Interim Head of Payroll

Robertson Bell; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A national organisation is seeking an Interim Head of Payroll to take full ownership of payroll delivery across multiple organisations. This 3-month interim role offers a stable environment to lead an experienced team, ensuring payroll accuracy and compliance. The ideal candidate has extensive experience running large-scale payrolls, effective management capabilities, and strong knowledge of payroll systems like iTrent. This position allows for flexible working and potential for permanent appointment.

Benefits

Flexible working

Supportive culture

Strong long-term development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience running large-scale payrolls with full accountability.
• Experience managing multiple payrolls in a shared services environment.
• Strong hands-on payroll knowledge; able to run payroll if required.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end payroll delivery across multiple payrolls.
• Lead an established payroll team.
• Act as the senior point of accountability for payroll accuracy and compliance.

Skills

Large-scale payroll management

People management

Payroll system expertise (iTrent)

Tools

iTrent

Job description

Are you confident running large, complex payrolls without hand-holding? Can you lead an experienced team and keep everything running smoothly from day one? Do you enjoy being fully accountable for payroll delivery in a shared-service environment?

A large national organisation operating a shared payroll service is seeking an Interim Head of Payroll to take full ownership of payroll delivery across multiple organisations. This is a 3-month interim role with a clear view to permanent appointment, stepping into a stable, well-run function following the departure of a long-standing postholder.

The shared service delivers payroll for c. 3,500–3,600 employees across multiple payrolls, including permanent staff and contractor populations. The team beneath you is experienced and capable — this role exists to provide confident leadership, oversight and accountability.

Key responsibilities include:

• Taking full operational ownership of end-to-end payroll delivery across multiple payrolls.
• Leading and managing an established payroll team (Payroll Manager, Supervisors and Administrators).
• Acting as the senior point of accountability for payroll accuracy, controls and compliance.
• Ensuring continuity and stability following the transition of the previous postholder.
• Overseeing monthly payroll cycles, including contractor and timesheet-based payrolls.
• Acting as the main escalation point for complex payroll queries and decision-making.
• Maintaining strong relationships with HMRC and ensuring ongoing compliance.
• Using iTrent effectively to manage payroll operations and reporting.

This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior payroll leadership role where the fundamentals are already strong. You won’t be firefighting historic issues or inheriting broken processes — instead, you’ll be trusted to take control, provide calm leadership, and keep a large shared-service payroll running efficiently. The organisation offers flexible working, a supportive culture, and strong long-term development opportunities for those moving into the permanent role.

To be considered, please meet these criteria:

• Proven experience running large-scale payrolls with full end-to-end accountability.
• Experience managing multiple payrolls or operating within a shared services environment.
• Confident people manager, comfortable leading experienced payroll professionals.
• Strong hands-on payroll knowledge — able to run payroll personally if required.
• Experience with payroll systems (iTrent experience highly advantageous).
• Experience and capability valued over formal payroll qualifications.

This role requires an immediate or near-immediate start. Interviews are taking place on a rolling basis, and high-quality profiles will be considered even after the initial closing date. Apply now to avoid missing out.