Payroll Team Leader

Aramark UK; Leeds; On-site; GBP 39,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PerkBox discounts

Life assurance

Pension contributions

Generous holiday entitlement

Apprenticeship schemes

Job summary

Aramark UK in Leeds (Horsforth) seeks a Payroll Team Leader to coordinate day-to-day payroll delivery across a complex organisation. You will lead a talented team to ensure accurate and timely pay while upholding compliance and strong customer service. This full-time role offers a competitive salary up to £43,000 with a comprehensive benefits package, training, and clear progression opportunities within a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading a payroll team in a complex, high-volume environment.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation (PAYE, NI, pensions, year-end).
• Experience handling TUPE, acquisitions or organisational changes.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end payroll operations ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Provide technical payroll expertise and escalation for complex issues.
• Support TUPE transfers and organisational change projects.
• Coach and develop the payroll team and promote best practice.
• Ensure HMRC, pension and GDPR compliance and robust controls.
• Drive payroll system improvements and automation.

Skills

Team leadership

UK payroll knowledge

Compliance & governance

Stakeholder management

Payroll systems

Education

Payroll qualification (preferably)

Tools

PerkBox

Job description

Are you an experienced payroll professional with a passion for leading teams and delivering payroll excellence? Aramark UK is seeking a Payroll Team Leader to join our Payroll function, playing a pivotal role in coordinating the day-to-day delivery of payroll services across a complex and diverse organisation. You'll lead a talented team, ensuring colleagues are paid accurately and on time while maintaining the highest standards of compliance, governance and customer service.

This is a full time and permanent role based from our Leeds, Horsforth office.

What we offer:

• Salary of up to £43,000 dependant on experience + benefits package
• You will have access to PerkBox - which includes 100's of discounts, including savings on your weekly supermarket shop and weekend treats!
• We also offer a company package including life assurance, pension contributions, generous holiday entitlement with the option to buy more, and many more perks.
• You will also be joining a great team, with fabulous career prospects and could lead to all sorts of opportunities – we LOVE to promote from within!
• As we are passionate about developing our people from within, great training is provided. We also offer apprenticeship schemes, so your learning journey can continue!

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and coordinate the end-to-end payroll operation, ensuring payrolls are processed accurately, compliantly, and within agreed deadlines.
• Provide technical payroll expertise and act as the escalation point for complex payroll queries, legislative matters, pensions, and statutory requirements.
• Support payroll activities associated with TUPE transfers, acquisitions, mobilisations, and organisational change projects.
• Manage, coach, and develop the Payroll team, allocating workloads, driving performance, and promoting best practice across payroll processes.
• Ensure compliance with HMRC regulations, pension legislation, GDPR, and company policies while maintaining robust payroll controls and audit readiness.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, supporting payroll system enhancements, process standardisation, automation, and operational efficiencies.

Key Requirements:

• Proven experience leading or supervising a payroll team within a complex, high-volume payroll environment.
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, including PAYE, National Insurance, pensions, statutory payments, and year-end processes.
• Experience managing complex payroll queries, escalations, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrable experience supporting TUPE transfers, acquisitions, mobilisations, or other organisational change activities.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships across the business.
• Strong experience using payroll and HR systems, with a focus on process improvement, operational efficiency, and continuous service enhancement.

Additional information

At Aramark UK, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is valued and empowered to thrive.

As a proud Disability Confident Employer, we actively encourage applications from individuals of all abilities and are dedicated to supporting employees with disabilities throughout their career journey.

We are an Armed Forces Friendly organisation and proud signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. We welcome applications from veterans, service leavers, cadet forces adult volunteers, reservists and military families.

For roles requiring security clearance, any offer of employment will be conditional upon the successful completion and maintenance of the required level of security clearance. Applicants must meet the relevant eligibility and residency requirements applicable to that level of clearance.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all employees and workers to share this commitment. Where relevant to the role, safer recruitment checks will apply, including references and an enhanced DBS check in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).

We ensure our recruitment process is accessible, and reasonable adjustments are available at every stage, from application to interview and employment. If you require any adjustments or have any questions, please reach out to our recruitment team – [e-mail]

Join us in fostering a workplace where everyone can achieve their full potential.

All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.