Payroll Team Leader

About us Since our founding 200 years ago, UCL has blazed its own trail, fostering a vibrant, diverse community of world-class academics, staff, students, and alumni who aren’t afraid to think big and think differently. Together, we question the status quo, challenge assumptions, and tackle some of the world’s most complex problems head-on.  Located in the heart of London, UCL is consistently ranked among the top ten universities in the world.  

With more than 16,000 staff and 50,000 students from 150 different countries, and an annual turnover of more than 1.2 billion a year, we are London’s leading multi-disciplinary university. Alongside our global repoution for excellence in teaching, we are recognised as one of the most successful and influential research institutions in the world.   UCL’s strategy sets out clear, cross-university priorities.  

To turn these bold ambitions into action, we established the Strategic Change Team.  The team brings together new and established capabilities and is at the heart of building and delivering a prioritised portfolio of change initiatives.  These initiatives will enable UCL to achieve its strategic objectives, deliver cohesive services and implement the enabling digital technologies that support them. We provide leadership, partnership and hands on help to ensure the delivery of fit-for-purpose solutions that create meaningful value for our community.

This is your opportunity to bring fresh thinking, make a tangible impact, and help shape transformation across a world-leading institution.  About the role

The Professional Services (PS) Hub brings together key customer facing and transactional services across different functions; HR, Finance, Estates and IT. The PS Hub is committed to delivering high quality & efficient services, with a real emphasis on customer experience.

Reporting to the Payroll Manager, the Payroll Team Leader is responsible for leading the day-to-day operation of the payroll function, ensuring all employees are paid accurately and on time while maintaining compliance with payroll legislation, HMRC requirements, internal policies, and governance standards. The role oversees payroll processing, statutory reporting, reconciliations, payroll controls, and the resolution of complex payroll queries, ensuring a consistently high-quality service is delivered across the organisation.

Working closely with HR, Finance, and other key stakeholders, the Payroll Team Leader will supervise and support Payroll Analysts and Advisors, manage workload distribution, provide technical guidance, and ensure team members are developed through coaching, training, and regular performance discussions. The role plays a key part in identifying and implementing process improvements, maintaining standard operating procedures, supporting audit requirements, and driving operational efficiency within the payroll function.

The position also has responsibility for monitoring legislative developments and system changes, leading payroll testing activities, supporting compliance and governance initiatives, and providing management information and reporting. Deputising for the Payroll Manager when required, the Payroll Team Leader contributes to strategic objectives while ensuring a responsive, customer-focused payroll service that supports the wider organisation and delivers operational excellence.

About youYou are a highly experienced payroll professional with extensive knowledge of end-to-end payroll processes, payroll legislation, statutory reporting requirements, and HMRC compliance. You bring proven experience of leading payroll teams within large, complex organisations, ensuring the accurate and timely delivery of payroll services while maintaining the highest standards of compliance and customer service.

You are a proactive leader who enjoys developing and coaching teams, identifying training needs, and creating an environment of continuous improvement. With strong analytical and problem-solving skills, you are confident managing complex payroll calculations, reviewing controls, conducting audits, and resolving escalated payroll issues. You are comfortable…