Pay & Reward Manager

Syme Drummond Ltd; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consultancy firm is seeking a Pay & Reward Manager in Edinburgh or Inverness. The role involves managing a payroll team, administering pensions, and enhancing payroll processes in a collaborative environment. Candidates should have payroll management experience and be comfortable leading teams. The position offers flexibility, generous holidays, and a strong pension scheme, making it an excellent opportunity for payroll professionals.

Benefits

Flexi working

Generous holidays

Civil Service pension scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience successfully managing a payroll function and team.
• Familiarity with HMRC requirements.
• Desirable experience with Civil Service pension schemes.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop two Pay & Reward Officers.
• Ensure accurate payroll across two organisations.
• Administer pension schemes.
• Maintain relationships with HR and unions.
• Liaise with HMRC and payroll system providers.
• Review and improve payroll processes.

Skills

Payroll management

Understanding of payroll & pension legislation

Strong numerical skills

Analytical skills

Excel proficiency

Effective communication

Empathy in leadership

Education

CIPP payroll qualification

Experience with Civil Service terms

Tools

iTrent

Job description

Pay & Reward Manager
Location: Edinburgh or Inverness (Hybrid – Min 1 day per week in office)
Salary: £42,467 – £44,646 + exceptional benefits including flexi working, generous holidays, and 28.97% Civil Service pension scheme

Help shape the future of pay and reward for over 1,300 employees while enjoying flexibility, balance, and the security of a Civil Service career.

Syme Drummond is delighted to be partnering exclusively, on a retained basis, with Forestry and Land Scotland to appoint a Pay & Reward Manager. In this hands-on leadership role, you’ll lead a small, capable team and oversee accurate, timely payroll and pensions services across Forestry and Land Scotland and Scottish Forestry, with scope to refine processes, drive improvements, and make a genuine impact in a supportive, collaborative environment.

What you’ll do:

Lead, manage, and develop two Pay & Reward Officers.
Deliver accurate, timely payroll across two organisations (FLS & Scottish Forestry), including reconciliations, submissions and statutory returns.
Administer Civil Service and Partnership pension schemes.
Maintain strong relationships with HR colleagues, managers, and unions.
Liaise with HMRC, pension administrators, and payroll system providers (iTrent).
Review and improve payroll processes, ensuring legislative compliance.
Provide expert advice on pay, tax, NI, pensions, and deductions.

We’re looking for someone who:

Has proven experience successfully managing a payroll function and team.
Understands payroll & pension legislation and HMRC requirements.
Is confident using integrated HR & payroll systems (ideally iTrent).
Brings strong numerical, analytical, and Excel skills.
Communicates clearly, leads with empathy, and thrives in a collaborative environment.
(Desirable) Has experience with Civil Service terms and pension schemes or holds a CIPP payroll qualification.

Why join?

Real flexibility: Hybrid working, compressed hours options, and a clear “right to switch off” — no evenings or weekends. Flexitime lets you take up to two days off per month if you’ve built up the time.
Work–life balance: 35-hour week or open to compressed working/30 hours; 25 days’ annual leave rising to 30 (plus 11.5 public holidays).
Great benefits: Excellent Civil Service pension; supportive, friendly offices (Edinburgh & Inverness) with a collaborative vibe, and practical touches like parking if you commute.
Supportive leadership: Hands-off, trust-based management with regular check-ins; a team culture that values decisions, follow-through and good humour!
Impact and improvement: Scope to streamline processes, automate where possible and make better use of iTrent with help from our HR Systems colleagues.

If you’re a payroll professional with proven leadership skills and the desire to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now to bring your skills to an organisation that values people as much as the work they do, or reach out to [e-mail] to find out more and have a confidential discussion.