Head of Payroll

HW Finance; Guiseley; On-site; GBP 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus: 20%

Job summary

HW Finance is seeking a Head of Payroll to own the UK payroll function and drive its modernisation across processes, controls and technology.

You will lead a cross-functional payroll team, ensuring accurate, on-time delivery and compliance with PAYE, NI and pensions, while partnering with People, Finance and HR systems to optimise the employee experience.

Qualifications

• Significant UK payroll leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation and employment taxes.
• Experience with PAYE, NI, pensions and statutory payments.
• Experience leading payroll systems and technology.
• Track record of process improvement, automation or payroll transformation.
• Strong governance and audit knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end payroll across the UK.
• Ensure on-time, accurate payroll delivery and service levels.
• Oversee monthly, weekly and ad hoc payroll activity.
• Manage year-end processes and statutory reporting.
• Drive payroll governance, controls and compliance.
• Lead payroll transformation and automation initiatives.
• Develop and mentor a high-performing payroll team.

Skills

UK payroll leadership

PAYE / NI knowledge

Pensions knowledge

Payroll controls & audit

Stakeholder management

Advanced Excel

Education

CIPP or equivalent qualification

Job description

Head of Payroll - Central Leeds

We are working with a large, established organisation that is looking to appoint an experienced Head of Payroll to take ownership of its payroll function and play a key role in the continued development and modernisation of the service.

This is a senior role with responsibility for ensuring payroll is delivered accurately, efficiently and in line with all relevant legislation, whilst also driving improvements across processes, controls, systems and the wider employee experience.

Reporting into a senior Reward leader, you will work closely with teams across People, Finance, Tax, HR Systems and the wider business, acting as the subject matter expert for payroll and providing strong leadership across the function.

The role

You will be responsible for:

• Leading the end-to-end payroll operation across the UK.
• Ensuring payroll is delivered accurately, on time and against agreed service levels.
• Overseeing monthly, weekly and ad hoc payroll activity.
• Managing year-end processes and statutory reporting.
• Maintaining strong payroll controls, governance and compliance.
• Ensuring continued compliance across PAYE, National Insurance, pensions and statutory payments.
• Leading payroll audits and addressing any resulting actions.
• Driving process improvement, automation and payroll transformation.
• Supporting payroll technology developments and system upgrades.
• Managing key third-party relationships.
• Acting as the internal payroll expert and trusted adviser to senior stakeholders.
• Leading and developing a high-performing payroll team.
• Supporting wider business change, reward and benefits initiatives from a payroll perspective.

About you

We are looking for someone with strong senior-level payroll experience who is comfortable operating in a complex organisation and taking ownership of both the day-to-day operation and the longer-term development of the function.

You will ideally have:

• Significant UK payroll leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation and employment taxes.
• A detailed understanding of PAYE, NI, pensions and statutory payments.
• Experience managing payroll systems and technology.
• A track record of process improvement, automation or payroll transformation.
• Strong knowledge of payroll controls, governance and audit.
• Experience leading and developing payroll teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Advanced Excel and payroll reporting skills.
• Experience working with an integrated HR/payroll platform.
• CIPP or equivalent qualification would be advantageous.

Why this role?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a significant payroll function within a well-established organisation, with genuine scope to improve processes, introduce greater automation, strengthen governance and shape the future direction of the function.

It would suit someone who enjoys being more than just an operational payroll lead and wants to have a real influence on how payroll is delivered across a wider organisation.

• Salary: £70k plus 20% with further benefits too.