Payroll Technical Lead

Hays Accounts and Finance

Remote-friendly

Hybrid working
Central London
Permanent Post

Our client is seeking an experienced Payroll Technical Lead to join their busy team on a permanent basis;
Duties include;

  • Provide technical leadership to ensure payrolls are processed accurately and within agreed deadlines.
  • Ensure compliance with HMRC regulations, PAYE, National Insurance, statutory payments and pension legislation.
  • Review complex payroll calculations, adjustments and reconciliations.
  • Lead on payroll year-end activities including P60s, P11Ds and statutory reporting requirements.
  • Ensure robust audit trails and controls are maintained across all payroll processes.
  • LGPS and TPS Pension Administration
  • Act as the payroll subject-matter expert for LGPS and TPS pension regulations.
  • Ensure pensionable pay calculations are correctly applied and reported.
  • Oversee monthly and annual pension returns and submissions to pension administrators.
  • Manage complex pension cases including retirements, opt-ins, opt-outs, refunds, AVCs and pension absences.
  • Implement changes arising from pension legislation updates and scheme regulations.
  • Liaise with pension authorities, auditors and external stakeholders to resolve technical queries.
  • Ensure payroll systems are accurately configured in line with statutory legislation, pension regulations and organisational policies.
  • Manage payroll system upgrades, patches, testing and implementation of new functionality.
  • Develop and maintain payroll procedures, technical documentation and system controls.
  • Work closely with IT, HR, Finance and external suppliers to resolve system issues and deliver enhancements.
  • Monitor payroll interfaces and integrations between Oracle Payroll and third-party applications
  • Lead the administration, configuration and maintenance of Oracle Payroll and associated HR/finance systems.
  • Allocate workload and monitor team performance against service standards.
  • Provide technical guidance, coaching and training to payroll staff.
  • Establish a culture of continuous improvement and customer-focused service delivery.
  • Support recruitment, induction and performance management activities.
  • Investigate and resolve complex payroll and pension-related issues.
  • Lead payroll transformation, automation and process improvement initiatives.
  • Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions to prevent recurring issues.
  • Develop management information and reporting to support business decision-making.
  • Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, compliance and data quality.
  • Build strong working relationships with HR, Finance, Pension Administrators, Internal Audit and external suppliers.
  • Serve as the escalation point for complex payroll and pensions queries.
  • Communicate technical payroll and pension information clearly to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
  • Support internal and external audits and ensure timely implementation of recommendations.
  • Extensive experience managing payroll operations within a complex organisation.
  • Advanced knowledge of Oracle Payroll systems and payroll system administration.
  • Strong understanding of Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS) regulations and reporting requirements.
  • Detailed knowledge of UK payroll legislation, HMRC regulations and statutory payments.
  • Experience of payroll reconciliations, system testing and implementation projects.
  • Strong analytical, problem-solving and stakeholder management skills.
  • Previous experience leading and developing payroll teams.


You will have;

  • Lead the technical payroll function, ensuring the accurate, timely and compliant delivery of all payroll services.
  • Act as the subject-matter expert for Oracle Payroll, providing system administration, configuration, troubleshooting and continuous improvement.
  • Ensure compliance with all relevant payroll legislation, HMRC regulations, employment law requirements and pension scheme regulations.
  • Oversee the administration and reporting requirements of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), ensuring accurate pensionable pay calculations and returns.
  • Manage payroll system upgrades, patches, testing and implementation of legislative and business changes.
  • Lead the resolution of complex payroll, pensions and system-related queries and issues.
  • Develop and maintain payroll controls, procedures and documentation to support governance and audit requirements.
  • Manage payroll reconciliations and statutory reporting, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
  • Build effective relationships with HR, Finance, Pension Administrators, IT teams, system suppliers and external auditors.
  • Lead, motivate and develop a team of payroll professionals, promoting high performance and continuous learning.
  • Drive process improvement, automation and service enhancement initiatives to improve efficiency and customer experience.
  • Produce and analyse payroll and pension management information, identifying trends, risks and opportunities for improvement.
  • Ensure payroll data integrity, security and confidentiality are maintained in line with GDPR and organisational policies.
  • Support internal and external audits, implementing recommendations and corrective actions where required.
  • Ensure service delivery standards, key performance indicators and statutory deadlines are consistently achieved.


If you have all of the above, and seeking a new challenge then please apply now

No sponsorship available for this post

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