Job Overview
Our client is looking to recruit experienced Group Payroll Manager to lead a large, centralised payroll function supporting over 20,000 employees.
This is a key Group-level role with a clear progression path to Head of Payroll, as the current Head begins a phased retirement.
Based at the Shared Service Centre in the North East, you’ll oversee a stable, well-established team and deliver payroll excellence across multiple payroll cycles.
They oversee complex end-to-end payroll activity including onboarding, leavers, statutory pay, overtime, bonuses, holiday pay calculations, TUPE, third-party payments, and full compliance with HMRC requirements (RTI, FPS/EPS, BACS, year-end submissions, P11Ds etc.).
- Leading a team of 11 (Deputy Manager, Assistant Manager, Supervisor + 8 Administrators).
- Managing high-volume weekly, monthly, four-weekly and pension payrolls.
- Ensuring full statutory compliance including RTI, HMRC submissions, statutory payments, pensions and year-end.
- Overseeing complex calculations: holiday pay, overtime, bonuses, TUPE, back pay, starters/leavers and third-party deductions.
- Managing workload, supporting team development and embedding best practice.
- Handling pension administration including auto-enrolment, reconciliations, submissions and scheme changes.
- Maintaining strong internal controls and supporting audits.
- Helping shape system improvements and supporting the move from OpenPeople to a new payroll system (no specific software experience required).
- Driving continuous improvement and ensuring payroll accuracy across the Group.
What we’re looking for:
- CIPP qualified – essential.
- Proven experience managing large, complex, multi-frequency payrolls.
- Strong leadership experience in a high-volume environment.
- Excellent technical payroll knowledge and understanding of current legislation.
- High attention to detail with the ability to work to tight deadlines.
- Advanced Excel skills (lookups, pivot tables, data validation).
- Confident communicator able to work across HR, finance and senior stakeholders.
- Any industry or payroll bureau or practice would be considered
What's on offer?
- Genuine progression path to Head of Payroll as part of succession planning.
- Hybrid working – typically 2 days from home.
- Flexi-time, with the ability to work hours around business needs (Mon–Wed busiest due to weekly payroll).
- Early finish on Fridays.
- Supportive and stable team environment.
- Opportunity to influence payroll transformation and system change.
vices Payroll Manager will lead and manage the centralised payroll function. As Group Shared Services Payroll Manager, you will lead a high-performing team to deliver payroll excellence for over 24,000 employees and pensioners. Managing a skilled team of 11, the role will ensure best practice in complex payroll operations, legal compliance and delivery of exceptional service to both employees and the wider business.
Key Responsibilities:
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Lead and manage a centralised payroll team, ensuring best practice and high performance
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Oversee end-to-end payroll processing, ensuring accuracy and compliance with statutory requirements
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Maintain payroll compliance and reporting standards, including audit readiness
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Manage pension administration and auto-enrolment processes
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Drive process improvement initiatives and ensure smooth system and process implementations
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Provide coaching, development and guidance to the payroll team
Essential Skills & Experience:
- CIPP qualification
- Proven experience managing high-volume, complex payroll operations
- Strong leadership skills, with experience managing senior payroll professionals
- Solid understanding of statutory payroll requirements and compliance
- Excellent organisational, analytical and communication skills
- Experience with payroll software
- Project management or process improvement experience
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