Pensions Manager – Payroll, Payments and Projects

Richmond and Wandsworth Council; City Of London; On-site; GBP 57,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in London is seeking a Pension Manager to oversee payroll, payments, and strategic projects. This role involves leading a major transformation project managing payroll administration for over 30,000 LGPS members. Candidates should have substantial payroll experience, ideally with Heywood Altair, and possess excellent interpersonal skills. This position offers a competitive salary and a range of employee benefits including extensive annual leave and flexible working options.

Benefits

40 days annual leave including Bank Holidays

Flexible working options

Generous pension plan

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of payroll procedures and defined benefit schemes.
• Experience managing payroll for large organizations.
• Ability to engage with senior officers and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead implementation of new pensioner payroll and payments system.
• Manage ongoing payroll operations for over 30,000 members.
• Champion innovation through process improvements.

Skills

Understanding & working experience of payroll procedures

Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills

Experience of Heywood Altair or equivalent system

Payroll implementation/testing experience

Use of Microsoft Office (Excel and Access)

Data interrogation software (e.g., Business Objects, Power BI)

SharePoint/O365

Job description

Overview

Job Title Pension Manager-Payroll, Payments and Projects

Salary Range £57,171-£72,186 per year (starting salary dependent on experience)

Employment Permanent, Full time

Location Wandsworth, London

This is a fantastic opportunity to shape the strategic direction of the Pensions Shared Service, helping to deliver innovation and service excellence to pension provision.

About you

You'll thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and are passionate about delivering high-quality public services. You'll be a strategic thinker with a hands-on approach and a track record of delivering change.

About the role

Take the lead on a major transformation project - bringing pensioner payroll under direct control of the Pensions Shared Service and separating it from our partner Councils' systems. Once implemented, you will manage payroll administration for over 30,000 LGPS pensioner members, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and outstanding service.

Key responsibilities

• Drive the successful implementation of a new pensioner payroll and payments system
• Manage ongoing payroll operations and pensioner services
• Lead annual service-wide projects, ensuring alignment with our business objectives
• Champion innovation through new technologies and process improvements
• Provide expert guidance to colleagues, senior leaders, and external stakeholders

About us

The Pensions Shared Service is based in Wandsworth Town Hall and runs the administration of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) for five London boroughs: Camden, Merton, Richmond, Waltham Forest and Wandsworth.

Essential Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Understanding & working experience of payroll procedures and defined benefit schemes and a working knowledge of relevant legislation including HMRC;
• Experience of Heywood Altair or equivalent system;
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, in order to engage with senior officers and stakeholders, senior management teams and the service users;
• Payroll implementation/testing experience;
• Use of leading business analysis and change tools such as:

• Microsoft Office (specifically Excel and Access)
• Data interrogation software e.g. Business Objects, Power BI, etc
• SharePoint/O365

Closing Date: Monday 22 September 2025

Shortlisting Date: Tuesday 23 September 2025

Interview Date: w/c Monday 6 October 2025

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.

Disability Confident employer statement: If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know.

We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan.