Payroll Lead

Local Pensions Partnership; Lancashire; Hybrid; GBP 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days holiday

Bank holidays + extra concessionary/BD

Pension scheme

Health plan

Employee Assistance Programme

Referral scheme

Perk Site

Wellbeing webinars

Fruit and snacks

Free car parking

Job summary

Local Pensions Partnership is seeking a Payroll Lead to provide strategic and operational leadership for LPPA's payroll services, including pensioner and employee payroll across multiple client payrolls.

Reporting to the Finance Director, you will build high‑performing teams, drive governance, compliance and continuous improvement, while delivering accurate, efficient payroll operations and supporting growth across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Significant payroll leadership experience within high‑volume, multi‑client payroll operations.
• Comprehensive knowledge of UK payroll legislation and HMRC requirements.
• Experience in a payroll bureau or third‑party payroll service environment.
• Demonstrable governance, risk management and internal controls experience.
• Strong stakeholder management and ability to influence senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across LPPA's pensioner payroll bureau services and employee payroll function.
• Oversee delivery, governance, performance and continuous improvement of payroll services for ~210,000 pensioners and 360 staff.
• Develop and implement payroll service strategy ensuring scalability, resilience and efficiency.
• Lead and coach payroll teams, fostering accountability and high performance.
• Set service standards, KPIs and ensure compliance with payroll legislation and regulatory obligations.

Skills

Payroll leadership

High-volume payroll

Stakeholder management

Process improvement

Data and analytics

Education

CIPP qualification

Tools

Payroll software

Job description

Payroll Lead

Remote/Hybrid Working with 2 days in Preston, Lancashire
Remote working contracts will be considered for candidates living 50+ miles from our offices in Preston
Salary circa £60k & benefits DOE 37 hours a week

A glance at the role:

We are looking for an experienced Payroll Lead to provide strategic and operational leadership for LPPA's payroll services, encompassing both our employee payroll function and a large-scale, multi-client pensioner payroll operation.

Reporting to the Finance Director, you will be accountable for the leadership, governance, performance and continuous development of payroll services supporting approximately 210,000 pensioners across multiple client payrolls and around 360 LPPA employees. You will ensure both services are delivered accurately, compliantly and efficiently, whilst driving innovation, continuous improvement and long‑term operational resilience.

This is a role requiring a combination of payroll expertise, people leadership and strategic thinking. You will lead and develop high‑performing teams, shape future service delivery, champion technological advancement and work collaboratively with colleagues, clients and stakeholders to ensure outstanding outcomes for members, employees and employers.

In return, you will join a fast‑paced, collaborative and member‑focused organisation with a friendly and supportive culture, where you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact whilst continuing to develop both personally and professionally.

A bit about us:

Local Pensions Partnership Administration (LPPA) is a multi‑award‑winning organisation and one of the UK's leading pension administration companies. We strive to deliver the best experience for over 1,500 employers and more than 738,000 members of Local Government, Police and Firefighter pension schemes, keeping them fully informed about their pensions whilst working closely with employers to continuously educate and support them.

What we can offer you:

• Salary circa £60k DOE + inclusions in Annual Bonus Scheme
• 30 days' holiday, plus bank holidays and 2 additional concessionary days and 1 day for your Birthday, with the ability to 'buy and sell' leave
• Access to an excellent pension scheme (Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contributions
• Access to Health or Dental Plan
• Access to our Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme for when you might need some support
• The opportunity to earn through our Employee Referral Scheme
• Access to our bespoke Reward Discount Scheme - 'Your Perk Site'
• Opportunities to attend Wellbeing webinars and social events
• Daily free fruit and snacks available to you in our office
• Free Car Parking in Preston City Centre

What you'll be doing:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across LPPA's pensioner payroll bureau services and employee payroll function
• Take overall accountability for the delivery, governance, performance and continuous improvement of payroll services supporting approximately 210,000 pensioners and 360 employees
• Develop and implement payroll service strategy, ensuring services remain scalable, resilient, efficient and aligned with organisational objectives
• Lead, coach and develop respective payroll teams, building a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement and high performance
• Set service standards, objectives and KPIs, ensuring payroll services consistently meet internal and client expectations
• Maintain oversight of payroll legislation, HMRC requirements, statutory obligations, regulatory submissions, controls, audit and risk management
• Drive service improvement through process redesign, automation, technology enhancements and standardisation
• Provide leadership across payroll governance, controls, audit requirements, risk management and assurance frameworks
• Lead payroll activity within organisational change, system development, testing, transformation and new client onboarding
• Use management information and operational data to identify trends, manage risk and improve service outcomes
• Build and maintain effective relationships with colleagues across Finance, Member Services and People and Culture, as well as clients, suppliers and third‑party providers
• Ensure payroll services meet LPPA requirements for data protection, information security, business continuity and operational resilience

What we need from you:

• Significant payroll leadership experience within high‑volume, multi-client payroll operations
• Experience in a payroll bureau, outsourced payroll or third‑party payroll service environment
• Comprehensive knowledge of UK payroll legislation, HMRC requirements, statutory payments, pensions and payroll compliance obligations
• Demonstrable experience of payroll governance, risk management, internal controls and audit requirements
• A strong track record of delivering service excellence, operational improvement, transformation and organisational change
• Experience of influencing senior stakeholders and contributing to strategic decision‑making
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, using data and insight to inform decisions and improve performance
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively and provide expert advice
• The ability to manage competing priorities in a complex and fast‑paced environment
• A commitment to professionalism, accountability, continuous improvement and exceptional customer service

Qualifications:

• A relevant professional payroll qualification, such as CIPP or equivalent, would be desirable

Working with and upholding our values:

• Working together
• Committed to excellence
• Doing the right thing
• Forward thinking