UK Payroll Manager (Maternity Cover)

Cognita Asia Holdings Pte Ltd; London; Remote; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading education provider is seeking a UK Payroll Manager to oversee payroll functions across schools and head office teams. This role involves managing payroll processing, ensuring compliance, and supporting the payroll team. The position is full-time and primarily home-based with some travel required.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Aviva Pension

25 Days Holiday Allowance + Bank Holidays

School fee discount

Exclusive third-party discounts

Professional Development

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing end-to-end payroll processing.
• Experience supervising a payroll team.
• High standard of Maths, English, and IT skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and manage payroll function for UK employees.
• Ensure compliance with local laws and payroll accuracy.
• Develop and maintain payroll policies.

Skills

Maths

English

IT

Interpersonal Skills

Communication

Attention to Detail

Education

CIPP qualified to level 5

Tools

Cintra

Capture Expense

Job description

About Cognita
Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we are a growing community of 100+ schools in 16 countries - in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East - serving more than 85,000 students. Each of our schools are proudly unique, however our collective purpose is to create an environment where everyone can, ‘Thrive in a rapidly evolving world’.

About the Role
As the UK Payroll Manager, you will oversee and manage the payroll function within the UK areas, ensuring accurate and timely end-to-end processing of payroll, compliance with relevant laws and regulations, and maintaining detailed payroll records. You will manage, support, and train the UK payroll team, ensuring all payroll activities are conducted efficiently and effectively, with a customer-centric approach.

Your responsibilities will include accurate payroll processing for all UK employees across Schools and Head Office teams, maintaining compliance with local laws and regulations, overseeing payroll systems, and maintaining detailed payroll records. You will also calculate and process payroll, including regular pay, overtime, bonuses, and deductions, ensure timely expenses processing, address and resolve payroll discrepancies, prepare and distribute payroll reports, and collaborate with auditors to ensure payroll accuracy and compliance.

Additionally, you will develop and maintain payroll policies, provide support and guidance to employees, process employee benefits, identify and implement system upgrades, work with the Finance team on reconciliations, and handle annual responsibilities such as P11Ds, PSA preparation, and Gender Pay Gap data. Collaboration with HR and finance departments will be essential to ensure seamless payroll integration and support organisational goals.

Please note, this is a Full-Time Maternity Cover contract starting July 2025. You will be mainly home-based but some travel to Head Office and other sites will be required.

Who we are looking for:
Qualifications:
•CIPP qualified to level 5.

Experience:
•Proven experience managing end-to-end payroll processing in a fast-paced, complex environment.
•Experience of supervising/managing a payroll team.
•Experience of administering pension schemes.

Essential Skills
•High standard of Maths, English, and IT skills.
•Detail-oriented with a focus on accuracy.
•Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to develop remote relationships.
•Excellent communication skills to liaise with internal and external stakeholders.
•Working knowledge of GDPR regulations.
•Strong knowledge of HMRC/Statutory rules & procedures.

Desirable Skills:
•Payroll experience in the Education Sector.
•Experience of Teachers Pension Scheme.
•Experience of Cintra.
•Experience of Capture Expense.

Benefits at Cognita
• Competitive salary depending upon qualifications and experience
• Aviva Pension
• 25 Days Holiday Allowance + Bank Holidays
• School fee discount
• Exclusive third-party discounts
• Professional Development

How to Apply
Complete this application before the closing date. The Closing Date for Applications is: Sunday 25th May 2025.

Cognita Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practice and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of background.

EARLY APPLICATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED, WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO INTERVIEW AND APPOINT PRIOR TO CLOSING DATE FOR THE RIGHT APPLICANT.