Payroll and Compliance Manager

LMJ Group | Chartered Accountants; Watford; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

LMJ Group is seeking an experienced Payroll and Compliance Manager to handle a portfolio of payroll clients and oversee related statutory compliance work. The role is client-facing and will involve acting as the main point of contact for clients, reviewing the work of other payroll staff, and ensuring payroll and compliance services are delivered accurately, professionally, and on time.

The successful candidate will manage end-to-end payroll processing, HMRC submissions, P11Ds, and Companies

Qualifications

• Minimum 7+ years of payroll experience, ideally in an accountancy practice or payroll bureau.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation including PAYE, NIC, pensions, RTI, and year-end.
• Experience preparing or reviewing P11Ds and Companies House filings.
• Proven ability to review others' work and maintain high accuracy.
• Excellent communication and client management skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of payroll clients and ensure deadlines are met.
• Act as main client contact for payroll and compliance matters.
• Review the work of other payroll staff for accuracy and compliance.
• Provide support and day-to-day oversight to the payroll team.
• Process payroll end-to-end including starters, leavers, RTI, pensions, and deductions.
• Ensure HMRC submissions and payroll filings are completed on time.
• Prepare year-end payroll documentation (P45s, P60s, P11Ds).
• File Companies House confirmation statements and update client info as needed.
• Monitor deadlines and improve payroll systems and service delivery.

Skills

End-to-end payroll

UK payroll legislation

P11Ds compliance

Companies House filings

Client management

Staff supervision

RTI submissions

Year-end payroll

Tools

Inform Direct

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Role overview

LMJ Group is seeking an experienced Payroll and Compliance Manager to manage a portfolio of payroll clients and oversee related statutory compliance work. The role is client-facing and will involve acting as the main point of contact for clients, reviewing the work of other payroll staff, and ensuring payroll and compliance services are delivered accurately, professionally, and on time.

The successful candidate will take responsibility for end-to-end payroll processing, HMRC submissions, P11Ds, and Companies House confirmation statements. This role is suited to someone with strong technical payroll knowledge, excellent organisational skills, and the ability to manage multiple deadlines across a varied client portfolio.

Key responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of payroll clients, ensuring all work is completed accurately, efficiently, and within agreed deadlines.
• Act as the main point of contact for clients on payroll and related compliance matters, building strong and professional working relationships.
• Review the work of other payroll staff to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance with internal procedures and statutory requirements.
• Provide support, guidance, and day-to-day oversight to other payroll team members where required.
• Process payroll from start to finish, including starters, leavers, salary changes, statutory payments, deductions, pensions, and RTI submissions.
• Ensure HMRC submissions and payroll-related filings are completed accurately and on time.
• Prepare and review year-end payroll documentation, including P45s, P60s, and P11Ds.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and ensure appropriate reconciliations and audit trails are in place.
• Prepare and file Companies House confirmation statements, ensuring client company information is checked and kept up to date before submission.
• Review key statutory information for filing purposes, including directors, shareholders, persons with significant control, registered office details, and SIC codes.
• Monitor payroll and compliance deadlines to ensure all submissions are made within statutory timeframes.
• Support improvements to payroll systems, procedures, and service delivery standards.

Skills and experience

• Minimum 7+ years of relevant payroll experience, ideally within an accountancy practice, payroll bureau, or client-facing environment.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, including PAYE, NIC, pensions, statutory payments, RTI, and year-end procedures.
• Experience preparing or reviewing P11Ds and dealing with associated payroll compliance requirements.
• Experience preparing or assisting with Companies House confirmation statements and related statutory company information.
• Proven ability to review the work of others and maintain high standards of technical accuracy.
• Strong communication and client management skills, with confidence acting as the lead contact for clients.
• Excellent attention to detail, organisation, and the ability to prioritise effectively across multiple deadlines.
• Good working knowledge of payroll software including Inform Direct and Microsoft Excel.

Personal attributes

• Professional and client-focused approach.
• Reliable, organised, and able to work with a high degree of accuracy.
• Able to work independently while also supporting the wider payroll team.
• Proactive in identifying issues and improving processes.