Payroll Team Lead

Cygnet; West Malling; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary £34,000 per year

Career progression into management

CPD opportunities and reflective pract

Job summary

Cygnet is seeking a Payroll Team Lead to oversee and hands-on support the payroll function across multiple sites in the UK. You will mentor the payroll team, ensure accurate processing, and manage complex pay and pension activities within a fast-paced environment.

Reporting to the Payroll Team Manager, you will collaborate with on-site teams and streamline payroll calendars, controls, and reporting while maintaining compliance with payroll legislation.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting end-to-end payroll cycles.
• Mentoring and developing junior team members.
• Ability to liaise with HMRC and payroll systems.

Responsibilities

• Support the end-to-end payroll cycle for the business, including hands-on processing where required.
• Complete manual system backups on schedule.
• Review regular payroll runs for accuracy (1st line checks).
• Support system-wide calculations, transfers between payroll companies and re-hired employees with date-driven transfers.
• Identify and report over/underpayments with evidence.
• Assist with HMRC communications such as tax code downloads, FPS and EPS submissions.
• Close payroll cycles and run reports.
• Provide cover for colleagues during absences and escalations.

Job description

Helping others improve and turn their lives around – there’s no better feeling. It’s what we do for thousands of people at more than 150 sites across the UK. Be a part of it.

Payroll Team Lead

Reports to: Payroll Team Manager (or equivalent senior role)

The payroll landscape of Cygnet is complex due to the high numbers of acquisitions over recent years. The role of the Payroll Team Lead covers a number of Pay and Pension areas.

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

Day to Day:

• Support the end-to-end payroll cycle for the business, including hands on processing where required to support the team
• Complete manual systems backups on the agreed schedule, ( Schedule needs to be agreed)
• Provide review of regular Payroll main runs to ensure accuracy (1st line checks)
• Support with system wide calculations within the pay cycle, transfers between payroll companies and payroll number allocation for re-hired employees (Transfers need to be date driven)
• Identify and report any over or underpayments to the Payroll Manager providing sufficient evidence
• Complete manual systems backups on the agreed schedule,( Schedule needs to be agreed)
• Support where required with HMRC communications such as tax code downloads, FPS and EPS submissions
• Assist with the closing of payroll cycles and report running
• Support the payroll team manager with outstanding requests/escalations within the payroll portal

Personnel:

• Mentor and support the team to assist with training and continued professional development
• Identify and elevate any performance issues or training needs to payroll manager
• Identify and report to the payroll Team manager, staff that are performing over and above expectations
• Provide positive feedback to the team where appropriate and warranted
• Perform one to ones on a weekly basis
• Provide cover for colleagues during periods of absence and critical processing
• Keep up to date with changes to payroll legislation

Communication:

• Develop and maintain relationships with on-site teams to ensure that information flows are reliable, accurate and timely
• Monitor the Payroll Portal to respond and resolve requests in line with our Service Level Agreements
• Provide support on the Amazon connect telephone system, ensuring that stakeholders are treated in a professional and helpful manner and any requests are logged as required
• Review central email inboxes to ensure completion

Strategy:

• Work with the Payroll Team Manager to maintain and review payroll calendars to plan resource and monitor payroll cycles
• Review controls with a view to recommending improvements and identifying new areas of risk
• Work with other senior members of the team and wider business to manage expectations, communication and provide resolution to issues
• Support the implementation of new systems and/or processes, providing training to the team where required.
• Monthly control account reconciliations

Why Cygnet? We’ll offer you…

• Salary of £34,000 per year
• Strong career progression opportunities into management roles
• Monthly reflective practice, &support with CPD opportunities
• Expert supervision &