Payroll Team Leader

Lewisham Council; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday

LGPS

Flexible working

Season ticket loan

Bike loan

Staff discounts

Staff networks

Job summary

Lewisham Council is seeking a Payroll Team Leader to manage payroll for thousands of employees and pensioners from a base at Laurence House, Catford. The role leads a skilled team, ensures accuracy, timeliness and compliance, and works across schools and partner organisations in a hybrid London setting.

You will drive continuous improvement, balance deadlines with quality, and provide expert guidance on complex calculations while developing a high-performing payroll function at scale.

Qualifications

• Expert payroll knowledge and end-to-end payroll run experience.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Clear communication with diverse stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead a dedicated team to deliver accurate, timely payroll for thousands of employees and pensioners.
• Own the payroll run end-to-end and resolve complex calculations and queries.
• Champion compliance, continuous improvement, and development of the payroll function.
• Liaise with HMRC, schools and partner organisations to optimise workflows and SLAs.

Skills

Payroll knowledge

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Communication

Organizational skills

Numeracy

IT proficiency

Job description

Job Description

Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities!

Job Description

Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities!
We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.

Introduction

As Payroll Team Leader at the London Borough of Lewisham, you’ll make a real, measurable impact by ensuring 6,500 employees, including 1,500 teaching staff and 8,000 pensioners are paid accurately and on time. You’ll lead a skilled team of Senior Payroll Officers, own the payroll run end‑to‑end, and be the go‑to expert for complex calculations and queries. If you thrive on precision, people leadership and improving services, this is your opportunity to shape a high‑performing, customer‑focused payroll function at scale.

In this role, you’ll champion compliance and continuous improvement, liaising with HMRC, schools and partner organisations, optimising workflows, and driving down error rates. You’ll balance deadlines with quality, interpret evolving legislation, and strengthen our Service Level Agreements, all while developing your team and supporting an inclusive, diverse workplace. Step up and lead the engine room that keeps Lewisham moving.

What’s the role?

You’ll lead a dedicated team to deliver accurate, timely payroll for thousands of employees and pensioners, tackling complex calculations and resolving queries with confidence. This is your chance to drive service excellence, shape best practices, and build strong relationships with schools and partner organisations, all while championing compliance and continuous improvement. If you’re ready to make a real difference in a dynamic, people-focused environment, this is the role for you.

What’s in it for you?

Excellent training and development opportunities, plus a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday allowance
• Local Government Pension scheme
• Flexible working and family friendly policies
• Season ticket and bicycle loans
• A range of staff discounts including local subsidised gym memberships
• Supportive staff networks

What We’re Looking For

We’re looking for a confident leader with expert payroll knowledge, strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to communicate clearly with a range of stakeholders. You’ll need excellent organisational abilities, high numeracy and IT proficiency, and a customer-focused approach. If you’re committed to continuous improvement and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we want to hear from you.

Location

The job is primarily based in Laurence House, Catford, London, SE6 4RU but we operate a hybrid approach where you will be required to work both in the office and from home on a regular basis.

Special conditions

The recruitment process is anonymous, and we don’t accept CV’s.

Salary

£52,269 to £54,360 per annum (PO4)

N.B: All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point (SCP) for the grade of the role. The only exception to this will be when matching current salary (up to the maximum of the scale), which is subject to evidential proof.

Diversity

Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply .

The Council has a dedicated employment support service, Lewisham Works , which offers Lewisham residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you want to join Lewisham Works, please email [e-mail] and an advisor will be in touch with you.

The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.

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