Payroll Manager

Portfolio Payroll Limited; Fetcham; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job description

Join a well-established payroll bureau that prides itself on delivering accurate, compliant, and tailored payroll services to a diverse portfolio of clients. With a strong emphasis on client service, process improvement, and data integrity, this bureau supports businesses across various sectors including retail, education, finance, healthcare, and construction.

Due to continued growth and client acquisition, they are now seeking a knowledgeable and hands-on Payroll Manager to lead operational delivery and manage one Payroll Assistant.

The Role:

As Payroll Manager, you will be responsible for the end-to-end delivery of multiple client payrolls on varying pay frequencies, ensuring full compliance with HMRC legislation, pension regulations, and client SLAs. You will act as the primary escalation point for complex queries, lead payroll quality assurance, and play an instrumental role in system optimisation and internal training. Your remit will include overseeing a Payroll Assistant and contributing to client onboarding and retention.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Manage the full payroll processing cycle for a portfolio of clients, including weekly, fortnightly, four-weekly, and monthly payrolls.
2. Ensure all statutory obligations are met including RTI submissions, auto-enrolment, year-end reporting (P60s, P11Ds), and holiday pay compliance.
3. Act as lead contact for client relationships, addressing queries around tax, NI, SSP, SMP, pensions, and pay structures.
4. Supervise and mentor the Payroll Assistant, reviewing their work, providing technical support, and ensuring continuous development.
5. Conduct parallel runs and reconciliations during new client onboarding and payroll transitions.
6. Identify and implement process improvements, driving automation where possible and ensuring data integrity throughout.
7. Liaise with HMRC, pension providers, and other third-party vendors as required.
8. Stay current on UK payroll legislation, GDPR regulations, and industry best practices.
9. Support internal and external audits by preparing payroll reports and compliance documentation.
10. Collaborate with the leadership team to shape the bureau's growth strategy and enhance service delivery.

Skills & Experience Required:

1. Proven experience managing client payrolls in a bureau, practice, or managed service environment.
2. Strong working knowledge of UK payroll legislation, PAYE, NI, auto-enrolment pensions, statutory payments, and RTI.
3. Proficiency in payroll systems (e.g., Iris, BrightPay, Sage, Star, Moneysoft, or similar).
4. Excellent Excel skills and comfortable handling large data sets and reconciliations.
5. Previous experience supervising or mentoring junior payroll staff.
6. Exceptional attention to detail and a methodical approach to problem-solving.
7. Ability to build rapport with clients and provide excellent service under pressure.
8. CIPP qualification (desirable but not essential).

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