Payroll Manager

Fourth; Macclesfield; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 78,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Laptop provided

Healthcare benefits

Pension plan

Cycle to work

Salary advancement

Job summary

Fourth is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to lead accurate, compliant payroll services, ensuring operational excellence and strong team performance. You will drive process improvements, support technology use, and enhance the customer experience across Payroll Operations.

Join a role with UK operations focus, leadership of a payroll team, and opportunities to implement AI-enabled improvements in a hybrid working environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading payroll operations in a high-volume, customer-focused environment.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll processes, compliance, and operational controls.
• Experience managing and developing teams, with performance management skills.
• Ability to resolve issues and improve service delivery with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day payroll operations, meeting service standards, KPIs and metrics.
• Act as owner for payroll processes, ensuring they are compliant and fit for purpose.
• Escalate and communicate effectively on internal and external issues.
• Build strong relationships with customers and stakeholders to drive loyalty.

Skills

Drive and enthusiasm

Self-management

Customer service mindset

People management

Leadership

Data-driven

Job description

Our Story

In July 2019, Fourth joined forces with HotSchedules to become the global leader in end-to-end restaurant and hospitality management technology solutions. Together, the merged company now represents the world’s largest and only provider of end-to-end restaurant and hospitality management solutions for customers across the globe and of all sizes, from a single location or franchisee restaurant to a global restaurant or hotel chain. The combined company’s complete software-as-service (SaaS) solution suite including scheduling, time & attendance, applicant tracking, training, inventory management / procurement, HR / benefits and payroll services now serves customers in 120,000 locations worldwide and is supported by a dedicated, unified team across offices in the US, UK, Bulgaria, China, Australia, and UAE.

Interested in joining our smart, fun, and talented team?

Position Overview

We are looking for an experienced Payroll Manager to lead the delivery of accurate, compliant, and customer-focused payroll services, ensuring operational excellence, strong team performance, and continuous improvement across Payroll Operations. The role is responsible for providing clear leadership to the payroll team, maintaining robust operational controls, supporting team development, and ensuring customers receive a consistently high-quality service. Working closely with internal and external stakeholders, the Payroll Manager will drive process improvements, promote best practice, and support the effective use of technology and insight to improve efficiency, accuracy, and the overall customer experience.

Primary Responsibilities

Service Delivery

• Lead day-to-day payroll operations, ensuring the team consistently meets service standards, KPIs, and agreed performance metrics.
• Act as subject matter owner for payroll processes, ensuring they remain effective, compliant, and fit for purpose.
• Serve as the escalation point for internal and external operational issues, ensuring timely resolution and clear communication.

Customer Management

• Take ownership of customer satisfaction across the Payroll Operations service.
• Manage customer feedback and use insights to drive continuous service improvement.
• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with customers and internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversee the management of Payroll Operations customer accounts, ensuring clear ownership and service accountability.
• Work cross-functionally to strengthen customer relationships and support long term customer loyalty.

People & Team Development

• Manage, coach, and develop the payroll team, supporting individual growth, capability, and performance.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and effective induction across the department.
• Champion team wellbeing and create an inclusive, supportive working environment.
• Contribute to departmental engagement, communication, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strategy and Continuous Improvement
• Support the delivery of UK Operations initiatives, ensuring payroll activity aligns with wider operational priorities.
• Champion the effective use of AI and emerging technologies to improve payroll processes, efficiency, accuracy, and service quality.

Key Skills And Competencies

• Drive and enthusiasm, with the ability to adapt to a fast-paced, high-volume, and evolving environment.
• Self-managed, self-motivated, and able to prioritise effectively.
• Strong customer service mindset, with the ability to balance operational delivery and customer experience.
• Excellent people management skills, including planning, coaching, team building, development planning, and performance management.
• Strong leadership skills, with the confidence to make decisions and provide clear direction.
• Comfortable using data, insight, and emerging technology to identify opportunities for improvement.

Preferred Experience And/or Qualifications

• Proven experience managing payroll operations within a high-volume, customer-focused environment.
• Strong understanding of UK payroll processes, compliance requirements, service standards, and operational controls.
• Experience leading teams, managing performance, and supporting colleague development.
• Experience working with customers and stakeholders to resolve issues, improve service delivery, and build long-term relationships.

Benefits

• Holidays. We all need to rest so you get 25 basic holidays with the option to grow up to 30 with service + your birthday off + bank holidays!
• Flexible working! Use our flexible working hours and hybrid working environments to manage it.
• Wellness activities and a lot of pampering included. On top of that, you can add gym subscription discounts.
• Laptop and equipment.
• Healthcare expense claim tools!
• Like in life, at work we also want you to grow with certifications.
• Annual meet ups!
• Enhanced parenting scheme!
• Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan provided.
• Pension and life insurance? Several, for you to choose what looks convenient.
• On demand pay tools for you to be able to access salary even before the end of the month!

All personal data provided by you in your application will be processed by Fourth LTD solely for our recruitment purposes. More information on Fourth LTD's privacy policy for job candidates is available here and by applying you confirm that you have read it.

Fourth is an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without discrimination because of sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, colour, age, national origin, military status, religion, or disability or any other legally protected status.