Head of Payroll and Pensions

Colbern Limited; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in Greater London is seeking an experienced Head of Payroll and Pensions to oversee payroll and pension services for thousands of employees and pension members. The successful candidate will lead a team, ensuring compliance with legislation and improving processes. Responsibilities include strategic planning, managing payroll systems, and serving as an expert advisor on payroll and pensions. This role offers a dynamic work environment focused on leadership and development.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable expertise in managing payroll and pension functions.
• Proven leadership and ability to develop teams.
• Strong understanding of payroll systems and pension schemes.

Responsibilities

• Lead payroll and pensions services for Lewisham Council.
• Ensure compliance with regulations and improve customer experience.
• Manage the external actuaries for the LGPS Fund.

Skills

Managing payroll and pensions functions

Compliance with statutory and organisational requirements

Understanding of UK legislation

Leadership and team development

Strategic planning

Education

Relevant qualification in financial or administrative management

Tools

Payroll Oracle Cloud

Altair pension system

Job description

Our client is looking for an experienced Head of Payroll and Pensions

Minimum of 2 days a week in the office

Head of Payroll and Pensions

Candidates must meet the following essential criteria : Demonstrable expertise in managing payroll and pension functions within a local government setting.

Proven ability to lead and develop a team, ensuring compliance with statutory and organisational requirements.

Strong understanding of payroll systems, pension schemes, particularly LGPS, and all relevant UK legislation.

To be the strategic lead and responsible for Lewisham Councils payroll and pensions services, serving approximately 3,000 Council employees, 3,000 School employees and 28,000 pension members including active, deferred and pensioners. The annual payroll for the Council is over 170m and the value of the Lewisham LGPS is circa 1.85bn.

As a member of the Finance Leadership team you will contribute to the overall leadership and management of the Finance function by taking leadership of the payroll and pensions service. Setting the direction, developing and managing an efficient, effective and responsive payroll and pensions administration service. Fostering a skilled, customer-focused, and high-performing environment which seeks to innovate and improve.

To ensure the data integrity of the Payroll Oracle Cloud system and the Altair pension system, including the legacy system and archived data required to be accessed and retained under LGPS legislation. To ensure that changes to regulations are reflected in system updates to validate system integrity. Exercise controls to prevent losses of resources and data from fraud or error.

To serve as the principal expert on all payroll and pension related matters, offering advice and support to senior management and stakeholders on payroll and pension issues and identifying the impact and implications of national imperatives and legislation developments.

To be the subject matter expert on the complex legislative framework governing pension administration, including LGPS Regulations 2013, Transitional Regulations 2014, Pensions Acts 2004 and 2011, Public Services Pensions Act 2013 and Data Protection Act 2018.

Be the strategic lead on the engagement and management of the external LGPS Fund Actuaries, including the contract management and re-procurements as required. To include all necessary work required for the tri-ennial valuation process.

Lead on the development and management of the Lewisham schools payroll SLA services and the pension administration on behalf of the admitted and scheduled employers within the Lewisham LGPS fund.

Summary of Accountabilities and Personal Duties

• 1. Develop and manage a full suite of payroll and pensions processes that ensure compliance with relevant policies and regulatory requirements whilst still prioritising the customer experience. Lead and develop a strong working relationship the Councils Employee Services team, ensuring that there is a streamlined approach to the development of HR and payroll processes.
• 1. Ensure best use of payroll and pension administration resources through defining priorities and securing appropriate resources to achieve the Council’s objectives. Lead, manage and develop the payroll and pensions administration teams to ensure efficient and effective performance, customer service and delivery, taking proactive and remedial action when necessary.
• 2. Be responsible for the operation, management and development of the: payroll and pensions modules of the Council’s ERP system; the Altair pensions system; and the legacy and archive systems by ensuring a constant review of skills, new developments, upgrades and technology to facilitate the accurate and efficient payment of salaries wages and pensions.
• 1. Be responsible for the implementation of systems of control over payments or amendments to system data to minimise losses from error or fraud and to be accountable for meeting all statutory or scheme deadlines, to avoid prosecution and fines, including on behalf of external clients.
• 1. Ensure managers, employees and outsourced service providers receive an effective and efficient payroll and pensions administration service. Take steps to minimise overpayments and exercise recovery action where unavoidable
• 1. Responsible for ensuring that the payroll and pension administration services remain complaint with relevant and LGPS legislation. Ensure all work is carried out in compliance with the highly legislative framework and that there is technical capacity in the teams for all relevant professional areas.
• 2. Understanding all proposed legislative changes, brief senior HR and Finance Officers, interpret and implement complex legislation for both payroll and pensions administration. Ensure that all relevant policies and processes are amended to comply with changes to legislation
• 1. Be responsible for maintaining and developing positive relationships between outsourced service providers, schools, other LA organisations and the Council, ensuring financial accountability and quality of service. Manage partnership working with outsourced service providers and Schools who elect to purchase services; including writing, reviewing, pricing and monitoring the performance of service level agreements. Maintain full cost recovery charging for services currently in excess of 300k per annum.
• 1. Be the responsible lead officer and advisor on Income Tax for the Council and provide quarterly and annual pensions tax returns to HMRC; ensure key financial returns are completed within statutory deadlines to avoid the Council incurring penalties and fines. Be the lead officer in response to any HMRC audits or investigations.
• 1. Ensure that current scheme members, pensioners and deferred members (totaling in excess of 28,000) receive appropriate and timely information regarding pension scheme membership, ensuring updated information is regularly provided. This includes responsibility for maintaining the Lewisham PF website and access to members self service portal.
• 2. Ensure that relevant information, including that required under legislation, is provided to all employers in the fund such as schools, colleges, Academies and admitted bodies.
• 3. Manage and monitor the administration of admitted bodies in the scheme, including overseeing the drawing up of admission agreements, monitoring of admitted body membership profiles, undertaking risk assessments and maintenance of the Council’s termination policy with regard to all employers in the fund. This includes the procurement and management of the associated actuarial advice required for such services.
• 1. Maintain the Council’s policies and discretions, securing approval for any changes through relevant Committees. Continuously review arrangements for the exercise of discretionary functions.
• 1. Manage the contract for the pension funds actuary as required with regard to actuarial valuations and other matters. This includes the necessary contract management and re-procurements as required.
• 1. Attend all Pension Fund Officer forums and represent Lewisham Pension Administration on the Pension Board and Pension Investment Committee.
• 1. Be an authorised signatory responsible for emergency, manual and electronic payments and payment files for the Councils bank in relation to payroll and pension payments.
• 1. Be responsible for advice under the Internal Disputes resolution procedure, deal with appeals to The Pensions Regulator / Local Government Ombudsman. Represent the Council at Employment Tribunal Hearings.
• 1. Be responsible for the timely production of information for inclusion in the audited pension fund accounts (administration) and year end reconciliations. Be accountable for validating and the provision of accurate personnel data to inform the triennial pension fund valuation.

are an equal opportunities employer