Head Of Payroll & Pensions

SOLOS Consultants Ltd; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency in the UK seeks a Head of Payroll & Pensions to lead payroll and pensions services for councils and schools. The ideal candidate will manage a significant payroll, ensure compliance with regulations, and have substantial experience in payroll and pension administration. Strong leadership and communication skills are essential to foster a customer-focused environment, making this role pivotal in a dynamic public sector setting.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in payroll and pension administration roles.
• Extensive experience at a senior level managing payroll and pensions functions.
• Evidence of developing and delivering effective performance measures.

Responsibilities

• Lead the payroll and pensions services for councils and schools.
• Ensure compliance with payroll and pension regulations.
• Manage payroll and pensions administration teams effectively.

Skills

Leadership skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Relevant degree or professional payroll or pensions qualification

Tools

Oracle Payroll

Altair Pension system

Job description

Head of Payroll & Pensions

£79,629.00

Full Time

Permanent

Lewisham - 2 days a week in the office

Main Purpose of the job

• To be the strategic lead and responsible for 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 triennial valuation process.
• Lead on the development and management of the school's 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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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
• 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.
• 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

Knowledge

• Evidence of a strong intellectual grasp of local government policy especially in relation to statutory Payroll and Pensions Administration and accounting
• Understanding of implementing and operating electronic payroll and accounting systems
• Substantial experience of working in a dynamic environment within a large public or private sector organisation.
• A thorough understanding of Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) regulations and administration
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to resolve complex payroll and pension issues.
• Able to prioritise, and provide clear guidance including the establishment and maintenance of a performance management culture

Skills

• Strong leadership, management, and motivational skills with experience in developing teams.
• Proven experience in interpreting and implementing payroll and pension legislation.
• Ability to develop and deliver presentation materials clearly and concisely to a range of audiences
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and influencing skills with the ability to interact with stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to act and think strategically, translating this into deliverables.

Experience

• Significant experience in payroll and pension administration roles
• Extensive experience at a senior level managing payroll and pensions functions within a complex organisation, preferably within the public sector or local government.
• Evidence of having developed and delivered effective performance measures and performance improvement programme in the delivery of services
• Experience of working with payroll and pension software systems (e.g. Oracle Payroll ,Altair Pension system ), including system implementation and enhancements.
• A relevant degree or professional payroll or pensions qualification (e.g., MCIPPdip) or equivalent qualifying experience or at least 10 years of experience in managing payroll and pensions

If this role is of interest and you meet the above criteria, then please apply immediately