Payroll Change & Improvement Manager

Oakleaf Partnership; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 94,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

Oakleaf Partnership is seeking a Payroll Change & Improvement Manager on a 6-month contract, working hybrid from London or Scotland. You will drive payroll transformation globally, improving end-to-end processes and controls, and manage testing and change activities.

You will lead cross-functional teams, communicate with executives, and ensure benefits realisation from initiatives, while supporting BAU payroll during peak periods.

Qualifications

• Proven track record delivering payroll transformation across the UK and EMEA regions.
• Proven track record delivering process improvement or transformation initiatives.
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to lead cross‑functional teams.
• Comfortable operating in a fast‑paced transformation‑driven environment.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead on and support elements of global payroll transformation initiatives, across UK & EMEA entities.
• Design and implement improved end-to-end processes, controls, and ways of working.
• Manage testing, parallel runs, and change management activities.
• Provide regular updates to executive leadership and manage stakeholder communications.
• Track progress and demonstrate benefits realisation from change initiatives.
• Provide hands‑on support to BAU payroll activity during peak periods, complex issues, or resource constraints.
• Use operational involvement to inform and prioritise improvement opportunities.
• Ensure a strong connection between day-to-day operations and change deliver

Skills

Payroll transformation

Process improvement

Project management

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional teams

Job description

Payroll Change & Improvement Manager - 6 month contract - London/Scotland - Hybrid - up to £850 per day

Oakleaf Partnership is delighted to be exclusively partnered with a firm, looking for an experienced Payroll Change & Improvement Manager, on a 6 month contract basis. This role will be responsible for driving continuous improvement, supporting transformation initiatives, and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the payroll processes globally. This role is on a hybrid basis, based in their London/ Scotland office.

The Payroll Change & Improvement Manager will be assisting/overseeing duties such as:

• Lead on and support elements of global payroll transformation initiatives, across UK & EMEA entities
• Design and implement improved end-to-end processes, controls, and ways of working
• Manage testing, parallel runs, and change management activities.
• Provide regular updates to executive leadership and manage stakeholder communications.
• Track progress and demonstrate benefits realisation from change initiatives
• Provide hands‑on support to BAU payroll activity during peak periods, complex issues, or resource constraints
• Use operational involvement to inform and prioritise improvement opportunities
• Ensure a strong connection between day-to-day operations and change deliver

Key Skills

• Proven track record delivering payroll transformation across both the UK and EMEA regions.
• Proven track record delivering process improvement or transformation initiatives
• Excellent project management skills with the ability to lead cross‑functional teams.
• Comfortable operating in a fast‑paced, transformation‑driven environment.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.