HR Operations Manager - London - Hybrid - £90,000

Ashdown Group; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

Ashdown Group is seeking an experienced HR Operations Manager – Payroll & Reward in London. The role focuses on delivering accurate payroll, managing reward processes and improving pay systems within a hybrid work model.

You will own the reward lifecycle, manage a third-party payroll provider, and drive continuous improvement across payroll, data and systems, while engaging with senior stakeholders across HR and Finance.

Qualifications

• Experience in HR operations, payroll and reward, ideally in a complex organisation.
• Experience managing a third-party payroll provider and liaising with Finance.
• Knowledge of annual pay reviews, reward cycles and HR/payroll systems.

Responsibilities

• Manage relationship with the third-party payroll provider to ensure accurate payroll service.
• Own the end-to-end reward lifecycle from salary changes to annual pay reviews.
• Lead the annual pay review process with stakeholders and timelines.
• Collaborate with Finance and HR to align payroll, reward and people data.
• Maximise Sage payroll capabilities, driving automation and reporting improvements.
• Support global mobility processes and related pay considerations.
• Ensure governance, controls and compliance across payroll and reward.
• Review HR operations processes and identify automation opportunities.
• Produce payroll and reward data to inform decision making.

Skills

HR operations

Payroll management

Reward management

Third-party payroll liaison

Sage payroll

HR/payroll systems

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related

Tools

Sage Payroll

HRIS

Job description

HR Operations Manager – Payroll & Reward

Location: London Bridge, London

Salary: £90,000

Working pattern: Hybrid – 3 days per week in the office

We are looking for an experienced HR Operations Manager – Pay & Reward to join an established financial services business. This is a key role sitting at the heart of their people operations function, with responsibility for ensuring our pay, reward and payroll processes are accurate, efficient and continually evolving.

The role would suit someone who combines strong operational HR expertise with a genuine interest in pay, reward, systems and process improvement. You will take ownership of the reward lifecycle, work closely with our third-party payroll provider and play a key role in our annual pay review process, while ensuring we maximise the capability of our HR and payroll systems.

You will be responsible for the effective delivery and continuous improvement of our pay and reward operations, including:

• Managing the relationship with our third-party payroll provider, ensuring a consistently accurate and high-quality payroll service.
• Owning the end-to-end reward lifecycle, from salary changes and promotions through to annual pay reviews and other reward processes.
• Leading the annual pay review process, coordinating stakeholders, managing timelines and ensuring accurate implementation.
• Working closely with Finance, HR and other stakeholders to ensure payroll, reward and people data are aligned.
• Maximising the capabilities of our Sage payroll system, identifying opportunities to improve automation, reporting, controls and overall efficiency.
• Supporting the effective management of global mobility, including processes relating to internationally mobile employees and the associated pay and reward considerations.
• Ensuring appropriate governance, controls and compliance across payroll and reward processes.
• Reviewing and improving HR operations processes, identifying opportunities to streamline and automate activity.
• Producing and analysing relevant payroll, reward and people data to support decision-making.
• Acting as a subject matter expert on pay, payroll and reward-related matters, providing advice and guidance to HR and wider stakeholders.
• Supporting wider HR projects and initiatives where there is an operational, systems, payroll or reward requirement.

We are looking for someone who is comfortable operating at both a strategic and hands-on level. You'll be someone who enjoys getting into the detail, but can also step back to identify better ways of working.

You'll ideally bring:

• Strong experience in HR operations, payroll and reward, ideally within a complex organisation.
• Proven experience managing or overseeing a third-party payroll provider.
• Strong knowledge of the annual pay review and reward cycle.
• Experience working with HR/payroll systems, with knowledge of Sage particularly desirable.
• A track record of improving processes, systems and operational efficiency.
• Experience working with global mobility or internationally mobile employees.
• Strong analytical skills and excellent attention to detail.
• The confidence to work with senior stakeholders across HR, Finance and the wider business.
• Excellent organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and stakeholders.
• A pragmatic, solutions-focused approach and the ability to get things done.
• Experience within financial services, professional services or another regulated, commercially focused environment would be highly desirable.