Payroll Manager

Payroll Manager

London Borough of Lewisham

£65-58k per annum depending on experience  

Hybrid Working Available

Permanent | Full-Time

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Payroll Manager to join the London Borough of Lewisham and lead the delivery of a high-quality payroll service across the organisation.

This is a key leadership role, responsible for ensuring the accurate and timely processing of payroll whilst driving continuous improvement, compliance, and exceptional customer service. You will manage a dedicated payroll team and play a pivotal role in supporting the council's workforce.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the delivery of a complex, high-volume payroll service, ensuring the accurate and timely payment of employees across multiple payrolls.
• Oversee the end-to-end monthly payroll cycle, ensuring all payroll deadlines, statutory submissions, and reporting requirements are met.
• Manage, motivate, and develop a team of Payroll Officers and Payroll Specialists, providing coaching, performance management, and ongoing professional development.
• Allocate and monitor team workloads to ensure service delivery standards are consistently achieved during peak payroll periods.
• Act as the senior escalation point for complex payroll, pension, taxation, and employment-related queries.
• Ensure compliance with HMRC regulations, National Insurance, PAYE, statutory payments, and pension legislation, including LGPS requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance payroll processes, controls, accuracy, and customer experience.
• Develop and maintain robust payroll controls and governance procedures to minimise risk and ensure audit compliance.
• Build effective working relationships with HR, Finance, Pensions, external providers, and senior stakeholders across the council.  Lead payroll-related projects, including system upgrades, process automation, organisational restructures, and legislative changes.
• Produce and present payroll management information, KPIs, and performance reports to senior leadership.
• Monitor payroll service levels, identifying trends and implementing solutions to improve efficiency and service quality.
• Manage year-end payroll activities, including P60s, P11Ds, reconciliation processes, and statutory returns.
• Support workforce changes, restructures, contract variations, and organisational transformation programmes, ensuring payroll impacts are effectively managed.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellent customer service within the payroll team.

About You

You will be an experienced Payroll Manager with a proven track record of successfully managing a busy payroll function. You will possess strong technical payroll knowledge, excellent leadership skills, and a commitment to delivering a first-class service.

Essential Requirements

✅ Significant payroll management experience within a high volume environment

✅ Strong knowledge of HMRC legislation and statutory payroll requirements

✅ Experience managing and developing payroll teams

✅ Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills

✅ Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities

✅ Experience of payroll systems and process improvement initiatives

✅ Ability to work effectively within a fast-paced environment

Desirable

• Public sector or local government payroll experience
• Knowledge of Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• CIPP qualification or equivalent payroll certification
• Experience working with Oracle payroll systems

What's on Offer?

✨ Opportunity to join a respected London Local Authority

✨ Hybrid and flexible working arrangements

✨ Excellent pension scheme

✨ Generous annual leave entitlement

✨ Ongoing professional development opportunities

✨ Chance to make a real impact within a large and diverse organisation

Interested?

To find out more or to apply for this Payroll Manager opportunity with the London Borough of Lewisham, please get in touch today.