Payments and Reconciliation Manager (Education Managed Services)

IRIS Software Group; Grimsby, Leeds, Manchester, Slough; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading software organization in the UK seeks an experienced Payments & Reconciliations Manager. In this role, you will lead all BACS and payment reconciliation activities, ensuring accurate and compliant processing. You will manage a growing team, drive continuous improvement, and maintain financial controls. Ideal candidates will have 3-5+ years of experience in payroll processing, strong BACS knowledge, and a passion for leading high-performing teams. Join a supportive culture focused on employee wellbeing and development.

Benefits

Collaborative culture

Opportunities for development

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years’ experience in payroll payment processing within a bureau or finance environment.
• Strong knowledge of BACS systems and payroll accounting.
• Experience leading and developing teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage BACS payment processes including authorisation and submission.
• Ensure payment controls and governance.
• Lead investigations of payment exceptions and complex queries.
• Produce reconciliation reports for stakeholders.
• Act as payment SME and maintain relationship with BACS software provider.
• Develop and manage high-performance teams.

Skills

Payroll payment processing

Reconciliations

BACS systems

Advanced Excel

Leadership

Analytical skills

Education

AAT or CIPP (or equivalent)

Job description

At IRIS Software Group, our mission is simple : we help organisations run the tough stuff so they can focus on productivity and growth. As a Great Place to Work and one of the UK's Best Workplaces for Women, we are proud to create an environment where people feel supported, empowered, and part of a high‑performing team.

We are now looking for an experienced Payments & Reconciliations Manager to join our Education Managed Services division and lead all BACS and payment reconciliation activity across a large, multi-client payroll bureau.

The role

As Payments & Reconciliations Manager, you will be responsible for ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant payment processing, managing all BACS and third‑party payments, overseeing reconciliations, and maintaining robust financial controls.

You will lead a growing team of payment and reconciliation specialists while driving continuous improvement in processes, systems and customer service.

What you’ll be doing

• Managing all BACS payment processes including production, authorisation and submission.
• Ensuring strong governance across payment controls, segregation of duties, dual approval, and audit trails.
• Leading the investigation of payment exceptions, failed payments and complex queries.
• Producing reconciliation reports and management information for internal and external stakeholders.
• Acting as the payment SME and maintaining a close relationship with our BACS software provider.
• Coaching, developing and managing a team to achieve performance and quality targets.
• Supporting internal / external audits and ensuring compliance with BACS rules, GDPR and relevant legislation.

What you’ll bring

• 3–5+ years’ experience in payroll payment processing and reconciliations within a bureau, finance or outsourcing environment.
• Strong knowledge of BACS systems (BACSTEL‑IP or bureau channels), Faster Payments and CHAPS.
• Understanding of payroll accounting, control accounts and reconciliations.
• Leadership experience and a passion for developing teams.
• High attention to detail, analytical skills and advanced Excel capability.
• AAT or CIPP (or equivalent) is desirable but not essential.

Why IRIS?

• A certified Great Place to Work with a strong focus on employee wellbeing and development.
• A collaborative, supportive culture that empowers individuals to make an impact.
• Opportunities to work on mission‑critical functions that directly support millions of users and UK businesses.

If you're motivated by accuracy, operational excellence and leading high‑performing teams, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply now to join a market‑leading organisation making a real difference across the UK.

Please note :

We occasionally close vacancies early in the event that we receive a high volume of applications. Therefore we recommend you apply as soon as possible.