Payroll Implementation Manager (FTC)

Cygnet Group

West Malling

Hybrid

GBP 90,000 - 100,000

Full time

6 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Career progression

Pension scheme

Cycle to work

Blue Light discount

Annual leave 25+1

Job summary

Cygnet Health Care is seeking an experienced Payroll Implementation Manager for the Kings Hill Office in West Malling, Kent. The role leads the payroll transformation from IRIS Payrite to Workday Payroll, ensuring a smooth go-live and ongoing payroll continuity across frequencies.

The role requires strong stakeholder engagement, data migration expertise and a focus on compliance, testing governance and operational readiness to deliver a successful payroll transformation.

Qualifications

Proven payroll implementation or payroll transformation experience.
Experience delivering payroll system implementations.
Strong end-to-end payroll knowledge.
Knowledge of UK statutory payroll legislation.
Experience of payroll testing, reconciliation and data migration.
Experience managing complex projects and stakeholders.
Advanced Excel and data analysis skills.

Responsibilities

Lead the payroll workstream within the Workday implementation programme.
Coordinate data migration, testing and go-live readiness.
Engage stakeholders across Payroll, HR, Finance, and IT.
Ensure payroll continuity and regulatory compliance through go-live.

Skills

Payroll implementation

Workday

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Tools

IRIS Payrite

Workday

Excel

Job description

Helping others improve and turn their lives around - there's no better feeling. It's what we do for thousands of people at more than 150 sites across the UK. Be a part of it.

Cygnet Health Care is one of the UK's largest independent providers of mental health care. Cygnet is seeking and experienced Payroll Implementation Manager to join our Payroll Team at our Kings Hill Office in West Malling, Kent, ME19 4AE.

Please note this a FTC for up to 12 months.

Job Purpose

The Payroll Implementation Manager will lead the operational delivery of the organisation's payroll transformation programme, migrating payroll operations from IRIS Payrite to Workday Payroll.

The role is responsible for coordinating all payroll implementation activities, ensuring payroll processes, controls, integrations, reporting and statutory requirements are successfully transitioned to Workday Payroll. Working closely with Payroll, HR, Finance, IT, Workday consultants and implementation partners, the Payroll Implementation Manager will ensure the solution is delivered on time, within scope and ready for a successful go-live.

The role ensures payroll continuity, data integrity, testing governance, operational readiness and successful adoption of Workday Payroll across all payroll frequencies.

Key Responsibilities

Programme Delivery

Lead day-to-day delivery of the Payroll workstream within the Workday implementation programme.
Develop and maintain detailed project plans, milestone schedules and critical paths.
Monitor progress against agreed timelines and escalation risks where necessary.
Coordinate payroll workshops, design sessions and stakeholder meetings.
Ensure all payroll deliverables are completed to agreed quality standards.
Support governance forums and provide regular project status reporting.

Payroll Process Design

Review existing IRIS Payrite payroll processes and identify opportunities for improvement.
Translate business requirements into Workday Payroll configurations.
Challenge existing processes and drive standardisation where appropriate.
Ensure all payroll procedures are documented and approved.
Support development of future-state payroll operating models.

Data Migration & Validation

Lead payroll data cleansing activities.
Ensure employee, payroll, statutory and historical data is accurate prior to migration.
Coordinate extraction, transformation and loading activities.
Oversee payroll reconciliation activities between source and target systems.
Manage data validation exercises and issue resolution.

Testing Leadership

Own the end-to-end payroll testing strategy.
Develop and coordinate testing plans and scripts.
Ensure defects are documented, prioritised and resolved.
Provide payroll sign-off recommendations.
Drive achievement of payroll accuracy targets prior to go-live.

Stakeholder Management

Act as the key point of contact for payroll implementation activities.
Build strong relationships with Payroll teams, HR teams, Finance, IT, Operational leaders, Workday consultants, Kainos implementation teams
Manage expectations and communicate project updates effectively.
Facilitate decision-making and issue resolution.

Readiness & Change Management

Support development of payroll training materials.
Coordinate payroll training and knowledge transfer activities.
Ensure operational teams are prepared for new processes and technology.
Support change impact assessments and communication plans.
Drive user adoption and confidence.

Go-Live & Hypercare

Lead payroll readiness assessments.
Support Go/No-Go decision-making processes.
Coordinate payroll activities during cutover.
Manage issues during go-live and hypercare periods.
Ensure successful transition into business-as-usual operations.
Parallel payroll validation and go-live readiness are critical success measures of the role.

Key Accountabilities

Successful migration from IRIS Payrite to Workday Payroll.
Delivery of payroll milestones to agreed timelines.
Payroll data accuracy.
Completion of testing and parallel payroll activities.
Stakeholder engagement and communication.
Payroll operational readiness.
Go-live success and payroll continuity.
Regulatory and statutory compliance.

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

Proven payroll implementation or payroll transformation experience.
Experience delivering payroll system implementations.
Strong end-to-end payroll knowledge.
Knowledge of UK statutory payroll legislation.
Experience of payroll testing, reconciliation and data migration.
Experience managing complex projects and stakeholders.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Experience producing project documentation, RAID logs and status reporting.
Advanced Excel and data analysis skills.

Desirable

Workday Payroll implementation experience.
Experience migrating from IRIS Payrite or similar payroll systems.
Prince2, Agile or project management qualification.
Experience working with payroll integrations and third-party interfaces.
Healthcare or multi-site organisation experience.

Key Skills & Competencies

Skilled in project delivery, payroll operations, stakeholder management, and continuous improvement. Proven ability to manage priorities, mitigate risks, ensure payroll compliance and accuracy, lead change initiatives, and drive process and service improvements through effective communication, problem-solving, and decision-making.

Why Cygnet? We'll offer you