Payroll Operations Manager: UK Payroll, Data & Automation

MacGregor Black; East Hagbourne; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

MacGregor Black is partnering with a leading technology-led engineering organisation to recruit a Payroll Operations Manager for a permanent role based in Didcot. The role owns accurate and timely UK payroll delivery, ensuring compliance with UK legislation and strong governance, while driving systems improvements and automation.

You will act as the payroll subject-matter expert, collaborating with People Services, Finance, Tax and People Systems, and leading a payroll team to build capability

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing end-to-end payroll operations within a large or complex organisation.
• Detailed knowledge of UK payroll legislation, taxation, pensions and statutory reporting.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving and attention-to-detail skills.
• Continuous-improvement mindset with interest in automation and payroll technology.
• Experience leading payroll colleagues.
• Strong Excel skills and payroll systems experience (e.g., Workday, SAP, ADP).

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end payroll for all UK employees, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Oversee payroll calculations: salaries, overtime, bonuses, deductions, and statutory payments.
• Ensure HMRC compliance, pension regulations, and statutory reporting.
• Manage year-end activities: P60s, P11Ds, tax-year submissions.
• Strengthen data integrity and payroll workflows with People Systems.
• Maintain payroll data security and governance.
• Partner with external payroll, pension and technology providers.
• Support audits and lead payroll-related reporting.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual processes.

Skills

End-to-end payroll management

UK payroll legislation

Governance & control

Stakeholder management

Excel advanced

Automation & data analytics

People leadership

CIPP qualification

Tools

Workday

SAP

ADP

Job description

MacGregor Black is partnering with a leading technology-led engineering organisation to recruit a Payroll Operations Manager for a permanent role based in Didcot. The role owns accurate and timely UK payroll delivery, ensuring compliance with UK legislation and strong governance, while driving systems improvements and automation.

You will act as the payroll subject-matter expert, collaborating with People Services, Finance, Tax and People Systems, and leading a payroll team to build capability