Head of Pay & Reward

JR United Kingdom; Leatherhead; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading provider of specialist support for individuals with learning disabilities is seeking a Head of Pay and Reward. This pivotal role involves enhancing pay operations and shaping a competitive reward structure across a multi-site organization. The ideal candidate will demonstrate extensive payroll and reward leadership experience, along with a strong background in compliance and team management.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading payroll and reward in large, multi-site organisations.
• Strong understanding of UK payroll legislation and compliance requirements.
• Proven experience in managing change and leading teams effectively.

Responsibilities

• Leading payroll operations ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Managing annual pay reviews and overseeing benefit schemes.
• Building partnerships across People, Finance, and Operational teams.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder Management

Analytical Skills

Compliance Knowledge

Process Improvement

Job description

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Salary: £80,000 per annum + £5,800 car allowance + 20% bonus

Location: Hybrid, Leatherhead

Full-Time, Permanent (37.5 hours per week)

Remit

Compass Corporate Services are proud to be partnering exclusively with a leading provider of specialist support for people with learning disabilities, autism and associated complex needs. We are seeking a strategic and operationally strong Head of Pay and Reward to lead the organisation’s payroll and total reward functions.

This is a key opportunity to enhance the integrity and efficiency of pay operations while shaping a fair and attractive reward approach for a large, multi-site social care provider. The role will ensure that robust and compliant payroll processes underpin a compelling offer to current and future employees.

The Role

Reporting to the Chief People Officer and working closely with senior leaders across HR Services, Systems, and Finance, the Head of Pay and Reward will be responsible for driving high-performing payroll delivery and developing strategic reward frameworks aligned to the organisation’s goals.

You will oversee a skilled team responsible for payroll operations, compensation, benefits, and recognition programs. A strong focus on compliance, process improvement, and data-led decision-making will be critical in ensuring accurate and efficient delivery of pay and reward activities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading payroll operations to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and full compliance
• Managing annual pay reviews and job evaluation processes
• Overseeing benefit schemes and recognition initiatives
• Delivering statutory reporting, including Gender Pay Gap submissions
• Supporting systems improvements and leveraging insights to inform strategy
• Building strong partnerships across People, Finance, and Operational teams

Location

This is a hybrid role based in Leatherhead, with flexible home-working options. Some travel may be required.

• Extensive experience leading payroll and reward in a large, complex, multi-site organisation (preferably in healthcare or social care)
• Strong understanding of UK payroll legislation, pension regulations, and compliance
• Experience of payroll systems transformation and continuous improvement
• Familiarity with iTrent and Wagestream is beneficial
• Excellent team leadership and stakeholder management skills
• Strong analytical and reporting capabilities

The Candidate

The ideal candidate will be an experienced payroll and reward leader with a strong background in large, multi-site organisations, ideally within the health or social care sector. You will be commercially astute, detail-oriented, and passionate about delivering fair and competitive pay and benefits structures that support employee engagement and organisational growth.

You will bring expertise in pay benchmarking, statutory reporting and compliance, along with proven experience in leading teams and managing change. Your ability to communicate complex information clearly, and to build strong relationships across People, Finance and Operations teams, will be crucial to your success.

This role is suited to someone who thrives on operational excellence and continuous improvement, and who has a clear vision for developing a high-performing reward function within a values-led organisation.

Interview Process

This is a multi-stage interview process:

• Initial screening with consultant Isobel.
• Initial screening with internal recruitment team.
• 1st stage Teams interview with SLT, competency question-based.
• 2nd stage face-to-face meeting with SLT (may be held via Teams depending on timing).

If you would like to be considered for this exciting opportunity, please contact Isobel Johnson directly on 0161 507 5060. Alternatively email an updated CV to [emailprotected]

Recommendations

Compass Associates Ltd is acting as a Recruitment Consultancy for this permanent vacancy; we offer a £200 John Lewis voucher for a successful recommendation following the completion of probation/rebate.

Compass Associates, established in 2009, is an award-winning, UK specialist Health and Social Care Recruitment Consultancy providing tailored, high quality recruitment solutions for all permanent assignments.