Head of Payroll & Pensions - Interims

Nations Recruitment; City Of London; On-site; GBP 67,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government entity in London seeks a strategic lead for managing payroll and pensions services. The successful candidate will oversee processes affecting approximately 34,000 employees and pension members, ensuring compliance while prioritizing customer experience. A relevant degree or professional qualification is required, alongside significant experience in payroll management within a public sector setting. Strong leadership and analytical skills are essential, along with a commitment to equality and diversity principles.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable expertise in managing payroll and pension functions in local government.
• Experience in interpreting and implementing payroll and pension legislation.
• Significant experience in payroll and pension administration roles.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage payroll and pensions processes ensuring compliance.
• Lead and develop a team focused on customer experience.
• Establish and maintain performance management culture.

Skills

Leadership skills

Analytical skills

Numeracy skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Education

Relevant degree or professional payroll/pensions qualification

Tools

Oracle Payroll

Altair Pension system

Job description

Overview

Job Category: Interims

Job location: 1 Catford Road, Catford, London, Greater London, SE6 4RU

United Kingdom
Lewisham Council

Hours per week: 37

Start date: Immediate start

Salary: £79,629.00

Main Purpose of the Job

To be the strategic lead and responsible for Lewisham Council\'s 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.

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 Council’s Employee Services team, ensuring that there is a streamlined approach to the development of HR and payroll processes.

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.

Aptitude

• Excellent numeracy skills with experience in complex payroll and pension calculations.
• 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.
• Ability to reconcile corporate and strategic objectives.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workloads and meet deadlines.

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 programmes 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.

General Education

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.

Equality & Diversity

• Awareness of and a commitment to Equality of Access and Opportunity in a diverse community.
• Understanding of how equality and diversity relates to this post.
• Ability to demonstrate commitment to the principles of equality in employment and service delivery.

Personal Qualities

• Strong leadership, management, and motivational skills with experience in developing teams.
• Must be financially fluent, cost and contribution conscious with a focus on value for money.
• Energetic, determined, robust and resilient enough to cope with the demands of the role.
• Able to establish positive working relationships with partners and colleagues across different disciplines.
• High standards of integrity.
• Commitment to learn — desire to acquire new knowledge, skills and approaches.

Circumstances

• Able to attend meetings in the evenings; to work outside normal office hours; and to work beyond minimum hours as and when required to achieve deadlines.