Payroll Manager

Elevation Recruitment Group; Leeds; On-site; GBP 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Benefits

Job summary

Elevation Recruitment Group in Leeds is recruiting a Payroll Manager to lead a large, high-volume payroll operation and develop the payroll team. You will own end-to-end payroll processing, ensure accuracy, timeliness and compliance, and partner with HR and Finance on benefits and compensation initiatives.

The role requires strong leadership, deep knowledge of UK payroll legislation, HMRC rules and pensions, plus a track record of process improvement and stakeholder management.

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing a large, high-volume payroll operation.
• Proven ability to lead and develop a payroll team and work with senior stakeholders.
• In-depth knowledge of UK payroll legislation, HMRC requirements and pensions.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the payroll function to deliver accurate, timely payrolls.
• Oversee end-to-end payroll processes, calculations and reporting for a large population.
• Collaborate with HR and Finance on data quality, benefits and compensation activity.
• Ensure compliance, controls, reconciliations and annual payroll cycles.

Skills

Payroll leadership

UK payroll legislation

Stakeholder management

Compensation & Benefits integration

Process improvement

Education

CIPP qualification or equivalent

Tools

Excel

Payroll software

Job description

Leeds

£Up to £65,000 + Bonus & Benefits

We are working with a well-established and growing organisation to recruit a Payroll Manager to lead and develop its payroll function.

This is a key role within the wider Finance and HR structure, with responsibility for overseeing a sizeable and complex payroll operation and ensuring employees are paid accurately, efficiently and on time.

Importantly, this is not simply a traditional Payroll Manager position. Alongside strong payroll leadership experience, the successful candidate will bring genuine expertise across Compensation & Benefits, helping to strengthen and develop this area alongside the core payroll function.

The role will suit an experienced Payroll Manager who is comfortable managing a large employee population, leading a team and working closely with senior HR and Finance stakeholders.

The Role

You will take ownership of the payroll function, ensuring a high-quality, compliant and efficient service while leading and developing the team.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading and developing the payroll team, creating a culture of accuracy, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Overseeing the end-to-end payroll process for a large employee population, ensuring payrolls are delivered accurately and on time.
• Managing payroll calculations including salaries, bonuses, commissions, overtime, deductions, benefits and salary sacrifice arrangements.
• Overseeing starters, leavers, promotions, contractual changes and other payroll amendments.
• Ensuring compliance with HMRC requirements, UK payroll legislation, pensions and statutory payments.
• Managing payroll reconciliations, controls and payroll journals in conjunction with Finance.
• Producing payroll reporting and analysis for Finance, HR and senior management.
• Supporting payroll budgeting, forecasting and workforce cost analysis.
• Working closely with HR and Finance to ensure accurate employee data and effective payroll processes.
• Taking ownership of Compensation & Benefits-related payroll activity and supporting the ongoing development of the wider benefits offering.
• Supporting the administration and review of employee benefits, salary sacrifice and other reward-related arrangements.
• Identifying opportunities to improve payroll processes, systems, controls and reporting.
• Acting as a senior escalation point for payroll queries and issues.
• Keeping up to date with legislative changes and ensuring the payroll function remains compliant.
• Supporting the continued development and improvement of the payroll function and employee experience.

A key focus of this position will be the candidate's experience beyond core payroll.

The successful candidate will have strong hands‑on experience across Compensation & Benefits and understand how these areas interact with payroll, HR and the wider employee proposition.

This will include experience of areas such as:

• Employee benefits administration and management.
• Salary sacrifice arrangements.
• Bonus and incentive schemes.
• Compensation reviews and salary changes.
• Benefits reporting and analysis.
• Working with HR on employee reward and benefits initiatives.
• Ensuring compensation and benefits information is accurately reflected within payroll.
• Reviewing and improving processes around employee reward and benefits.

This experience is an important differentiator for the role and will be particularly valuable in helping to develop and strengthen the wider function.

About You

We are looking for an experienced Payroll Manager who is comfortable operating within a sizeable and complex payroll environment.

You will ideally have:

• Significant experience managing a large, high-volume payroll.
• Proven experience leading and developing a payroll team.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, HMRC requirements, pensions and statutory payments.
• Strong hands‑on experience across Compensation & Benefits – this is an essential part of the role.
• Experience managing employee benefits, salary sacrifice and reward‑related payroll activity.
• Strong payroll controls, reconciliation and compliance experience.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholders across HR & Finance and the wider business.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and the confidence to operate with senior stakeholders.
• Strong Excel and payroll systems experience.
• A proactive approach to process improvement and continuous improvement.
• Excellent organisational and problem‑solving skills.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities within a deadline‑driven environment.

CIPP qualification or equivalent would be advantageous, as would experience of payroll system implementation, process improvement or managing payroll within a multi-site organisation.

Why Join?

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Payroll Manager to take ownership of a sizeable payroll function, lead a team and play an important role in developing the wider Payroll, Compensation & Benefits offering.

You will have genuine scope to improve processes, develop the team and work closely with senior HR and Finance stakeholders to further develop the function.