Pensions Payroll Technical Lead

Barnett Waddingham; Cheltenham; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous pension scheme

Private medical cover

Life assurance

Group income protection

Up to 30 days holiday per year with -h

Holiday trading

Job summary

Barnett Waddingham is seeking a Payroll Technical Lead to provide specialist payroll expertise and lead the end-to-end delivery of pension payroll services. The role emphasises technical leadership, process improvement, and strengthening payroll controls across the team.

The position is permanent and can be based in Cheltenham or Glasgow with a hybrid working pattern. You will coach and mentor colleagues while ensuring high-quality service for customers.

Qualifications

• Previous experience managing pension payrolls.
• Strong practical knowledge of UK payroll and pensions taxation.
• Proven experience with RTI submissions and HMRC processes.
• Experience preparing APSS105 submissions and pension tax relief filings.
• High level of numerical accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to manage complex corrections.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical oversight and support to the Payroll team in end-to-end processing of pension payrolls, ensuring timely and accurate payment runs.
• Act as a subject matter expert for complex payroll scenarios, providing guidance and support where required.
• Develop, implement and maintain robust checking procedures to support data accuracy and controls.
• Support delivery of payroll services in line with service standards, regulatory requirements and customer expectations.
• Oversee production, review and distribution of payslips, P60s and other statutory payroll documentation.
• Ensure payroll records are complete, accurate and audit-ready.
• Lead investigations and resolutions of payroll-related HMRC queries and communications.

Skills

UK payroll knowledge

Numerical accuracy

Problem solving

Leadership & mentoring

Data accuracy & controls

Attention to detail

Job description

The Payroll Technical Lead is responsible for providing specialist payroll expertise and applying in-depth technical knowledge to ensure the accurate, compliant and efficient delivery of pension payroll services. The role will play a key part in strengthening payroll controls, developing colleague capability, improving processes and ensuring a high-quality service for customers. Through coaching, mentoring and technical leadership, the Payroll Technical Lead will help build payroll knowledge across the team and support the ongoing development of the payroll function as the business continues to evolve.

This is a permanent role that can be based in our Cheltenham or Glasgow offices working on a hybrid basis.

A Snapshot Of Your Day

• Provide technical oversight and support to the Payroll team in the end-to-end processing of pension payrolls, helping to ensure all payment runs are completed accurately and on time.
• Act as a subject matter expert for complex payroll scenarios, providing guidance and support where required.
• Develop, implement and maintain robust checking procedures to support data accuracy, control effectiveness and operational resilience.
• Support the delivery of payroll services in line with agreed service standards, regulatory requirements and customer expectations.
• Oversee the production, review and distribution of payslips, P60s and other statutory payroll documentation.
• Ensure payroll records are complete, accurate and maintained in an audit-ready state.
• Lead the investigation and resolution of payroll-related HMRC queries, ensuring corrections are processed appropriately and outcomes communicated clearly.

We would love to hear from you if you have:

• Previous experience managing pension payrolls.
• Strong practical knowledge of UK payroll and pensions taxation.
• Proven experience with RTI submissions and HMRC processes.
• Experience preparing APSS105 submissions and pension tax relief filings.
• High level of numerical accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to manage complex corrections.

What's In It For You

• Competitive discretionary annual bonus
• Generous pension scheme
• Core benefits for you including private medical cover, life assurance, group income protection, and up to 30 days holiday per year with holiday trading
• A comprehensive range of voluntary benefits to suit you (and your family) including an electric car leasing scheme, tech scheme, cycle to work scheme, dental cover, healthcare cash plan, health assessments, critical illness cover, Sports Allowance - we pay up to 50% of your gym/sports membership (up to £50 pm), travel insurance, paid volunteering, and a broad range of retailer discounts

Happy to talk flexible working

Accessibility

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you require reasonable adjustments or want more information on accessibility.