Head of Payroll

Senior Leadership Role | People‑Focused | Large‑Scale Operations

Are you an experienced payroll leader ready to shape the future of payroll services at scale?

We're looking for a Head of Payroll to provide end‑to‑end leadership of a large, complex Payroll Services operation supporting over 75,000 colleagues across multiple pay frequencies. This is a senior, high‑impact role where you'll combine operational excellence with strategic vision to deliver a best‑in‑class payroll and time & attendance service.

You'll take ownership of the colleague payroll experience, ensuring services are simple, reliable and efficient, while driving continuous improvement through digitalisation, automation and data‑led insight. Working closely with senior stakeholders and outsourced delivery partners, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping how payroll services operate now and in the future.

The Role

As Head of Payroll, you'll lead the delivery of Time & Attendance (T&A) and Payroll Services at scale, ensuring accuracy, compliance and service consistency in a fast‑paced environment. You'll also act as the senior operational lead for outsourced and offshore partners, holding them to account for performance, innovation and value.

Occasional travel to India may be required as part of offshore partnership leadership

• Provide end‑to‑end accountability for T&A and Payroll Services, including:
  • Payroll and benefits processing
  • TUPE mobilisation activity
  • Statutory filings, compliance and cost distribution
  • Employee and third‑party payments and reporting
  • Overpayments management and recovery
• Own and continuously enhance the colleague experience, ensuring services are responsive, efficient and reliable
• Lead day‑to‑day operational performance including demand management, workflow optimisation and issue resolution
• Build and govern strong relationships with outsourced and offshore suppliers, ensuring service quality, compliance and continuous improvement
• Establish and maintain robust governance, controls and service standards
• Drive process optimisation, automation and digital transformation using data and insight
• Identify and manage payroll‑related risks, ensuring compliance with employment legislation, data protection and information security standards
• Lead and sponsor payroll transformation initiatives and complex service transitions
• Own the Payroll Services budget, balancing service quality, risk and cost
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, Tax, Legal and other corporate teams to deliver seamless end‑to‑end processes
• Develop, coach and lead payroll managers and teams, building a high‑performance, inclusive culture

About You

You're a confident, commercially minded leader with deep payroll expertise and the credibility to operate at senior level in a complex organisation.

You'll bring:

• Extensive knowledge of UK employment legislation within large, regulated or unionised environments
• Proven experience leading large‑scale T&A and Payroll operations
• Strong people leadership skills, with a track record of building high‑performing teams
• Experience managing outsourced or offshore payroll delivery models
• A history of successfully delivering payroll transitions, including TUPE and acquisitions
• Expertise in process redesign and continuous improvement, ideally using LEAN or similar methodologies
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the confidence to challenge constructively
• Sound commercial judgement, including budget ownership and investment prioritisation
• A professional, detail‑driven approach with a strong commitment to confidentiality and data security
• CIPP qualification or equivalent professional experience

Why Join?

This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior leadership role where you can genuinely influence and transform payroll service delivery within a large, people‑centric organisation. You'll have the scope, scale and support to make a lasting impact – both on colleague experience and on how payroll services are delivered in the future.