Payroll Team Lead (Education)

IRIS Software Group; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading payroll service provider in the UK is seeking a Client Payroll Team Lead for their Fully Managed Payroll division. You will be responsible for leading a team of Payroll Executives, ensuring accurate payroll processing and high-quality standards while delivering excellent customer service. The ideal candidate will have 3–5 years of experience in payroll, strong knowledge of PAYE and UK payroll legislation, and previous management experience. This role offers an opportunity to work in a dynamic and award-winning environment.

Benefits

Great work culture

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• 3–5 years’ experience in end-to-end payroll processing.
• Previous leadership or team management experience is required.
• Knowledge of auto-enrolment is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of Payroll Executives.
• Oversee processing of client payrolls accurately.
• Ensure service levels and KPIs are met.

Skills

End-to-end payroll processing

Strong knowledge of PAYE and UK payroll legislation

Excellent communication skills

Organisational skills

Proficiency in Excel

Customer service skills

Education

CIPP qualification (preferred)

Education sector knowledge

Tools

Payroll software platforms

Outlook

Job description

Join one of the UK’s leading payroll providers and help shape the future of payroll delivery.

At IRIS, we power over 50,000 UK businesses, process payroll for 18% of the UK workforce, and support 4 million parents through our education platforms. As one of the UK’s largest privately held software companies, we’re trusted by organisations of all sizes to get mission‑critical tasks right first time, every time.

We’ve been named a Great Place to Work , one of the UK’s Best Workplaces for Women , and we’re proud of our award‑winning culture that values innovation, flexibility, and people.

The Role

We’re looking for a Client Payroll Team Lead to join our growing Fully Managed Payroll division within our education group. In this role, you’ll lead a team of Payroll Executives delivering outsourced payroll services to a diverse client base. You’ll be responsible for ensuring smooth operations, high‑quality standards, and outstanding customer satisfaction.

What you will be doing

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Payroll Executives focused on our Education customers.
• Oversee the accurate and timely processing of client payrolls.
• Act as the first point of escalation for client queries and service issues.
• Ensure service levels, KPIs, and BACS deadlines are consistently met.
• Collaborate with Account Managers to ensure smooth client experiences.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Monitor capacity planning and team performance data.
• Stay up to date with payroll legislation and software updates.

What You’ll Bring

• 3–5 years’ experience in end-to-end payroll processing.
• Strong knowledge of PAYE, auto‑enrolment, and UK payroll legislation.
• Education sector knowledge is highly advantageous.
• Previous leadership or team management experience.
• Excellent communication, organisational, and customer service skills.
• Proficiency in Excel, Outlook, and payroll software platforms.
• CIPP qualification (preferred, but not essential).

Apply Now

If you’re passionate about payroll, customer success, and leading great teams we would love to hear from you! Apply today and help IRIS continue to deliver mission‑critical services for thousands of UK organisations.