Head of Payroll and Pensions

Sellick Partnership; Greater London; On-site; GBP 67,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency seeks a Head of Payroll and Pensions based in South‑East London. The role focuses on being the strategic lead for payroll and pensions services, ensuring compliance with regulations, and leading administration teams for optimal performance. Candidates should have significant experience in similar roles, particularly within local government, with strong communication and management skills. The position offers hybrid working arrangements and the opportunity to contribute to the leadership team.

Qualifications

• Experience within a similar role is essential.
• Experience with Teachers MCR pension scheme and LGPS schemes is essential.
• Experience in line management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage payroll and pensions processes ensuring compliance.
• Lead and develop payroll and pensions administration teams for efficient service.
• Implement controls over payment systems to minimise losses and meet deadlines.
• Ensure effective service for managers, employees, and service providers.
• Maintain organisation's policies and secure approval for changes.
• Represent the organisation in Employment Tribunal Hearings.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Attention to detail

Ability to prioritise workload

Tools

Oracle Cloud system

Job description

Role:

Head of Payroll and Pensions

Location:

South‑East London

Duration:

Permanent

Salary:

Up to £79,629

Overview:

Sellick Partnership are currently recruiting for a Head of Payroll and Pensions to join our client based in South‑East London on a permanent basis, working on a hybrid basis. The ideal candidate will be the strategic lead and responsible for the organisation's payroll and pensions services. As a member of the leadership team, you will contribute to the overall leadership and management of the function. The Head of Payroll and Pensions will set the direction, develop and manage an efficient, effective and responsive payroll and pensions service.

Duties:

• Developing and managing a full suite of payroll and pensions processes that ensure compliance with relevant policies and regulatory requirements whilst still prioritising the customer experience.
• Leading, managing and developing the payroll and pensions administration teams to ensure efficient and effective performance, customer service and delivery, taking proactive and remedial action when necessary.
• Being 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.
• Ensuring managers, employees and outsourced service providers receive an effective and efficient payroll and pensions administration service. Taking steps to minimise overpayments and exercise recovery action when unavoidable.
• Understanding all proposed legislative changes, briefing senior HR and Finance Officers, interpreting and implementing complex legislation for both payroll and pensions administration.
• Maintaining the organisation's policies and discretions, securing approval for any changes through relevant Committees.
• Being an authorised signatory responsible for emergency, manual and electronic payments and payment files for the organisation's bank in relation to payroll and pension payments.
• Being responsible for advice under the Internal Disputes resolution procedure, dealing with appeals to The Pensions Regulator / Local Government Ombudsman, and representing the Council at Employment Tribunal Hearings.

Qualifications:

• Experience within a local government organisation would be beneficial.
• Experience within a similar role is essential.
• Experience with Oracle Cloud system would be beneficial.
• Experience with Teachers MCR pension scheme, and LGPS schemes is essential.
• Experience in line management.

The Head of Payroll and Pensions will need to have excellent communication skills and effectively be able to communicate to stakeholders of all levels. Furthermore, the ideal candidate will have an impeccable eye for detail and accuracy to ensure all workload is carried out effectively and efficiently. They will also need to be able to prioritise their workload and be efficient and effective to meet unpredictable deadlines and deal with conflicting demands, whilst working in a high‑pressured environment.

Application:

If you believe that you are well‑suited to this excellent opportunity of Head of Payroll and Pensions, please apply directly at Sellick Partnership or contact Charlotte for more information. The closing date for CVs is Monday 8th December by 10am.

Inclusive Recruitment Statement:

Sellick Partnership is proud to be an inclusive and accessible recruitment business and we support applications from candidates of all backgrounds and circumstances. Please note, our advertisements use years' experience, hourly rates, and salary levels purely as a guide and we assess applications based on the experience and skills evidenced on the CV. For information on how your personal details may be used by Sellick Partnership, please review our data processing notice on our website.