Payroll Manager

LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 58,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Pension scheme

Annual leave

Professional development

Flexible working

Job summary

The London Borough of Lewisham is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to lead a high‑volume payroll function across the organisation. You will ensure accurate, timely payments, drive continuous improvement, and provide strategic payroll leadership to the council workforce.

You will manage a payroll team, develop processes, maintain governance, and collaborate with HR, finance, pensions, and external providers to deliver a first‑class service.

Qualifications

• Significant payroll management experience within a high volume environment.
• Strong knowledge of HMRC legislation and statutory payroll requirements.
• Experience managing and developing payroll teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Experience of payroll systems and process improvement initiatives.
• Ability to work effectively within a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the delivery of a complex, high-volume payroll service, ensuring the accurate and timely payment of employees across multiple payrolls.
• Oversee the end-to-end monthly payroll cycle, ensuring all payroll deadlines, statutory submissions, and reporting requirements are met.
• Manage, motivate, and develop a team of Payroll Officers and Payroll Specialists, providing coaching, performance management, and ongoing professional development.
• Allocate and monitor team workloads to ensure service delivery standards are consistently achieved during peak payroll periods.
• Act as the senior escalation point for complex payroll, pension, taxation, and employment-related queries.
• Ensure compliance with HMRC regulations, National Insurance, PAYE, statutory payments, and pension legislation, including LGPS requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance payroll processes, controls, accuracy, and customer experience.
• Develop and maintain robust payroll controls and governance procedures to minimise risk and ensure audit compliance.
• Build effective working relationships with HR, Finance, Pensions, external providers, and senior stakeholders across the council. Lead payroll-related projects, including system upgrades, process automation, organisational restructures, and legislative changes.
• Produce and present payroll management information, KPIs, and performance reports to senior leadership.
• Monitor payroll service levels, identifying trends and implementing solutions to improve efficiency and service quality.
• Manage year-end payroll activities, including P60s, P11Ds, reconciliation processes, and statutory returns.
• Support workforce changes, restructures, contract variations, and organisational transformation programmes, ensuring payroll impacts are effectively managed.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellent customer service within the payroll team.

Skills

Payroll leadership

Team management

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Communication

Process improvement

Payroll governance

Adaptability

Tools

Oracle payroll

Job description

Payroll Manager

London Borough of Lewisham

£65-58k per annum depending on experience

Hybrid Working Available

Permanent | Full-Time

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Payroll Manager to join the London Borough of Lewisham and lead the delivery of a high-quality payroll service across the organisation.

This is a key leadership role, responsible for ensuring the accurate and timely processing of payroll whilst driving continuous improvement, compliance, and exceptional customer service. You will manage a dedicated payroll team and play a pivotal role in supporting the council's workforce.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the delivery of a complex, high-volume payroll service, ensuring the accurate and timely payment of employees across multiple payrolls.
• Oversee the end-to-end monthly payroll cycle, ensuring all payroll deadlines, statutory submissions, and reporting requirements are met.
• Manage, motivate, and develop a team of Payroll Officers and Payroll Specialists, providing coaching, performance management, and ongoing professional development.
• Allocate and monitor team workloads to ensure service delivery standards are consistently achieved during peak payroll periods.
• Act as the senior escalation point for complex payroll, pension, taxation, and employment-related queries.
• Ensure compliance with HMRC regulations, National Insurance, PAYE, statutory payments, and pension legislation, including LGPS requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance payroll processes, controls, accuracy, and customer experience.
• Develop and maintain robust payroll controls and governance procedures to minimise risk and ensure audit compliance.
• Build effective working relationships with HR, Finance, Pensions, external providers, and senior stakeholders across the council. Lead payroll-related projects, including system upgrades, process automation, organisational restructures, and legislative changes.
• Produce and present payroll management information, KPIs, and performance reports to senior leadership.
• Monitor payroll service levels, identifying trends and implementing solutions to improve efficiency and service quality.
• Manage year-end payroll activities, including P60s, P11Ds, reconciliation processes, and statutory returns.
• Support workforce changes, restructures, contract variations, and organisational transformation programmes, ensuring payroll impacts are effectively managed.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellent customer service within the payroll team.

About You

You will be an experienced Payroll Manager with a proven track record of successfully managing a busy payroll function. You will possess strong technical payroll knowledge, excellent leadership skills, and a commitment to delivering a first-class service.

Essential Requirements

• Significant payroll management experience within a high volume environment
• Strong knowledge of HMRC legislation and statutory payroll requirements
• Experience managing and developing payroll teams
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Experience of payroll systems and process improvement initiatives
• Ability to work effectively within a fast-paced environment

Desirable

• Public sector or local government payroll experience
• Knowledge of Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• CIPP qualification or equivalent payroll certification
• Experience working with Oracle payroll systems

What's on Offer?

• Opportunity to join a respected London Local Authority
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements
• Excellent pension scheme
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Ongoing professional development opportunities
• Chance to make a real impact within a large and diverse organisation