Payroll Systems Implementation Manager

Select Engineering; Essex; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Select Engineering in the United Kingdom is seeking a UK Payroll Renewal Manager to lead a major payroll transformation programme. This fixed-18-month role involves steering the new payroll system, shaping processes, and ensuring payroll accuracy and governance.

You will interface with Payroll, HR, Finance, IT, and external partners to deliver a successful implementation. The role requires extensive knowledge of UK payrolls, SAP/Global View, and strong leadership with capability to manage

Qualifications

• Experience leading payroll transformation projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead, prioritise and coordinate team activities across payroll transformation and BAU change.
• Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching and delivery oversight.
• Review team outputs and escalate complex issues and risks.
• Lead payroll activities supporting implementation of the new payroll system.
• Manage requirements with internal stakeholders and third-party integrators.
• Review designs to ensure payroll, control and statutory compliance.
• Develop system knowledge to support decision-making.
• Escalate significant risks and issues appropriately.
• Coordinate end-user engagement, training, and documentation.
• Oversee post-implementation review and lessons learned.
• Maintain strong governance and controls throughout the project.

Skills

Payroll testing

UAT

Change management

Stakeholder management

Excel analysis

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Education

Degree or Equivalent

Payroll Qualification

Tools

SAP

Global View

Alteryx

Beyond Compare

Job description

Position Description:

UK Payroll Renewal Manager - We're entering one of the most exciting and significant periods of change for UK Payroll. As we embark on a major transformation programme to replace our existing payroll application, we have a fantastic opportunity for a motivated, talented and forward-thinking individual to lead delivery of the transformation project. This is more than an opportunity to lead a system implementation. It's a chance to play a meaningful role in transforming how payroll is delivered to thousands of employees, helping to shape new processes, influence solutions and build a more modern, efficient and future-ready payroll service. You'll be part of a collaborative team leading delivery of a high-profile project, gaining valuable experience, developing new skills and making a tangible impact on the future of UK Payroll. It's a temporary project position for a fixed period of 18 months. The Supervisor will provide leadership and direction to the Business Development team, ensuring changes are effectively scoped, controlled, tested and implemented while maintaining payroll accuracy, compliance, and operational stability. The role will act as a key interface between Payroll, HR, Finance, IT, third-party system integrators, and other internal and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership and Delivery

Lead, prioritise and coordinate team activities across payroll transformation and business-as-usual change.

Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching and support, ensuring clear ownership and delivery expectations.

Review team outputs, develop capability and act as an escalation point for complex issues and risks.

Payroll Transformation

Lead Payroll activities supporting implementation of the new payroll system.

Manage requirements with internal stakeholders and third-party system integrators.

Review and challenge system designs to ensure payroll, control, statutory and end-user requirements are met.

Develop strong system knowledge to support effective decision-making and delivery.

Change Governance and Control

Lead payroll changes through requirements, design, testing, approval, and deployment.

Review and approve key project documentation and ensure appropriate governance and controls.

Assess risks, establish mitigation actions and support go/no-go decisions.

Escalate significant risks, issues, and control concerns appropriately.

Skills Required

Continued Testing and Quality Assurance

Lead and coordinate Payroll testing and User Acceptance Testing.

Ensure UAT provides appropriate coverage of payroll requirements and controls.

Review testing evidence and oversee defect identification, prioritisation, and resolution.

Assess significant defects and their potential payroll, financial, employee and compliance impact.

Project and Change Management

Coordinate project plans, priorities, resources, milestones, and dependencies across multiple change initiatives.

Monitor progress, identify risks and drive issues through to resolution.

Stakeholder and Supplier Management

Build strong relationships across Payroll, HR, Finance, IT, and external partners.

Represent Payroll in project, design, and governance forums.

Communicate complex payroll and technical requirements clearly to different audiences.

Lead payroll process changes and identify opportunities for simplification, standardisation, and automation.

Coordinate end-user engagement, deployment readiness, training, and supporting documentation.

Oversee post-implementation support and lessons learned.

Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities, dependencies, and tight deadlines.

Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.

Advanced Excel skills with the ability to analyse, reconcile and interpret complex data.

Strong logical and process-orientated mindset.

Ability to review and challenge requirements, system designs, testing outcomes, and proposed solutions.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate confidently at all levels of the organisation.

Strong stakeholder management skills with the confidence to challenge, influence and escal...

Ability to work autonomously, make informed decisions and take accountability for delivery.

Ability to maintain accuracy, judgement and effective control while working under significant time pressure.

Experience Required

• Experience with Payroll Applications SAP/Global View.
• Knowledge of UK payroll processes, statutory requirements, and payroll controls.
• Experience with enterprise Payroll/HR systems.
• Experience Preferred Experience with Alteryx, Beyond Compare or similar analytical and data comparison tools.

Education Required:

• Degree or Equivalent
• Payroll Qualification