Head of Payroll & Recruitment

We’re recruiting a Head of Payroll & Recruitment for a Local Authority.

This is a newly created permanent leadership role bringing together payroll, recruitment and employee lifecycle services within the council’s HR and workforce transformation function.

Reporting to the Director of HR & Workforce Transformation, the postholder will take full accountability for the performance, governance and continuous improvement of both services. You will lead a team of two direct reports and up to nine indirect reports, while working closely with senior leaders across the council to improve workforce planning, strengthen operational control and reduce reliance on agency and interim resource.

The role will include responsibility for:

• leading the end-to-end payroll cycle, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, compliance and effective controls;
• improving payroll resilience, reducing manual intervention and strengthening audit assurance;
• modernising payroll and recruitment systems, including greater automation, integration and self-service;
• leading recruitment from attraction through to onboarding, improving pace, quality and candidate experience;
• supporting services to workforce plan more effectively and convert appropriate temporary resource into permanent appointments;
• managing key supplier relationships, including the Talos recruitment platform and the council’s Matrix temporary labour arrangement;
• overseeing a contingent labour contract associated with approximately £25 million of annual spend;
• improving management information, service standards, governance and value for money across both functions.

The essential requirement is clear. Applicants must have experience of either:

running payroll within a Local Authority, or
running payroll using Unit4/Agresso.

You will also need experience of leading a high-performing HR, payroll, employee services or shared services function, alongside strong knowledge of payroll compliance, service transformation, supplier management and operational improvement.

This role will suit an established Head of Payroll, Payroll Services Manager, Head of HR Operations, Head of Employee Services or Shared Services leader looking for a broader and highly visible permanent role.

Salary: £69,641–£78,782
Contract: Permanent
Location: Berkshire
Working pattern: Minimum two days per week on site
Reporting to: Director of HR & Workforce Transformation

For a confidential discussion, please contact me directly.