Payroll Manager

Cintra HR & Payroll Services; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangements

Pension contribution 5%

Health plan and wellbeing support

Onsite parking

Job summary

Cintra HR & Payroll Services in Newcastle upon Tyne seeks a senior Payroll Manager to lead the Outsourced Payroll team, own end-to-end payroll accuracy, and drive client outcomes. You will report to the Head of Outsourced Payroll and shape the client experience and your team’s development.

You will coach payroll professionals, manage client relationships, ensure compliance with HMRC rules, and contribute to commercial performance in a fast-paced bureau environment. Hybrid working is available.

Qualifications

• 5+ years end-to-end payroll experience with advanced payroll systems knowledge.
• Proven people management experience coaching payroll professionals.
• Strong HMRC legislation, pensions and auto-enrolment understanding.
• Experience handling client complaints at management level.
• Excellent planning and prioritisation across multiple client payrolls.
• Advanced Excel and numeracy skills.
• Ability to work with migration, implementation and operations teams.
• Clear written and verbal communication; calm under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and develop a team of payroll administrators with clear objectives.
• Manage team workload to deliver across all client accounts on time.
• Maintain team culture, equitable workload and high team morale.
• Own recruitment for the payroll team and select top talent.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of client payrolls per SLAs.
• Regularly review payroll controls and manage the operational database.
• Ensure HMRC compliance, pension, auto-enrolment and court orders.
• Champion GDPR under UK GDPR and ISO 27001 standards.
• Build trusted client relationships; run meetings and manage escalations.
• Own client satisfaction metrics (NPS 30+).
• Report team costs, revenues and payroll production costs.
• Drive profitability and growth of revenue within accounts.
• Collaborate on client onboarding journeys with Migration/Implementation.
• Promote adoption of new tools and efficiency improvements.

Skills

Payroll leadership

People management

HMRC & compliance

Client relationship management

Planning & organisation

Excel proficiency

Cross-team collaboration

Clear communication

Resilience under pressure

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Payroll systems

Job description

Description

Join our Outsourced Services Team as a Payroll Manager!

Application Deadline: 2 November 2026

Department: Outsourced Payroll

Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Compensation: £41,500 - £44,500 / year

We are Cintra.

Known for our award‑winning software that delivers payroll solutions to over 1000 clients. If you're passionate about payroll and are eager to join a dynamic team of seasoned professionals, this is the opportunity for you.

As the proud recipient of the Payroll Service Provider of the Year 2026 award at the CIPP Annual Excellence Awards, we offer exciting opportunities for professional development, competitive bonus structures, and a collaborative work environment.

Our modern offices are located in Hoults Yard, nestled on the outskirts of the vibrant Ouseburn Valley. This area boasts a thriving creative community, rich local heritage, and a lively social scene.

Why This Role Is Different

This is a senior leadership role at the heart of our Outsourced Services operation. As Payroll Manager you will lead a team of payroll administrators, own the end‑to‑end accuracy and timeliness of client payrolls, and drive the commercial performance of your team. You will report directly to the Head of Outsourced Payroll and play a pivotal role in shaping the client experience and the professional development of your people.

If you are a payroll professional who combines technical rigour with a natural desire to lead, coach, and put the client first and who is ready to step fully into commercial accountability, this is the role for you.

Key responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of payroll administrators — setting clear objectives, conducting regular performance appraisals, and creating individual development plans.
• Manage team workload and payroll allocation to ensure smooth, on-schedule delivery across all client accounts.
• Instil a strong team culture, ensuring workload is shared equitably and team spirit is maintained in a fast‑paced environment.
• Own the team recruitment process, attracting and selecting talented payroll professionals.
• Ensure the accurate and timely processing of all client payrolls in line with agreed service levels and deadlines.
• Maintain and regularly review payroll process controls, including the day‑to‑day management of the operational database.
• Ensure full compliance with HMRC legislation, statutory payment rules, pension and auto‑enrolment requirements, and court order obligations.
• Champion GDPR compliance within the team and process all data in line with UK GDPR legislation and ISO 27001 standards.
• Build strong, trusted relationships with clients, leading regular meetings, managing escalations, and resolving complaints professionally.
• Own client satisfaction for your team, maintaining an NPS score of 30+ through consistently excellent service delivery.
• Report on team business dynamics including team cost, revenues, and cost of production per payslip.
• Drive team profitability and identify opportunities to grow incremental revenue within existing client accounts.
• Collaborate with Migration and Implementation teams to define the client onboarding journey and handover agreements.
• Drive adoption of new tools and support the introduction of efficiency‑improving processes across the team.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for a payroll professional who combines deep technical expertise with the drive to lead people, own commercial outcomes, and put the client at the centre of everything they do.

Essential

• 5+ years of end‑to‑end payroll experience with advanced knowledge of payroll systems.
• Proven people management experience in coaching, mentoring, and developing payroll professionals.
• Excellent understanding of HMRC legislation, statutory payments, pensions and auto‑enrolment rules, and court orders.
• Experience handling client complaints at a management level with professionalism and composure.
• Strong planning and organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities across multiple client payrolls.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and good numeracy skills.
• Strong cross‑team collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively with migration, implementation, and operational teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills — able to communicate updates clearly to both team members and clients.
• Highly resilient and calm under pressure in a fast‑paced bureau environment.

Desirable

• Previous management experience in a payroll bureau or outsourced services environment.
• Commercial literacy that is familiarity with cost‑per‑payslip metrics, team P&L, and revenue reporting.
• Experience working with migration and implementation teams on client onboarding journeys.

Why Join Cintra?

At Cintra we know our colleagues are our biggest asset and an investment in them is an investment into the company. We offer:

• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements supporting your work‑life balance
• Employer matched pension contribution to 5%
• Wellbeing support through our company‑funded health plan, health checks and employee assistance program
• Onsite parking
• And more!

We go the extra mile to strategically invest in our employees by providing them with invaluable learning opportunities to propel their careers forward. Our commitment to continuous employee training ensures that knowledge remains up-to-date, skills stay sharp, and confidence continues to grow. We firmly believe in empowering our workforce with the tools they need to thrive and succeed.