Group Payroll Manager

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:

• Lead and manage a centralised payroll team, ensuring best practice and high performance

• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing, ensuring accuracy and compliance with statutory requirements

• Maintain payroll compliance and reporting standards, including audit readiness

• Manage pension administration and auto-enrolment processes

• Drive process improvement initiatives and ensure smooth system and process implementations

• 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