Payroll and Systems Team Leader

Harlow Council; England; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dynamic working

Flexible working

Health and wellbeing initiatives

Employee assistance programme

Professional development support

Job summary

Harlow Council is seeking a Payroll and Systems Team Leader to manage a small payroll team and oversee the council's integrated HR and payroll systems. The role focuses on accurate, on-time payroll for employees, pensioners, councillors and election staff, with compliance to HMRC and pension rules.

You will lead on Local Government Pension Scheme, payroll audits, and system upgrades, while supervising staff and driving process improvements.

Qualifications

• End-to-end payroll management experience
• Experience supervising staff
• Experience with payroll systems and process improvement

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise the payroll team to ensure deadlines are met
• Process payroll for employees, pensioners, councillors and election staff
• Ensure compliance with payroll law, HMRC rules and year-end processes
• Act as liaison for Local Government Pension Scheme
• Lead payroll audit compliance and data accuracy
• Manage and develop HR and payroll systems and upgrades
• Produce payroll and workforce reports
• Offer expert advice on payroll, pensions and systems

Skills

Payroll legislation knowledge

Pension administration

Analytical skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Education

A-Level / NVQ3 or equivalent

CIPP qualification or relevant experience

Tools

Payroll software

Job description

This Payroll and Systems Team Leader post sits in Harlow Council's HR and Organisational Development team, leading a small payroll team and the council's integrated HR and payroll systems. Its core is accurate, on-time payroll for employees, pensioners, councillors and election staff, kept compliant with HMRC and pension rules. The post also acts as the key contact for the Local Government Pension Scheme and leads on audit and systems upgrades. Applicants need experience of running an end-to-end payroll service and of supervising staff.

What the job involves

• Lead and supervise the payroll team so payroll deadlines are met
• Process payroll accurately for employees, pensioners, councillors and election staff
• Ensure compliance with payroll law, HMRC rules, statutory payments and year-end processes
• Act as the key contact for the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Lead on payroll audit compliance and data accuracy
• Manage and develop HR and payroll systems, including improvements and upgrades
• Produce payroll and workforce reports
• Give expert advice on payroll, pensions and systems

Qualifications

• A-Level, NVQ3 or equivalent, with a CIPP qualification or relevant experience

Experience

• Significant experience delivering an end-to-end payroll service
• Experience managing or supervising staff
• Experience of payroll systems and process improvement

Skills & knowledge

• Strong knowledge of payroll legislation, HMRC requirements and pension administration
• Excellent analytical, organisational and communication skills

Nice to have

• Knowledge of local government payroll and the LGPS

What’s offered

• Dynamic Working approach, with most full-time staff in the office four days a week pro rata
• Flexible working arrangements
• Health and wellbeing initiatives
• Employee assistance programme
• Support for professional development