Head of Payroll

Head of Payroll 

£35.88 per hour PAYE | £48.99 per hour Umbrella
Location: London / Hybrid – 1 day a week onsite
Contract: end Date February 2027 – possible extension beyond this
 

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Head of Payroll to join a large and complex organisation in London on a hybrid basis.

This is a senior payroll leadership role with responsibility for the overall accuracy, compliance and delivery of UK and overseas payroll, alongside leading a team and driving continuous improvement across the payroll function.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and manage the payroll team, ensuring accurate and timely payroll delivery
• Oversee monthly payroll, gross-to-net sign-off, HMRC/statutory submissions and year-end processes
• Manage pension auto-enrolment, payroll deductions, reconciliations and third-party payments
• Ensure robust payroll controls, procedures, audit compliance and exception reporting
• Drive process improvement, efficiency and payroll transformation
• Work closely with HR, Finance, senior stakeholders, auditors and external providers
• Manage complex payroll issues and ensure a high-quality, customer-focused service
• Lead and support change across payroll systems, processes and ways of working

About you

We're looking for an experienced payroll leader with:

• Significant experience managing complex, high-volume payroll operations
• Strong UK payroll, HMRC, pensions and statutory compliance knowledge
• Experience leading and developing payroll teams
• Proven experience delivering payroll process improvement and change
• Strong reconciliation, controls and audit experience
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, including the confidence to influence and challenge senior stakeholders
• Experience working across multiple HR/payroll systems
• A calm, solutions-focused approach and the ability to perform under pressure
• CIPP Foundation Degree and Lean/Six Sigma Green Belt

This is an excellent opportunity for a Head of Payroll looking for a challenging leadership position within a large and complex organisation.

Interested? Apply now or contact us for a confidential discussion.