Payroll Manager

Job title: Interim Payroll Manager Length of assignment: 3-4 monthsJob type: Full-time, hybrid working, 3 days a week in the officeHours: Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:30 (37.5 hours a week)Salary equivalent: £42,000Role Purpose

The Interim Payroll Manager will oversee a comprehensive payroll and pensions. This role involves ensuring timely, accurate payments, compliance with legal and policy standards, and delivering exceptional customer service. Additionally, the Interim Payroll Manager will generate monthly business reports and support the Payroll Officer.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of payroll across four in-house systems for companies and trusts, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with legal and company policies.
• Oversee pension arrangements for two schemes, ensuring accurate data reporting, timely payments, and adherence to scheme regulations.
• Supervise the daily operations of HR Information Systems (Payroll, HR, and T&A), including processing employee data, wages, and working hours, and generating HR-related reports and KPIs.
• Act as a specialist in pensions and payroll matters, such as auto-enrolment, PAYE, NICs, and complex taxation issues (e.g., termination payments and benefits in kind).
• Provide data on private medical premiums for P11D support and manage in-house reporting changes.
• Conduct year-end payroll reconciliations, HMRC returns, and P60 distribution.
• Ensure accurate Life Assurance submissions and payroll process integrity.
• Deliver training and briefings on payroll and pension matters.
• Collaborate with HR software providers and IT colleagues to address system issues and implement upgrades.
• Keep the Senior Leadership Team informed about payroll and pension developments, ensuring proactive planning for any changes.
• Support external auditor queries and payroll cost reconciliation for statutory accounts.
• Enhance and automate payroll processes, document standard procedures, and train new managers on payroll workflows.
• Manage payroll calculations and payments for bonuses and annual salary reviews.
• Assist Management Accounts with payroll reconciliations and statutory payment processing (PAYE, NI, etc.).
• Ensure HRIS configuration aligns with business requirements.
• Generate a range of business reports, including wage versus worked hours, and provide insights for monthly business reviews.
• Deliver guest-focused service, ensuring work aligns with brand standards.

Person Specification

• Proven experience in payroll administration, with expertise in policies and procedures for diverse workforce types (e.g., hourly, salaried, fixed-term, zero-hour contracts).
• Experience managing in-house payroll services.
• Working knowledge of pension schemes, with a willingness to develop expertise further.
• Strong understanding of HR and payroll processes.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• High attention to detail and quality assurance.
• Creative problem-solving skills and high energy.
• Strong analytical abilities.
• Passion for delivering excellent service.

Desirable Criteria

• Qualification as a CIPP Payroll Professional or equivalent.

What you need to do nowIf you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk