Payroll Manager

Distinct Recruitment; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free on-site parking

Job summary

Distinct Recruitment in Nottingham is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to lead a 4-person team across multiple entities, covering around 3,000 employees. The role demands hands-on leadership, process improvement and the ability to shape how payroll operates as the business grows.

You will drive automation, review current systems, and collaborate with Finance and HR to deliver scalable, compliant payroll.

Qualifications

• Solid payroll management experience.
• Ability to lead people and improve processes.
• Experience reviewing payroll systems or supporting system improvements would be beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Providing leadership, direction and support to the payroll team.
• Overseeing weekly, 4-weekly and monthly payrolls across multiple entities.
• Maintaining high standards of payroll accuracy, controls and compliance.
• Reviewing existing processes and identifying areas for improvement.
• Assessing payroll systems and making recommendations around future requirements.
• Reducing manual calculations and unnecessary administration.
• Developing team responsibilities and creating greater consistency across the function.
• Supporting the integration of future acquisitions.

Skills

Payroll management

Leadership

Process improvement

Systems thinking

Job description

PAYROLL MANAGER NOTTINGHAM HYBRID PERMANENT

Are you an experienced Payroll Manager who enjoys making things better, not just keeping the wheels turning?

This is a great opportunity to take ownership of an established payroll function, lead a team of 4 and play a key role in shaping how payroll operates across multiple business entities, covering approximately 3,000 employees.

There is already a settled, knowledgeable team in place. What is needed now is someone who can provide clear leadership, bring fresh ideas and help take the function forward.

A great opportunity for the right person

This role offers the chance to make a genuine impact, with the autonomy and senior-level support to influence how payroll develops.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Lead and develop an established team of 4, building on their existing knowledge and experience.

• Take ownership of payroll across multiple business entities, covering approximately 3,000 employees.

• Review the current payroll systems and assess future options, including the potential for a move to a more suitable cloud-based solution.

• Identify opportunities to reduce manual processes, improve automation and introduce more efficient ways of working.

• Make practical improvements from day 1, with scope to deliver some early wins alongside longer-term plans.

• Improve integration between payroll, HR and rostering systems.

• Help create a more scalable payroll operation that can support future growth and acquisitions.

• Work closely with senior Finance leadership, with the visibility and support to make decisions and drive change.

This is not a role where you will simply inherit a payroll and be expected to maintain the status quo. There is a genuine appetite for improvement, and you will have the opportunity to influence what the function looks like in the future.

The role will involve

• Providing leadership, direction and support to the payroll team.

• Overseeing weekly, 4-weekly and monthly payrolls across multiple entities.

• Maintaining high standards of payroll accuracy, controls and compliance.

• Reviewing existing processes and identifying areas for improvement.

• Assessing payroll systems and making recommendations around future requirements.

• Reducing manual calculations and unnecessary administration.

• Developing team responsibilities and creating greater consistency across the function.

• Supporting the integration of future acquisitions.

The team handles the day-to-day payroll processing, so this is a management and oversight position rather than a role with an allocated payroll to process.

What are they looking for?

Someone with solid payroll management experience, who can combine technical knowledge with the ability to lead people and improve processes.

You will ideally be someone who is:

• Approachable, calm and collaborative.

• Confident providing direction and making decisions.

• Proactive, with a genuine interest in systems and process improvement.

• Comfortable reviewing existing ways of working and constructively challenging where needed.

• Practical and adaptable, with the ability to bring a team along with you.

• Happy to roll your sleeves up and support the wider team when required.

Experience reviewing payroll systems or supporting system improvements would be particularly beneficial.

The practical details

• Salary: £45,000-£50,000, with scope to go above this for the right candidate.

• Working hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

• Part-time applications considered, with a minimum of 30 hours per week.

• Hybrid working: 3 days in the office and 2 from home.

• Free on-site parking.

• Permanent opportunity.