Payroll Manager in Newark on Trent, Nottinghamshire

Payroll Manager 
Newark Based 
Hybrid role 
£45,000 - £55,000 + benefits 

Eaton Syalon are supporting our Newark based client who are looking for an experienced Payroll Manager to lead a busy, multi-entity payroll function within a complex environment. This is an excellent opportunity for an accomplished payroll professional to take ownership of payroll operations, lead an established team of 4 and drive continuous improvements across the payroll function.

Overseeing payroll across six trading entities, you will ensure that employees are paid accurately and on time, while maintaining compliance with UK payroll legislation, pension regulations and internal financial controls. You will act as the key point of escalation for complex payroll matters, providing technical expertise, sound judgement and effective leadership. Working closely with HR, Finance, IT and operational teams, you will play an important role in delivering an efficient, reliable and customer-focused payroll service.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, manage and develop a payroll team of 4, promoting high standards of accuracy, performance and service delivery.
• Oversee the end-to-end payroll process across multiple entities, ensuring all employees are paid accurately and within strict deadlines.
• Manage payroll activities covering hourly-paid employees, variable hours, overtime, enhancements, sleep-in and waking-night payments, sickness absence, family leave, deductions, starters, leavers and contractual changes.
• Oversee pension submissions and automatic enrolment requirements.
• Ensure compliance with UK payroll legislation, HMRC requirements, pension regulations and relevant employment legislation.
• Act as the escalation point for complex payroll queries, investigating issues and providing clear, appropriate resolutions.
• Prepare, review and analyse payroll reports, ensuring accuracy and appropriate financial controls.
• Build strong working relationships with HR, Finance, IT and operational colleagues to ensure effective collaboration and resolution of payroll matters.
• Manage relationships with external payroll software providers, ensuring systems remain updated and aligned with legislative changes.
• Review payroll processes, controls and systems, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy and service delivery.
• Monitor changes in payroll legislation and best practice, ensuring these are implemented effectively.
• Provide coaching, training and support to the payroll team, encouraging professional development and continuous improvement.

Person Profile:

You will be an experienced payroll professional with a strong technical understanding of UK payroll legislation and the confidence to manage a complex, high-volume payroll function.

You will also bring:

• Proven experience managing and leading a payroll team.
• Strong technical payroll knowledge and the ability to investigate and resolve complex payroll issues.
• Experience managing payroll for large employee populations across multiple entities.
• Demonstrable experience with hourly-paid employees and associated time and attendance systems.
• A track record of identifying and implementing payroll process improvements.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise workloads and manage competing deadlines.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to engage with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.
• A high level of accuracy and attention to detail, with a commitment to delivering an excellent payroll service.
• Sound judgement and decision-making skills, particularly when dealing with sensitive or complex payroll matters.

Experience Required:

• A minimum of 3 years' experience managing a payroll team, ideally within a large organisation, across multiple entities.
• Demonstrable experience managing complex payrolls involving hourly-paid employees and variable working patterns.
• Experience using time and attendance systems.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills, particularly for payroll reporting and analysis.
• Confident use of Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook and Word.
• Experience using Sage Payroll would be advantageous but is not essential.

Why join our client:

This is an opportunity to take on a key leadership position where you can make a real difference to the effectiveness of payroll operations.

You will have the opportunity to shape processes, develop the team, influence improvements and work collaboratively with colleagues across a large and diverse organisation.

If you are a technically strong payroll professional who enjoys leading people, solving problems and delivering operational excellence, we would love to hear from you.