Director – Payroll Operate Services

ACCA Careers; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Cutting-edge technology

Diverse client engagements

Culture of innovation

Job summary

ACCA Careers is seeking a Payroll Director to lead our UK payroll operations and technology initiatives within a dynamic, international organisation. You will oversee end-to-end payroll delivery, manage senior client relationships and drive strategic improvements across a diverse client portfolio.

The role requires extensive UK payroll expertise, leadership skills and a track record of delivering high-quality payroll solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in global payroll, mobility, or expatriate tax.
• Proven senior-level experience in UK payroll, ideally within a consultancy or professional services environment.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, PAYE, pensions and payroll compliance.
• Experience leading payroll operations and delivering high-quality solutions to clients.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to build and manage senior client relationships.
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, data analytics, and project management tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee UK payroll operations and technology initiatives, ensuring efficient processes, seamless delivery and continuous improvement.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for senior stakeholders, managing relationships and ensuring strategic alignment with client goals.
• Manage relationships with key Alliance partners in the UK, ensuring strong collaboration, service delivery and continued growth of these partnerships.
• Oversee end-to-end UK payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely processing, strong controls, and compliance with agreed KPIs and SLAs.
• Identify and implement process improvements, automation opportunities and risk mitigation strategies to enhance efficiency, quality and the overall client experience.
• Oversee data validation, reconciliation and reporting processes to ensure the accuracy and integrity of UK payroll data and reporting.
• Manage client-specific payroll operations, cost tracking, and vendor turnaround times, ensuring customized solutions that meet unique client needs.
• Ensure payroll processes remain aligned with UK legislation and regulatory requirements, supporting year-end reporting, compensation summaries and other compliance activities.
• Utilize data analytics to develop actionable insights that drive decision-making for mobility programs, empowering clients to make informed choices.
• Mentor and develop junior and managerial team members, fostering a culture of growth and collaboration.
• Work closely with senior leadership to identify and pursue business development opportunities, expand our UK payroll offering and strengthen our position in the market.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Data analytics

Strategic thinking

Mentorship

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in global payroll

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

Data analytics tools

Project management tools

Job description

Job Description

Are you a senior payroll professional ready to take your career to the next level?

We are looking for an experienced and driven Payroll Director to join our growing team in the UK. This is an exciting opportunity to lead our payroll offering, work with a diverse portfolio of clients across multiple sectors, and play a key role in shaping and delivering high-quality payroll solutions in a dynamic, international organisation.

Why Join Us?

• Cutting-Edge Technology: Work with advanced tools and solutions that set us apart from the competition, empowering you to deliver exceptional results.
• Exciting Client Engagements: Collaborate with a diverse range of high-profile clients across various industries, tackling complex challenges that will broaden your expertise.
• Culture of Innovation: Thrive in an environment that celebrates creativity and encourages you to bring your unique talents to the forefront.

Your Responsibilities

• Leadership: Lead and oversee UK payroll operations and technology initiatives, ensuring efficient processes, seamless delivery and continuous improvement.
• Strategic Client Liaison: Serve as the primary point of contact for senior stakeholders, managing relationships and ensuring strategic alignment with client goals.
• Alliance Relationship Management: Manage relationships with key Alliance partners in the UK, ensuring strong collaboration, service delivery and continued growth of these partnerships.
• Operational Excellence: Oversee end-to-end UK payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely processing, strong controls, and compliance with agreed KPIs and SLAs.
• Process Improvement: Identify and implement process improvements, automation opportunities and risk mitigation strategies to enhance efficiency, quality and the overall client experience.
• Data Integrity: Oversee data validation, reconciliation and reporting processes to ensure the accuracy and integrity of UK payroll data and reporting.
• Tailored Solutions: Manage client-specific payroll operations, cost tracking, and vendor turnaround times, ensuring customized solutions that meet unique client needs.
• Compliance Expertise: Ensure payroll processes remain aligned with UK legislation and regulatory requirements, supporting year-end reporting, compensation summaries and other compliance activities.
• Data-Driven Insights: Utilize data analytics to develop actionable insights that drive decision-making for mobility programs, empowering clients to make informed choices.
• Mentorship and Development: Mentor and develop junior and managerial team members, fostering a culture of growth and collaboration.
• Business Development Collaboration: Work closely with senior leadership to identify and pursue business development opportunities, expand our UK payroll offering and strengthen our position in the market.

What We Are Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in global payroll, mobility, or expatriate tax
• Proven senior-level experience in UK payroll, ideally within a consultancy or professional services environment
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, PAYE, pensions and payroll compliance
• Experience leading payroll operations and delivering high-quality solutions to clients
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to build and manage senior client relationships
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, data analytics, and project management tools

Additional Information

• This is a hybrid role. Location: UK

We are an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected status.

Please note, AI is used as part of the application process.