Senior Operations Manager - Payroll & Pensions

UKRI; Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 53,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

UKSBS is seeking an experienced Senior Operations Manager for Payroll & Pensions to lead day-to-day payroll and pensions operations for a central government client base and 40,000+ users. The role offers hybrid working across Swindon, Newport, and Stockton-on-Tees, with a Band F salary of £53,151–£57,000.

You will develop a payroll/ pensions function aligned with UKSBS objectives, lead a high-performing team, and drive process improvements while ensuring compliance and timely delivery.

Qualifications

• Exceptional leadership in payroll management.
• Strategic payroll/pensions operations experience.
• Experience with SaaS solutions and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to analyse operational data to drive improvements.
• Proven senior stakeholder engagement and budget management.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a payroll and pensions operations function aligned with UKSBS objectives.
• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing payroll and pensions team.
• Identify inefficiencies and implement controls to streamline workflows.
• Ensure adherence to statutory requirements, HMRC regulations and internal policies.
• Analyze complex queries, provide decisive solutions and manage escalations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders to resolve issues.
• Monitor KPIs/SLAs and report to senior leadership.
• Lead payroll/pensions input into projects and legislative changes.
• Identify operational risks and implement mitigation plans.
• Oversee third-party providers and contracts.

Skills

Payroll management

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

SaaS experience

Regulatory compliance

Data analysis

Process improvement

Job description

Senior Operations Manager - Payroll & Pensions

• Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
• Billingham, County Durham, United Kingdom
• Newport, United Kingdom

Job Description

Senior Operations Manager – Payroll & Pensions

Swindon, Newport, or Stockton-on-Tees – flexible and hybrid working options
Band F - £53,151 - £57,000

It’s an exciting time to join UKSBS as we transform our business to be the leading UK public sector business service provider. Looking ahead, our visionfor the next five years is to evolve into theleadingHR andpayroll service provider for the public sector, underpinned bycutting-edgetechnology and professional excellence.This journey will involve transitioning from our current two-platform model to a three-platform approach beforeconsolidatingto two core platforms across our clients.

We are now seeking an experienced Operations Manager - Payroll & Pensions. This role is central to leading theday-to-day operations of ourpayrolland pensionsservice, ensuring the efficient and effective running of payrolland pensions operationsfor our central government client base and over 40,000 pay-rolled users.You will lead andoptimise our end-to-end payroll operations, ensuringaccurate,timelyand compliant payroll delivery for a diverse employee population.

Duties will include, but not be limited to the following:

Develop and implementapayroll and pensionsoperationsfunction that isaligned with widerUKSBSOperationsand businessobjectives.

Lead,mentorand develop a high-performing team of payroll & pensionsadministratorsand coordinators

Identifyinefficiencies and implement robust process controls,automationand best practices to streamline payroll workflows and reduce manual intervention.

Ensure adherence to all statutory requirements, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) regulations and internal policies; oversee audit preparation and respond to any inquiries or findings.

Analyse complex queries or exceptions, determineappropriate solutionsand take decisive action to resolve issues promptly.

Partner closely withcross-functional teamsand externalstakeholdersto resolve escalations, driveserviceenhancements andmaintainserviceintegrity.

Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and service-level agreements (SLAs); produce regular management reports and present insights to senior leadership.

Leadthepayrolland pensionsrelatedinput intoprojects, such as systemchanges,legislativechanges, efficiency drives andclient-requested change.

Proactivelyidentifyoperational risks within payroll processes,establishclear escalationprotocolsand implement mitigation plans to minimise impact on service delivery and compliance.

• Oversee third-party providers;managecontracts, reviewperformanceand ensure alignment with service expectations.

To do this role well you will need:

Exceptional leadership inpayrollmanagement, with a strongtrack recordofmanaging multiple, complex payrolls across a public sector landscape.

Strategic decision-makingexpertiseinpayrollor pensionsoperations, implementation, and compliance.

Extensive experience gained withinSaaSsolutions and regulatory compliance.

Ability to analyse operational data to drive improvements,monitortrends, and optimise service delivery.

Proventrack recordin senior stakeholder engagement, with the ability to influence, negotiate, and lead multi-functional teams.

Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, ideally shared services.

Confidence to challenge assumptions and flag risks proactively, offering practical solutions.

Strong commercial awareness and experience of managing budgets.

UKSBS does not hold a Home Office Sponsor Licence under the UK Immigration System, therefore candidates are required to have eligibility to live and work in the UK prior to applying.
We look forward to hearing from you.

We are UKSBS. We are creating a place where people love to work, a culture where we lead, we change, we deliver and we empower our people to be curious, take action and add value.