Payroll Manager

JGA Recruitment; Warrington; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

JGA Recruitment is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to join a large, established organisation in Warrington. You will lead a high-volume, multi-entity payroll shared services function, ensuring accuracy and compliance while driving improvements in systems and processes.

The ideal candidate will have significant experience managing UK payrolls, strong leadership skills and the ability to influence payroll strategy with senior stakeholders. Occasional site visits are required.

Qualifications

• Significant experience as a Payroll Manager or Head of Payroll.
• Proven experience managing high-volume UK payrolls.
• Strong background in shared services payroll.
• Experience leading, coaching and developing payroll teams.
• Excellent knowledge of UK payroll legislation, compliance and governance.
• Experience delivering payroll transformation or system improvements.
• Confident engaging with senior stakeholders.
• Experience in logistics, retail, manufacturing or large multi-site organisations would be advantageous.
• Strong leadership, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Willing to travel to company sites ~25% of the time.
• Ambitious to progress into strategic payroll leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead high-volume, multi-entity payroll operations within a shared services environment.
• Coach and develop a team of payroll professionals.
• Ensure accurate, timely and compliant payroll delivery across multiple payrolls and pay frequencies.
• Drive payroll transformation, process improvements and operational efficiencies.
• Strengthen payroll controls, governance and compliance procedures.
• Build relationships with HR Directors, Finance and operations leaders.
• Oversee payroll system enhancements and payroll technology optimization.
• Identify opportunities for automation, improved reporting and enhanced employee services.
• Support wider payroll initiatives, including benefits and earned wage access.
• Visit operational sites to understand business requirements.
• Contribute to longer-term payroll strategy and development.

Skills

People leadership

Stakeholder engagement

UK payroll legislation

Payroll transformation

Change management

Data reporting

Job description

Payroll Manager

Salary: £70,000-£80,000 + bonus

Location: Warrington

Contract: Permanent, Full-Time

The Role

An exciting opportunity for an experienced Payroll Manager to join a large, established organisation and take responsibility for a high-volume, multi-entity payroll shared services function. You'll lead the payroll operation across a complex, multi-site business, ensuring accurate and compliant payroll delivery while driving improvements in systems, processes and service quality. Working closely with senior leadership, you'll have the opportunity to develop your team, influence payroll strategy and play a key role in shaping the future of the payroll function.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee high-volume, multi-entity payroll operations within a shared services environment.
• Manage, coach and develop a team of payroll professionals.
• Ensure accurate, timely and compliant payroll delivery across multiple payrolls and pay frequencies.
• Drive payroll transformation, process improvements and operational efficiencies.
• Strengthen payroll controls, governance and compliance procedures.
• Build strong relationships with HR Directors, Finance and operational leadership teams.
• Oversee payroll system enhancements and support the optimisation of payroll technology.
• Identify opportunities for automation, improved reporting and enhanced employee services.
• Support wider payroll initiatives, including benefits and earned wage access.
• Visit operational sites to strengthen stakeholder relationships and understand business requirements.
• Contribute to the longer-term strategy and development of the payroll function.

Ideal Candidate

• Significant experience as a Payroll Manager, Senior Payroll Manager or Head of Payroll.
• Proven experience managing high-volume, multi-entity UK payrolls.
• Strong background within a shared services payroll environment.
• Experience leading, coaching and developing payroll teams.
• Excellent knowledge of UK payroll legislation, compliance and governance.
• Demonstrable experience delivering payroll transformation, system improvements or change projects.
• Confident engaging with senior stakeholders, including HR Directors and operational leaders.
• Experience within logistics, retail, manufacturing or other large multi-site organisations would be advantageous.
• Strong leadership, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable travelling to company sites approximately 25% of the time.
• Ambitious and motivated by the opportunity to progress into a more strategic payroll leadership position.

JGA Recruitment Group Ltd ("We") are committed to equality of opportunity for all applications regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

We strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply.

We are also committed to protecting and respecting your privacy.

We are a specialist payroll, HR & Reward recruitment agency and recruitment business as defined in the Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 (our business).

These statements together with our privacy notices set out the basis on which any personal data we collect from you, or that you provide to us, will be processed by us