Payroll Lead

Cedar Recruitment; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Benefits

Job summary

Cedar Recruitment in London seeks a Payroll Lead to own end-to-end UK payroll for a growing, multi-site workforce in a hybrid role. You’ll manage day-to-day payroll operations and shape processes and team growth.

The role combines hands-on delivery with strategic build-out, including system improvements, HMRC compliance, and partnerships with Finance and HR. Salary £100,000-£110,000 plus bonus and benefits.

Qualifications

• Substantial UK payroll experience in high-volume environments.
• End-to-end payroll management with leadership potential.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation (auto-enrolment, RTI).
• Experience implementing payroll systems (ADP, Iris, Sage, Ceridian/Dayforce).

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end payroll for a growing, multi-site workforce, ensuring accurate and timely delivery.
• Manage PAYE, NI, pensions, benefits, expenses, starters and leavers, statutory pay, year-end reporting.
• Build and lead a payroll team, hire and coach as it grows.
• Review and improve payroll systems, controls and processes, including automation and HR/finance integration.
• Ensure HMRC compliance and manage audits.
• Partner with Finance and HR on headcount reporting, forecasting and reconciliations.

Skills

UK payroll

Leadership

RTI & auto-enrolment

Payroll systems

Data reconciliation

Tools

ADP

Iris

Sage

Ceridian/Dayforce

Job description

Payroll Lead – London (Hybrid)

Salary: £100,000- £110,000 plus bonus and benefits

Location: London, hybrid

About the role

We’re a fast-growing London consumer business with a loyal customer base and a team that cares about getting things right. As we scale, payroll needs to scale with us. We’re looking for a Payroll Lead to take ownership of the function and build it into something robust, efficient and ready for the next stage of growth.

This is a hands‑on leadership role. You’ll run payroll day to day, then shape the processes, systems and team around it. You’ll start as the expert in the room and, over time, hire and develop a team beneath you.

What you’ll do

• Own end-to-end payroll for a growing, multi-site workforce, ensuring accurate and timely delivery every cycle
• Manage the full range of statutory and operational payroll: PAYE, NI, pensions, benefits, expenses, starters and leavers, statutory pay, and year-end reporting
• Build and lead a payroll team, setting out the structure, making the first hires and coaching the team as it grows
• Review and improve payroll systems, controls and processes, including automation and integration with HR and finance systems
• Make sure the business stays compliant with HMRC and wider employment legislation, and manage audits
• Partner with Finance, HR and the wider business on headcount reporting, forecasting, month-end journals and reconciliations
• Act as the point of escalation for payroll queries and build a service colleagues trust
• Manage relationships with external providers, pension administrators and advisers

What we’re looking for

• Substantial UK payroll experience, ideally in a consumer, retail, hospitality or similarly high-volume, varied-workforce environment
• Experience managing payroll end to end, with demonstrable leadership experience or a clear readiness to step into it
• Strong technical knowledge of UK payroll legislation, including auto-enrolment, statutory payments and RTI
• Experience implementing or optimising payroll systems (e.g. ADP, Iris, Sage, Ceridian/Dayforce or similar)
• Comfort with data and reconciliations, and a sharp eye for detail
• A practical, improvement-minded approach and the confidence to challenge and influence senior stakeholders
• CIPP qualification or equivalent is desirable but not essential