Manager, Payroll Implementation, Newcastle Upon Tyne/Manchester 1

EY; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

EY is seeking an Implementation Manager to lead Payroll Operate onboarding for UK clients. You will manage end-to-end payroll implementations, coordinate data migration, and ensure delivery to time and high quality.

Based in the UK, you will collaborate with cross‑functional teams across the EY Payroll Operate hubs in Newcastle, Manchester, Belfast and London, and you may base anywhere in the UK for the right candidate.

Qualifications

• Over 5 years’ hands-on UK Payroll knowledge.
• Payroll qualifications (CIPP) preferred.
• Experience of payroll implementations in high-volume environments.
• Understanding of AE, RTI, Apprenticeship Levy.
• Accuracy and deadline-driven workload management.

Responsibilities

• Interact with clients to understand payroll needs and develop requirements.
• Plan and deliver client implementation projects to meet target dates.
• Coordinate data migration, parallel runs and first live with clients.
• Document proposed payroll functionality and client procedures.
• Coordinate with service delivery for handover to BAU.
• Develop bespoke financial reports such as general ledger reports.
• Ensure compliance with Quality and Risk requirements.
• Mentor and develop junior team members.
• Prepare fee and budget details.
• Identify and mitigate key risks impacting delivery.

Skills

UK Payroll knowledge

Stakeholder management

Project management

Communication

Tools

iTrent

Job description

At EY, we’re all in to shape your future with confidence.

We’ll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go.

Join EY and help to build a better working world.

The opportunity

We are looking for driven and ambitious payroll implementation professionals who are keen to develop a challenging and stimulating career. As an Implementation Manager you will play a critical role in onboarding new clients to EY’s Payroll Operate solution in the UK. Find out more about our EY Payroll Operate; managed payroll services in 159 countries designed to transform your payroll function and create a distinctive employee experience via one compliance, process and technology platform.

This is an exciting role in our fast-growing UK Payroll Operate team – Payroll is a strategic growth driver for EY and therefore has senior leadership interest and support. Our payroll hubs are Newcastle, Manchester, Belfast and London, however for the right candidate this role can be based anywhere in the UK. The successful candidate will be responsible for delivery of high quality and timely implementations for new clients.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Interact with clients to understand their Payroll needs and develop requirements to ensure that the implementations are completed on time and to the highest quality
• Establish the plan and manage delivery of the client implementation project to ensure target dates are met
• Co‑ordinate data migration, parallel and first live runs with the client and the relevant internal teams
• Ability to accurately document proposed payroll functionality and draft client procedures
• Work with the service delivery team to ensure smooth handover to the business‑as‑usual team
• Developing and advising on bespoke financial reports, such as general ledger reports
• Understanding of and complying with Quality and Risk requirements for professional service firms
• Supporting and developing more junior members of the team
• Preparing fee and budget details
• Identify, manage, resolve, and mitigate key risks and issues impacting the client delivery, and acting as a point of escalation when needed

Skills And Attributes For Success

We are looking for candidates with core expertise and proven experience in Payroll Implementation of UK clients, and who can work alongside global teams. The key skills required for this role include:

• Solid UK Payroll technical knowledge
• Strong stakeholder management skills
• Demonstrable project management and time management skills – balancing multiple priorities by considering importance, level of urgency and other dependencies
• A desire to take on responsibility
• Assertive and proactive approach to the delivery and implementation of client engagements
• Aptitude for effectively networking within large organisations and building relationships with individuals and clients
• Ability to utilise research effectively and explain complex subjects in a clear manner
• Capability to problem solve and develop bespoke client solutions
• Ability to build strong client relationships and committed to delivery of exceptional client service

To qualify for the role, you must have:

• Over 5 years’ relevant hands‑on UK Payroll knowledge
• Payroll qualifications e.g., Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) (preferred)
• Experience of payroll implementations in a high-volume business is essential
• Expertise in understanding payroll compliance, rules, and legislations
• Knowledge and hands on experience in Statutory payments/deductions and Pension contributions and their management
• Thorough understanding of upstream and downstream processes that impact Payroll
• Good understanding of payroll compliance including AE, RTI, Apprenticeship Levy
• iTrent experience preferred, but not essential
• A high level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Good workload management skills and an ability to work to deadlines

What Working At EY Offers

We offer a competitive remuneration package where you’ll be rewarded for your individual and team performance. Our comprehensive Total Rewards package includes support for flexible working and career development, and with FlexEY you can select benefits that suit your needs, covering holidays, health and well‑being, insurance, savings and a wide range of discounts, offers and promotions. Plus, we offer:

• Support, coaching and feedback from some of the most engaging colleagues around
• Opportunities to develop new skills and progress your career
• The freedom and flexibility to handle your role in a way that’s right for you

About EY

As a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services, we’re using the finance products, expertise and systems we’ve developed to build a better working world. That starts with a culture that believes in giving you the training, opportunities and creative freedom to make things better. Whenever you join, however long you stay, the exceptional EY experience lasts a lifetime.

EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets.

Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.

EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.