Payroll Manager

SearchWorks Pty Ltd; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

SearchWorks Pty Ltd is seeking a Payroll Implementation Manager for UK payroll. The role focuses on payroll build, system setup and backend delivery, while supporting requirements gathering, testing and client needs.

You will work with major UK clients, leveraging platforms such as iTrent, Workday or Dayforce, with exposure to international payroll environments across 159 countries. This role offers significant client-facing ownership and opportunities for transformation projects.

Qualifications

• Strong hands-on UK payroll experience in a consulting/outsourcing context.
• Experience with UK payroll implementation, build, migration, transition or transformation.
• Experience managing or supporting large payrolls (500+ employees) and end-to-end processes.

Responsibilities

• Support end-to-end build and implementation of UK payrolls from requirements through go-live.
• Gather client requirements and translate into system solutions.
• Configure payroll in the backend for UAT and testing.
• Support data migration, validation, reconciliation, testing and parallel runs.
• Collaborate with clients and internal payroll/technology teams to ensure accurate delivery.
• Identify payroll issues and ensure readiness for go-live.
• Contribute to process improvements and enhanced payroll delivery.
• For L3, take ownership of client-facing scoping and improvement opportunities.

Skills

UK payroll experience

Consulting background

Analytical skills

UAT experience

Problem solving

Tools

iTrent

Workday

Dayforce

SAP

Job description

Payroll Implementation Manager – UK Payroll

Newcastle | Manchester | Belfast | Leeds | Glasgow

Our client is a globally recognised professional services organisation with an established UK Payroll and Tax practice, supporting major organisations with complex payroll, technology and transformation requirements.

They are looking for experienced Payroll Implementation professionals to support the onboarding and delivery of UK client payrolls within their Payroll Operate team.

The wider team supports payroll across 159 countries, with a strong focus on UK payroll. The role combines payroll knowledge, system implementation, client requirements and operational delivery.

What You’ll Do

• Support the end-to-end build and implementation of UK payrolls, from requirements gathering through to testing and go-live.
• Gather and understand client payroll requirements and translate them into system solutions.
• Scope, build and configure payroll in the backend ready for UAT and testing.
• Support data migration, validation, reconciliation, testing and parallel runs.
• Work with clients and internal payroll/technology teams to ensure requirements are delivered accurately.
• Identify payroll issues, resolve problems and ensure implementations are ready for go-live.
• Support changes to payroll processes and requirements throughout the implementation.
• Contribute to process improvements and identify opportunities to enhance payroll delivery.
• For L3, take greater ownership of client-facing scoping, challenging requirements where needed and identifying potential errors or improvement opportunities.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong hands-on UK payroll experience, ideally from a some sort of consulting, managed payroll or outsourcing environment.
• Experience with payroll implementation, build, migration, transition or transformation.
• Experience managing or supporting big payrolls of 500+ employees.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end UK payroll processes and legislation.
• Experience gathering requirements and understanding client payroll needs.
• Strong critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Manual payroll processing/calculation experience alongside automated payroll is highly beneficial.
• Experience with UAT, testing, reconciliation and implementation readiness.
• iTrent experience is ideal but not essential. Workday, Dayforce, SAP or other payroll systems are also relevant.
• International payroll exposure is beneficial, with the wider team supporting clients across 159 countries.

The role focused on payroll build, system setup and backend delivery, while supporting requirements gathering, testing and client needs. Similar technical responsibilities but with greater client-facing ownership, particularly around scoping, requirements gathering, identifying potential issues and recommending process improvements.

Why This Role?

• Gain valuable exposure to international payroll, with the wider team supporting payroll across 159 countries.
• Opportunity to work with well-known global clients across multiple industries and markets.
• Work on complex UK payroll implementations rather than BAU processing alone.
• Gain exposure to multiple payroll systems and international payroll environments.
• Work with major UK clients and experienced payroll/technology teams.
• Develop your career across payroll implementation, transformation and client delivery.
• Opportunity to progress within an established Payroll Operate function.