SAP SuccessFactors Payroll Consultant – UK Higher Education

VE3; Maidenhead; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

VE3 is looking for a skilled SAP SuccessFactors Payroll Consultant to lead payroll transformation projects in the UK Higher Education sector. The role demands expertise in SAP Payroll and an understanding of complexities within UK universities.

The successful candidate will guide the migration process to SAP SuccessFactors platforms, focusing on strategic and technical leadership in payroll management.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience with SAP Payroll in the UK Higher Education sector.
• Proven expertise migrating from SAP ECC/SAP HCM to SuccessFactors.
• Strong understanding of UK payroll legislation.

Responsibilities

• Lead payroll transformation from SAP ECC to SuccessFactors.
• Define target-state payroll architecture.
• Provide guidance on academic workforce structures.

Skills

UK university payroll operations

SAP ECC Payroll

SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll

Payroll schemas

GDRP requirements

Education

SAP Certified Application Associate – SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll

Job description

Job Title: SAP SuccessFactors Payroll Consultant – UK Higher Education

Location: UK

Position Type: Full-time

Experience Level: 5+ years.

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced SAP SuccessFactors Payroll Consultant with strong UK Higher Education sector expertise to support the migration and transformation of existing SAP ECC/SAP HCM Payroll environments to SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll (ECP) and SuccessFactors platforms.

The role requires deep understanding of the operational, regulatory, and organisational complexities commonly found within UK universities and Higher Education institutions, including multi-contract employment models, academic staffing structures, pension schemes, research-funded staffing arrangements, and complex payroll processing requirements.

The consultant will provide strategic and technical leadership across payroll transformation, architecture, migration, integration, governance, testing, cutover, and operational transition activities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead payroll and HR transformation activities from SAP ECC/SAP HCM Payroll to SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll (ECP).
• Assess existing university payroll and HR environments including:
  • Payroll schemas and PCRs
  • Wage types
  • Academic staffing models
  • Casual and hourly paid staff processing
  • Research grant-funded employment structures
  • Multiple assignment and multi-contract employment scenarios
  • Pension schemes and statutory reporting
  • Existing integrations and custom developments
• Define target-state SAP SuccessFactors payroll architecture aligned with:
  • UK Higher Education operational models
  • Enterprise integration principles
  • Security and compliance standards
  • Cloud transformation objectives
• Provide guidance on:
  • Academic workforce structures
  • Term-time and seasonal payroll processing
  • Complex absence and leave management integration
  • Payroll reconciliation and auditing
  • Payroll control and governance
• Support migration and integration activities involving:
  • SAP CPI
  • Finance systems
  • Student systems
  • Identity and access management platforms
  • Pension providers
  • HMRC interfaces
• Collaborate with HR, payroll, finance, IT, enterprise architecture, security, and programme teams.
• Support governance forums, testing cycles, payroll parallel runs, cutover planning, hypercare, and operational transition activities.
• Ensure all documentation, support procedures, and knowledge transfer artefacts are completed to agreed quality standards.

Technical Skills & Experience

• Extensive experience delivering SAP ECC Payroll and SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll transformation programmes within UK Higher Education institutions.
• Proven expertise migrating from SAP ECC/SAP HCM to SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central and ECP.
• Strong understanding of:
  • UK university payroll operations
  • Academic employment models
  • Research-funded staffing
  • Multiple contracts and assignments
  • Casual and temporary worker payroll processing
• Expertise in:
  • Payroll schemas
  • PCRs
  • Wage types
  • Retro payroll processing
  • Payroll reconciliation
  • Payroll auditing
  • Payroll Control Center
• Strong understanding of UK payroll legislation including:
  • HMRC reporting
  • PAYE
  • Pensions processing
  • BACS integrations
  • GDPR requirements
• Experience integrating SAP SuccessFactors with:
  • Finance systems
  • Identity platforms
  • Student record systems
  • Enterprise data platforms
• Familiarity with Higher Education governance and operational environments.

Desirable Higher Education Experience

• USS and LGPS pension processing
• Research grant workforce management
• TRAC-related workforce reporting awareness
• Integration with student and academic systems
• Experience within Russell Group or large multi-campus universities.

Certifications

• Essential: SAP Certified Application Associate – SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll
• Desirable: SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Certification
• Desirable: SAP Activate Project Manager Certification
• Desirable: SAP Integration Suite Certification