essential Criteria

• CIPP Qualification or extensive experience managing an end-to-end payroll function within a large and complex organisation.
• Strong technical knowledge of payroll legislation, taxation, pensions and statutory reporting requirements.
• Experience of leading, coaching and developing payroll teams.
• Significant experience using Oracle Payroll or a comparable enterprise payroll system.
• Knowledge of Local Government and/or Teachers’ Pension schemes.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and reconciliation skills.
• Experience of leading service improvements and change initiatives.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience within Local & Central Government. Other public sector organisations and private sector complex organisations experience are also welcomed.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to lead a critical service within one of London’s most ambitious boroughs. You’ll have the chance to work in a fantastic team and influence how payroll services are delivered, with the sole aim about making a difference to our residents.

In return, we offer:

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Learning and development opportunities
• Employee wellbeing support
• Career progression opportunities within a forward-thinking organisation

Terms and conditions:

The below terms and conditions apply to this role:

• Satisfactory employment references and CIFAS identity checks;
• Satisfactory declaration of interest;
• Continued professional body registration;

As a public authority, we must ensure that members of staff in public-facing roles are able to speak fluent English. This means that they must have a command of spoken English, with confidence and accuracy, sufficient for the effective performance of their role. This requirement does not refer to any particular English language qualifications, regional or international accents, dialects, speech impediments or the tone of conversations. It does not require staff to speak only in English.