Senior Operations Manager – Payroll & Pensions

UK Shared Business Services Ltd (UKSBS); Swindon; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

UK Shared Business Services Ltd (UKSBS) is recruiting a Senior Operations Manager – Payroll & Pensions. The role will be hybrid across Swindon, Newport, or Stockton-on-Tees, leading day-to-day payroll and pensions operations for a central government client base and 40,000+ pay-rolled users.

You will develop and optimise end-to-end payroll delivery, manage a high-performing team, ensure regulatory compliance, and implement process improvements across multiple platforms.

Qualifications

• Senior payroll and pensions operations experience in the public sector.
• Experience with payroll systems, regulatory compliance and audits.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and manage budgets.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end payroll and pensions operations for a central government client base.
• Mentor and develop a high-performing payroll & pensions team.
• Identify inefficiencies, implement controls and automation to streamline workflows.
• Ensure adherence to statutory requirements and internal policies; oversee audits.
• Analyze complex queries, resolve issues promptly and escalate where needed.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and external suppliers to maintain service quality.
• Monitor KPIs, SLAs and produce management insights for senior leadership.
• Lead input into system changes, legislative changes and client-requested changes.
• Identify operational risks and implement mitigation plans to minimise impact.

Skills

Payroll leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Data analysis

Tools

SaaS platforms

Job description

Senior Operations Manager – Payroll & Pensions

Swindon, Newport, or Stockton-on-Tees – flexible and hybrid working options

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 vision for the next five years is to evolve into the leading HR and payroll service provider for the public sector, underpinned by cutting-edge technology and professional excellence. This journey will involve transitioning from our current two-platform model to a three-platform approach before consolidating to two core platforms across our clients.

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

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

• Develop and implement a payroll and pensions operations function that is aligned with wider UKSBS Operations and business objectives.
• Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing team of payroll & pensions administrators and coordinators
• Identify inefficiencies and implement robust process controls, automation and 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, determine appropriate solutions and take decisive action to resolve issues promptly.
• Partner closely with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders to resolve escalations, drive service enhancements and maintain service integrity.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and service-level agreements (SLAs); produce regular management reports and present insights to senior leadership.
• Lead the payroll and pensions related input into projects, such as system changes, legislative changes, efficiency drives and client-requested change.
• Proactively identify operational risks within payroll processes, establish clear escalation protocols and implement mitigation plans to minimise impact on service delivery and compliance.
• Oversee third-party providers; manage contracts, review performance and ensure alignment with service expectations.

To do this role well you will need:

• Exceptional leadership in payroll management, with a strong track record of managing multiple, complex payrolls across a public sector landscape.
• Strategic decision-making expertise in payroll or pensions operations, implementation, and compliance.
• Extensive experience gained within SaaS solutions and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to analyse operational data to drive improvements, monitor trends, and optimise service delivery.
• Proven track record in 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.

We are an inclusive and Disability Confident employer and welcome all applications. Find out more about our equality, diversity and inclusion commitments on our website.

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 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.