Payroll Manager

Payroll Manager

Worcestershire

14-month fixed term contract

Up to £39k

An established organisation is looking for an experienced Payroll Manager to take ownership of its end-to-end payroll function, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time while maintaining high standards of compliance and service.

This is a hands-on role combining payroll management, reporting and payroll accounting, with responsibility for supporting and supervising a Payroll Officer. You’ll work closely with finance and HR colleagues and play an important part in keeping payroll processes accurate, efficient and reliable.

Key responsibilities

Payroll operations

• Manage weekly and monthly payrolls, ensuring accurate processing and deadlines are consistently met.
• Maintain employee payroll records and process starters, leavers, salary changes, overtime, statutory payments, pensions and deductions.
• Submit Real Time Information (RTI) returns and manage year-end processes, including P60s and P11Ds.
• Reconcile payroll reports, investigate discrepancies and respond to payroll queries promptly and professionally.
• Ensure payroll practices comply with HMRC requirements and relevant UK payroll legislation.

Systems, reporting and payroll accounting

• Use Sage Payroll to maintain accurate data, produce reports and resolve system issues, liaising with support where needed.
• Prepare and post monthly payroll journals and reconcile payroll control accounts, pension contributions and statutory payments.
• Support month-end and year-end finance activities, including payroll expenditure and accruals.
• Produce payroll analysis and management information, and support audits with accurate records and documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes and maintain reliable, up-to-date systems.

Team leadership and employee support

• Supervise and support one Payroll Officer, providing guidance, training and cover planning.
• Act as the main point of contact for payroll-related queries, working with HR, finance, pension providers and external agencies as required.
• Handle confidential information with discretion and maintain a professional, responsive service.

Skills and experience

• Demonstrable experience managing payroll processes from start to finish.
• Strong working knowledge of Sage Payroll.
• Experience preparing payroll journals and completing payroll reconciliations.
• Good understanding of HMRC requirements, UK payroll legislation, National Minimum Wage rules and workplace pensions.
• Previous experience supervising or supporting the development of colleagues.
• Excellent attention to detail, organisation and time management, with the ability to meet strict deadlines.
• A professional and trustworthy approach to handling confidential information.

Desirable

• CIPP qualification or an equivalent payroll qualification.
• Experience administering pension auto-enrolment and working within a finance department.
• Knowledge of payroll accounting and wider finance processes.

Systems

Sage Payroll, Sage P11Ds, NEST pension portal, Microsoft Excel and Office, and HMRC Online Services.

If you’re an experienced payroll professional who enjoys taking ownership, supporting a team and keeping processes running smoothly, we’d be keen to hear from you.A

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