Interim Senior Payroll Manager

Mattioli Woods plc; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services firm in the UK is seeking an experienced Senior Payroll Manager. The role involves overseeing payroll for Group employees and client trustee companies, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and timely delivery. The successful candidate will lead a small payroll team, manage processes, and contribute to the strategic objectives of the company. Opportunities for career progression and a competitive salary package are provided.

Benefits

Group pension

Life assurance

Income protection

Health cash plan

Career progression opportunities

Participation in charity and social activities

Qualifications

• Proven experience in managing payroll functions.
• Deep understanding of UK tax regulations and compliance.
• Ability to lead and develop a payroll team efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Oversee payroll accuracy and compliance for employees and client companies.
• Lead a payroll team in addressing queries and managing workloads.
• Enhance and standardize payroll processes across the organization.
• Ensure compliance with client pension regulations and relationship management.
• Monitor payroll KPIs and implement process improvements.
• Work closely with HR on employee pay issues and benefits.

Skills

Extensive payroll and management experience

Strong technical knowledge of UK payroll and HMRC rules

Excellent interpersonal skills

Experience in process improvement

Stakeholder management

Education

Qualified payroll professional

Tools

Workday

HiBob

Job description

Are you an experienced payroll professional looking to take the lead in a dynamic, fast-growing environment? We're seeking a Senior Payroll Manager to oversee the delivery of payroll for both our Group employees and client trustee companies.

What we're looking for:

• a qualified payroll professional with extensive payroll and management experience
• strong technical knowledge of UK payroll, HMRC rules, and tax regulations
• a credible, influential, and collaborative team member, with excellent interpersonal skills
• experience in process improvement, KPI monitoring, and stakeholder management

What you'll do:

• manage and coordinate payroll for all employees and client trustee companies, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery via Workday and HiBob
• lead, coach, and develop a small payroll team, helping them respond to queries and manage workloads efficiently
• review, improve, and standardise payroll processes across the Group, supporting integration of acquired businesses, supporting variance analysis and being a key role in payroll budgeting
• ensure client pension payments comply with statutory regulations and manage key relationships with internal teams and external stakeholders, including HMRC
• monitor payroll KPIs, troubleshoot issues, and implement process improvements
• review controls and governance frameworks to optimise processes, ensuring procedure notes are documented and understood
• business partner with HR regarding employee-related pay issues, integration of acquisitions and employee benefits packages
• review month‑end balance sheet control accounts to validate payroll balances and ensure any balancing entries are understood
• oversee long‑term incentive schemes, liaising with HR, the Finance team, and external providers

Why this role matters:

This position is not just about processing payroll - it's about shaping how payroll services support our strategic objectives, ensuring compliance, and enabling the business to grow confidently.

What's in it for you:

• opportunities for career progression and professional development
• participation in charity and social activities
• a chance to lead and shape a critical payroll function in a growing, dynamic business
• competitive salary and flexible benefits package, including:
  • group pension
  • life assurance
  • income protection
  • health cash plan

About Mattioli Woods

With decades of experience, Mattioli Woods helps clients achieve financial security through tailored, relationship‑led solutions. We combine technical expertise with a professional yet supportive culture, ensuring our people and clients thrive.

Ready to make an impact on payroll and rewards at Mattioli Woods?

Apply today or contact us for a confidential conversation.