Senior Payroll Lead – Multi-Entity & Compliance

Focus Group; Sevenoaks; Hybrid; GBP 33,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Focus Group is seeking a experienced Payroll Manager to lead end-to-end payroll across our fast-growing group. You will be the subject matter expert for payroll, ensuring accurate processing and 100% statutory deadline compliance, while managing a small team.

You will oversee system administration, upgrades and testing, and drive changes to improve processes. This role requires hands-on leadership in a high-paced environment with a focus on accuracy and compliance.

Qualifications

• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to plan workload for you and your team.
• Strong numeracy and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Experience liaising with senior stakeholders, HMRC and external providers.

Responsibilities

• Own the professional management of payroll across the group for multiple cycles and schemes.
• Lead the payroll system administration, upgrades and testing, and migrate systems as needed.
• Manage end-to-end monthly payroll: starters, leavers, changes, variable pay and deductions.
• Process pension and employee benefits deductions and ensure compliance across reporting.
• Act as main point of contact with HMRC and pension providers; maintain internal controls.

Skills

Organisational skills

Numeracy

Problem-solving

Communication

Stakeholder management

Education

CIPP or equivalent qualification

Tools

CIPHR

Sage

Job description

Focus Group is seeking a experienced Payroll Manager to lead end-to-end payroll across our fast-growing group. You will be the subject matter expert for payroll, ensuring accurate processing and 100% statutory deadline compliance, while managing a small team.

You will oversee system administration, upgrades and testing, and drive changes to improve processes. This role requires hands-on leadership in a high-paced environment with a focus on accuracy and compliance.