Payroll Implementation Specialist

Michael Page; Greater London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment consultancy is seeking a Payroll Implementation Specialist to establish a comprehensive payroll function for a rapidly scaling technology organization in London. The role involves designing processes, managing system implementations, and ensuring compliance with statutory requirements. The ideal candidate will have extensive payroll expertise and experience with payroll transformations. This temporary role offers a competitive daily rate of GBP 400 to GBP 450, providing valuable experience in a structured environment.

Benefits

Competitive daily rate

Professional working environment

Collaborative team environment

Qualifications

• Extensive experience delivering payroll implementations ideally in fast-growing businesses.
• Proven ability to build a payroll function from scratch with compliance design.
• Strong data skills with experience in migration and validation.

Responsibilities

• Build an end-to-end payroll function including governance, controls, and workflows.
• Lead implementation of payroll systems including configuration and testing.
• Establish statutory compliance practices for PAYE, NI, and HMRC reporting.

Skills

Payroll implementation

UK payroll legislation

Data migration

Stakeholder management

Excellent communication

Tools

Payroll systems

Job description

Overview

The business is seeking an experienced Payroll Implementation Specialist to design, build, and implement a complete payroll function for a rapidly scaling technology organisation. This role requires deep payroll expertise, hands‑on implementation capability, and the ability to set up systems, processes, compliance frameworks, and operational controls from the ground up. The ideal candidate is immediately available or on a 1 week notice.

Client Details

The employer is a well-established organisation within the business services industry, known for providing exceptional solutions to its clients. This medium-sized company values precision and efficiency in its operations and offers a professional and structured working environment. The business is a fast‑growing London‑based technology company entering its next stage of scale. With rapid headcount growth and expanding operations, the organisation is investing heavily in building strong internal foundations, including establishing a best‑in‑class payroll function to support its future growth.

Description

Responsibilities:

• Build an end‑to‑end payroll function for the business, including operating model, governance, controls, workflows, and SLAs.
• Design payroll processes covering inputs, validations, approvals, reconciliations, statutory submissions, year‑end tasks, and audit requirements.
• Lead the full implementation of the chosen payroll system, including configuration, integration, testing, and go‑live readiness.
• Oversee data migration, data cleansing, mapping, and validation activities.
• Manage SIT, UAT, and parallel payroll testing cycles to ensure accurate calculation and compliance.
• Develop documentation, Standard Operating Procedures, process maps, and ongoing payroll manuals for internal use.
• Establish statutory compliance practices in relation to PAYE, NI, pensions, and HMRC reporting.
• Build the long‑term payroll control environment including quality checks, segregation of duties, and assurance frameworks.
• Partner closely with HR, Finance, and IT teams to ensure integration and alignment across systems and processes.
• Act as the payroll subject‑matter expert during system selection, implementation, and operational transition.
• Support training, knowledge transfer, and handover to permanent teams post‑go‑live.
• Provide post‑implementation hypercare and ongoing optimisation recommendations.

Profile

A successful Payroll Implementation Specialist should have:

• Extensive experience delivering payroll implementations or major payroll transformations, ideally within fast‑growing or tech‑centric businesses.
• Proven ability to build a payroll function from scratch, including process design, compliance design, and operational controls.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, statutory requirements, and best‑practice payroll governance.
• Hands‑on configuration and testing experience with payroll systems and integrations.
• Strong data skills with experience in migration and validation.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple stakeholders across HR, Finance, and IT.
• Comfortable in a fast‑paced, scaling environment with changing priorities.
• Excellent communication and documentation skills.

Job Offer

• Competitive daily rate of GBP 400 to GBP 450.
• Opportunity to work in a professional and structured environment.
• Temporary position offering valuable experience in payroll implementation.
• Collaborative team environment within the business services industry.
• Role based in the vibrant city of London.

If you are ready to take on this exciting opportunity as a Payroll Implementation Specialist in London, we encourage you to apply now!