Head of Payroll

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

Job summary

HW Finance in Leeds seeks a seasoned Head of Payroll to own and modernise its payroll function within a large organisation. You will lead end-to-end UK payroll delivery, drive efficiency, and ensure compliance with PAYE, NI, pensions and reporting requirements.

The role reports to Reward leadership and involves partnering with People, Finance, HR Systems and senior stakeholders to transform payroll processes and governance. Salary £70k plus 20% bonus and benefits.

Qualifications

• Significant UK payroll leadership experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end payroll operation across the UK.
• Ensure payroll delivered accurately, on time and within service levels.
• Oversee monthly, weekly and ad hoc payroll activity.
• Manage year-end processes and statutory reporting.
• Maintain strong payroll controls, governance and compliance.
• Ensure compliance across PAYE, NI, pensions and statutory payments.
• Lead payroll audits and address actions.
• Drive process improvement, automation and payroll transformation.
• Support payroll technology developments and system upgrades.
• Manage key third-party relationships.
• Act as internal payroll expert to senior stakeholders.
• Lead and develop a high-performing payroll team.
• Support wider business change from a payroll perspective.

Skills

UK payroll leadership

Payroll legislation

Payroll systems

Automation / transformation

Stakeholder management

Advanced Excel & reporting

HR/Payroll platform integration

Education

CIPP or equivalent

Tools

Payroll systems & technology

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.