Payroll Team Lead

Cobb & Jones Recruitment Limited; Kings Hill; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

Cobb & Jones Recruitment Limited is recruiting a Payroll Team Lead in Kings Hill. This hybrid role requires 2 days in the office and hands-on leadership of an end-to-end payroll cycle for a busy team.

You will work with senior stakeholders to ensure accurate payroll processing and timely HMRC submissions. The ideal candidate will have proven payroll leadership experience, strong HMRC knowledge (FPS/EPS) and be comfortable mentoring staff while driving process improvements.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a payroll role, with leadership or mentoring experience.
• Strong knowledge of end-to-end payroll processing including HMRC FPS and EPS submissions.
• Experience with multi-site or multi-company payroll is advantageous due to complexity.
• Confident using payroll systems with meticulous checks and reconciliations.

Responsibilities

• Support end-to-end payroll cycle, including hands-on processing when required.
• Review regular payroll runs for accuracy and perform first-line checks.
• Assist with HMRC communications, FPS/EPS submissions and payroll reporting.
• Mentor and develop the payroll team; conduct weekly one-to-ones.
• Maintain payroll calendars and monitor control account reconciliations.

Skills

Payroll processing

Leadership / mentoring

HMRC FPS / EPS

Multi-site payroll

Payroll systems

Stakeholder management

Attention to detail

Job description

Payroll Team Lead Kings Hill, Hybrid (2 days in the office) Paying up to £37k DOE

Cobb & Jones are working with a large business based in Kings Hill, they are looking for an experienced Senior Payroll Administrator to support the smooth running of the end-to-end payroll cycle, while helping to develop and support a busy payroll team.

This is a hands-on leadership role, ideal for someone who enjoys both the technical detail of payroll processing and the people side of managing and mentoring a team, all while working closely with senior stakeholders across the business.

Key Responsibilities

Day to Day:

• Support the end-to-end payroll cycle, including hands-on processing where required.
• Review regular payroll runs to ensure accuracy (first-line checks).
• Support system-wide calculations within the pay cycle, including transfers between payroll companies and payroll number allocation for re-hired employees.
• Identify and report any over- or underpayments, providing sufficient supporting evidence.
• Complete manual system backups in line with the agreed schedule.
• Support with HMRC communications, including tax code downloads, FPS and EPS submissions.
• Assist with closing payroll cycles and report running.
• Support the Payroll Manager with outstanding requests and escalations within the payroll portal.

Team & People:

• Mentor and support the team, assisting with training and continued professional development.
• Identify and expand performance issues or training needs to the Payroll Manager.
• Recognise and report strong performers, and provide positive feedback to the team where warranted.
• Carry out weekly one-to-ones with team members.
• Provide cover for colleagues during periods of absence and critical processing.
• Keep up to date with changes to payroll legislation.

Communication:

• Develop and maintain relationships with on-site teams to ensure information flows are reliable, accurate and timely.
• Monitor the payroll portal, responding to and resolving requests in line with agreed Service Level Agreements.
• Support stakeholders via telephone, ensuring all requests are logged and handled professionally.
• Review central email inboxes to ensure timely completion of requests.

Strategy & Improvement:

• Work with the Payroll Manager to maintain and review payroll calendars, planning resource and monitoring payroll cycles.
• Review existing controls, recommending improvements and identifying areas of risk.
• Work with senior colleagues across the business to manage expectations, communication and issue resolution.
• Support the implementation of new systems and processes, providing training to the team where required.
• Complete monthly control account reconciliations.

Role Requirements

• Proven experience in a payroll role, ideally with some experience leading, mentoring or supervising others.
• Strong working knowledge of end-to-end payroll processing, including HMRC requirements such as FPS and EPS submissions.
• Experience with multi-site or multi-company payroll would be an advantage, given the complexity of this payroll function.
• Confident using payroll systems, with strong attention to detail and a methodical approach to checks and reconciliations.