Sole Payroll Manager

Michael Page (UK); Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking a Payroll Manager in Greater London to oversee payroll functions. The successful candidate will audit compliance with UK legislation and manage payroll transformation projects to enhance accuracy and efficiency. Key responsibilities include creating SOPs, collaborating with financial teams, and implementing process improvements. Offering a competitive salary and the opportunity to lead and develop the payroll function while based in Hounslow with hybrid working options.

Benefits

Life Insurance

25 days holiday + Bank Holidays

Hybrid working model

Qualifications

• Experience in payroll leadership and management within a European organization.
• Strong technical skills with payroll systems and compliance.
• Prior exposure to audit and payroll transformation projects.

Responsibilities

• Audit external payroll providers for compliance with legislation.
• Lead payroll transformation programs to enhance efficiency.
• Create and maintain SOPs for end-to-end payroll processing.
• Collaborate with Finance for accuracy in payroll approvals.

Skills

Payroll management

Strong IT Skills

Audit compliance

Process improvement

Job description

Overview

Continue to grow the payroll function - sole to team manager. Ownership and process oversight.

About Our Client

Our Client

• Growing and highly acquisitive business
• Trading for 20+ years
• Operating in over 15 countries globally
• Employing over 1,000 people worldwide
• Hounslow location but based internationally

Job Description

• Audit external payroll providers for compliance with UK legislation, HMRC, RTI, and other regulatory bodies, identifying and mitigating risks.
• Audit pension schemes to ensure compliance, including auto-enrolment, salary sacrifice impacts, and absence periods.
• Create and maintain SOPs and payroll documentation for end‑to‑end payroll processing, preparing for potential changes in payroll providers.
• Act as the main contact between operational managers and payroll providers to ensure consistency, compliance, and understanding of payroll processes.
• Improve payroll accuracy by reducing late submissions and post‑termination payments, and deliver cost savings by reducing third‑party queries and billable hours.
• Audit Time & Attendance data to ensure correct processing of hours, overtime, and absences.
• Lead payroll transformation programs to optimise efficiency and accuracy, including process improvement projects.
• Ensure year‑end submissions (P11d, P60s, Form 42) are accurate and compliant, and conduct National Minimum Wage audits.
• Collaborate with Finance for monthly payroll approvals, ensuring accuracy and coordinating BACs approval and fund release.
• Implement and drive process change and automation, identifying technologies to deliver lean solutions, and handle sensitive payroll data with confidence.

The Successful Applicant

• A Payroll leader and manager - prior exposure and experience necessary (European organisation highly desirable)
• Strong IT Skills
• Multi site and multi entity
• Excellent system knowledge and technical ability
• Based within Hounslow
• Prior exposure to management of payroll projects
• Exposure to Audit, payroll transformation strategy as well as moving through project work (current to future state)

What's on Offer

• Salary: £65,000 - £72,000 per annum
• Life Insurance
• 25 days holiday + Bank Holidays
• Hounslow based - 4x days per week in the office, 1x day work from home
• Payroll Compliance, Audit, Transformation and process ownership
• Opportunity to develop the payroll function