Payroll Operations Manager

Salary: Up to £70,000 + Benefits
The Opportunity We are seeking an experienced Payroll Operations Manager to take ownership of payroll operations for a dynamic, fast-paced organisation with approximately 1,300 employees. This is a standalone specialist role, ideal for a payroll expert who thrives on driving process improvements, influencing stakeholders, and transforming payroll operations through best practice, technology, and education.
Working closely with the People Advisory Team, Shared Services, Finance, and a third-party payroll provider, you will lead the payroll function, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and an exceptional employee experience.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a business undergoing significant transformation, including a major AI-driven programme and wider operational improvements, where payroll will play a critical role in future ways of working.
Reporting Structure

• Reporting into the People Advisory Team
• Working closely with, Head of People Advisory
• Partnering with the Head of Shared Services
• Managing relationships with external payroll providers and key internal stakeholders

Key Responsibilities Payroll Operations

• Own the end-to-end monthly payroll process for approximately 1,300 employees.
• Act as the primary liaison with the third-party payroll provider, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant payroll delivery.
• Manage payroll inputs, validations, reconciliations, and sign-off processes.
• Oversee payroll activities including pensions, statutory payments, deductions, benefits, and ad hoc payments.
• Ensure compliance with UK payroll legislation and HMRC requirements.

Payroll Transformation & Continuous Improvement

• Review and redesign payroll processes to drive efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
• Identify opportunities to standardise ways of working across the organisation.
• Lead payroll improvement initiatives, implementing best practice processes and controls.
• Support wider digital transformation initiatives, including AI-enabled solutions and automation projects.
• Develop clear guidance, training, and education materials to improve payroll understanding across the workforce.

Workday & Data Management

• Ensure payroll-related employee data within Workday is accurate and maintained effectively.
• Partner with HR, People Services, and Shared Services teams to improve data quality and process integration.
• Utilise workforce data and reporting to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.

Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships across People, Finance, Shared Services, and leadership teams.
• Act as the payroll subject matter expert, providing advice and guidance to stakeholders.
• Support and coach managers and employees on payroll processes and policies.
• Handle complex payroll queries and escalations with professionalism and discretion.

Governance & Compliance

• Maintain robust payroll controls and audit processes.
• Ensure all payroll activities comply with relevant employment, tax, pension, and data protection legislation.
• Manage relationships with external vendors and payroll partners to agreed service levels.

About You We’re looking for a payroll professional who combines strong technical expertise with a passion for transformation and continuous improvement.
Essential Experience

• Extensive payroll management experience within a medium to large organisation.
• Experience managing outsourced payroll through a third-party provider.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, HMRC requirements, pensions, and benefits administration.
• Experience operating within a Workday environment or similar HRIS platform.
• Proven track record of delivering payroll process improvements and transformation projects.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to operate autonomously in a standalone specialist role.

Desirable Experience

• Experience supporting HR technology, automation, or AI-related initiatives.
• Exposure to shared services environments.
• CIPP qualification or equivalent payroll certification.

What Success Looks Like In your first 12 months, you will:

• Establish yourself as the organisation’s trusted payroll expert.
• Strengthen relationships with key stakeholders and the third-party payroll provider.
• Improve payroll processes, controls, and employee experience.
• Drive consistency across payroll-related ways of working.
• Support the implementation of key transformation and AI initiatives.
• Create a scalable payroll operation capable of supporting future business growth.

What’s on Offer

• Salary up to £70,000
• Competitive benefits package
• Opportunity to lead and shape payroll operations within a high-performing business
• Significant exposure to transformation and strategic projects
• Collaborative and ambitious working environment
• Hybrid working model with 4 days per week onsite in Grove

This role would suit a confident Payroll Manager, Senior Payroll Specialist, or Payroll Operations Lead who is looking for a standalone position with genuine influence and the opportunity to make a lasting impact.