Payroll & Benefits Manager

Thames Water Utilities Limited; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Thames Water Utilities Limited is seeking a Payroll & Benefits Manager to oversee payroll processes and team management. This hybrid position requires strong organizational skills and expertise in payroll legislation. With a competitive salary up to £60,000, it's an opportunity to join a leader in water supply and waste management.

Benefits

Competitive salary up to £60,000

26 days holiday increasing to 30 with service

Contributory pension – Maximum of 12%

Annual Personal Medical Assessments

Wider benefits scheme

Qualifications

• Experience managing a payroll team in a large organisation.
• Excellent current technical payroll knowledge.
• Skilled in building team relationships.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the end-to-end payroll process for timely and accurate payroll.
• Manage third-party providers for payroll operations.
• Develop payroll team skills and ensure compliance with regulations.

Skills

Organisational skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

Associate member (Level 5) of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD)

Foundation degree in Payroll Management from the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals

Tools

ServiceNow case management system

SAP HR

Job description

Job title Payroll & Benefits Manager Ref 38777 Division People Location Hybrid - Clearwater Court - RG1 8DB Contract type Permanent Full/Part-time Full-time Salary Offering up to £60,000 per annum depending on experience Job grade B Closing date 10/07/2025

The Payroll and Benefits Manager is responsible for overseeing and managing the payroll process for the business. This role ensures timely and accurate payroll processing, compliance with regulatory requirements, and effective administration.

The ideal candidate will possess strong organisational, analytical, and communication skills, with a focus on enhancing customer experience and organisational efficiency.

What you’ll be doing as a Payroll and Benefits Manager

• Stay up to date and ensure they maintain compliance with financial legislation, such as working hours, minimum wage, and general payroll regulations.
• Oversee the end-to-end payroll process, ensuring timely and accurate payroll for all employees.
• Stakeholder Management: manage third-party providers involved in payroll operations, such as external payroll service providers and debt collection agencies.
• Lead and manage the payroll team, ensuring they deliver and challenge existing processes to drive best-in-class performance.
• Effectively manage complex cases and escalations by providing thorough, detailed responses and implementing proactive measures to prevent the recurrence of similar issues.
• Develop the skills of the payroll team, ensuring they have an in-depth understanding of HR policies, processes and employment law.
• Ensure full compliance with our internal controls, HMRC requirements and data protection legislation.

Base Location – Hybrid – Clear Water Court Reading.

Working Pattern – 36 hours, Monday to Friday.

What you should bring to the role

• Experience in leadership, managing a payroll team in a large organisation.
• Skilled in building strong team relationships and fostering collaborative working methods to enhance overall performance.
• Experience in managing third-party providers to ensure service levels are achieved
• Excellent current technical payroll knowledge.
• Good organisational, written and verbal communication skills.
• Associate member (Level 5) of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) or equivalent professional qualification or HR knowledge.
• Experience using the ServiceNow case management system.
• A foundation degree in Payroll Management from the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals.
• Proficient in the use of SAP HR.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary of up to £60,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year, increasing to 30 with the length of service. (Plus bank holidays)
• Contributory pension – Defined Contribution - Maximum of 12% -2x employee contribution.
• Personal Medical Assessments – Open to all once a year.
• Wider benefits scheme including our benefits hub, which is packed full of offers and information to save you money and support your wellbeing.

We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people, and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Thames Water is a unique, rewarding, and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy fast-tracked career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

Whether you’re interested in a role in one of our call centres or science labs, we’re looking for people like you with real passion and a burning desire to make things better.

So, if you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

Our overarching aim is to ensure that Thames Water is great, diverse, and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process . Our aim is to remove any real or perceived barriers to success, so if you need assistance, we’re here to help and support .

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business and meet colleagues.

Disclaimer: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.