Payroll Team Leader

Lambeth-Council; Greater London; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Lambeth Council in London is seeking a Payroll Team Leader to deliver a comprehensive payroll service for school and corporate staff, ensuring payments on time and full compliance with legislation.

Reporting to the Payroll Manager, you will lead a payroll team, drive improvements, collaborate with HR and Finance, and support payroll transformation, including delivering payroll bureau services to schools and external clients.

Qualifications

• Payroll process knowledge and statutory compliance
• Leadership and people management
• Stakeholder engagement and cross-functional collaboration

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high‑performing payroll team
• Ensure accurate, on‑time payments and compliance with legislation
• Collaborate with HR, Finance and external partners to deliver joined‑up payroll services
• Support payroll transformation and bureau services for schools and external clients

Job description

Lambeth Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London,SW2 1EG, United Kingdom and 1 more

PO5: Starting salary £54,360 pa rising in annual increments to £57,495 per annum incl LW

About Us:

Located in the heart of South London, Lambeth Borough is a vibrant community of over 317,600 residents. Stretching from the dynamic neighbourhood of Streatham in the South to the iconic landmarks of Waterloo in the North, we are proud to be the 9th largest borough in London. Our diversity is our strength, with more than 130 languages spoken, making Lambeth the home of the Windrush generation, London's largest LGBTQ+ community, and a thriving Portuguese-speaking community.

It is an exciting time to join Lambeth Council; we have bold ambitions for the future of Lambeth’s communities and residents through delivery of our priorities.

With exceptional schools, lush green spaces including Brockwell Park, cultural gems like the Black Cultural Archives, and world-renowned institutions such as St Thomas's Hospital, Lambeth offers an enriching and dynamic environment.

We are a diverse payroll team consisting of 12 members, managing the payroll operations for approximately 3,000 school staff, 3,200 corporate staff, and around 200 external school staff. We work in close collaboration with our internal & external partners and software providers to ensure the smooth function of the Oracle payroll system.

About the Role:

As Payroll Team Leader, you will support the delivery of a comprehensive, accurate and customer‑focused payroll service, ensuring employees are paid correctly and on time in full compliance with legislation, regulations and Council policies. Reporting to the Payroll Manager, you will lead and develop a high‑performing payroll team, fostering a positive, inclusive culture and embedding continuous improvement across all payroll operations.

The role has a strong operational and strategic focus. You will ensure statutory compliance (including PAYE, National Insurance and multiple pension schemes) and provide support in complex payroll reconciliations and year‑end processes, acting as a specialist on payroll matters. You will also work closely with HR, Finance and external stakeholders to deliver joined‑up services, support payroll digital transformation, and develop the payroll function as a value‑adding, data‑led service, including delivering payroll bureau services to schools and external clients.

Recruitment Timelines:

Advert close date: 11:59pm on Sunday 27 September 2026.

You will be required to undertake a Cifas check.

At Lambeth, we are dedicated to providing quality services and equal opportunities for all. We are committed to safer recruitment and are proud to be a Stonewall diversity champion, a Living Wage Employer, and to guarantee interviews for all disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria of the role.

Job Info

• Job Identification 3003
• Job Category Human Resources
• Posting Date 09/15/2026, 11:26 AM
• Job Schedule Full time
• Locations Lambeth Town Hall, London, SW2 1RW, GB