Client Payroll Manager

Client Payroll Manager
- Birmingham/Manchester

The role of Manager is to manage and ensure the delivery of operational payroll projects for KPMG bureau based clients.

To provide expert technical support in the delivery of approximately 350 client payrolls, spanning UK, modified, and shadow payrolls for both domestic and international clients. The payrolls spans single headcount payrolls to those of circa 500+ employees. The role is designed for a manager with deep payroll expertise, able to operate at pace and under pressure, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and exceptional client service.

The manager will be accountable for client service management and service level agreement delivery.

UK Client Payroll operations – roles and responsibilities

• Take ownership of client relationships for defined clients.
• Work with the payroll team both onshore and offshore in processing a portfolio of 350 client payrolls, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant payroll runs across UK, modified, and shadow payrolls.
• Apply advanced technical knowledge to resolve and support closure of escalations, complex payroll queries, including expatriate and international payroll requirements.
• Delivery of payrolls to set deadlines, demonstrating resilience and composure under pressure.
• Act as reviewer and conduct checks and reconciliations to ensure payroll outputs meet client expectations and compliance standards.
• Maintain commercial and scoped discipline.
• Support onboarding of new clients, ensuring smooth transitions and rapid integration into payroll processes.
• Act as a technical point of contact for payroll queries, providing clear, concise, and solution-oriented responses.
• Collaborate with internal teams to support cross-border payroll delivery and resolve escalations swiftly.
• Contribute to the development of SOPs, checklists, and training materials for payroll operations.
• Share technical insights and best practices with colleagues to support a culture of learning and excellence.

Essential Skills & Qualifications

• Similar payroll experience, with proven delivery in multi payroll environments.
• Advanced knowledge of UK regulations including PAYE, NIC and Pension application
• Demonstrated ability to work at speed, under pressure, and to strict deadlines.
• Strong technical problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Proficiency in payroll software (ideally on Sage and/or Star) and Microsoft Office.
• Self-starter, able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Forward-thinking, able to anticipate risks and issues.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and client focused
• Commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

Additional Attributes

• Experience of expat, shadow or modified payrolls

Our Locations:

We are open to talk total ent a cross the country but our core hubs for this role are:

Manchester

Birmingham

With 20 sites across the UK, we can potentially facilitate office work, working from home, flexible hours, and part-time options. If you have a need for flexibility, please register and discuss this with our team.

Find out More:

Within KPMG we have a range of divisions and specialisms. Click the links to find out more below:

For additional support in applying, please click the links to find out more:

The issues surrounding tax and legal services are constantly evolving, both locally and globally. Which is why you ll find life at KPMG both intellectually stimulating and rewarding. There s also the scale and breadth of what we do – our services span specialisms such as Corporate and Indirect Tax;
Expatriate and Private Client Personal Tax compliance and advice; and KPMG Law.

With offices across the UK, we are part of a global network of firms providing Audit, Tax & Law, Consulting, and Technology Services to diverse clients.

They provide us with a strong sense of identity, ensuring we can grow stronger. They bind us together, across our different backgrounds and cultures, and are common to each of us. Explore more about why Our Values matter.

From role sharing and flexible start and finish times to home working, we ll try and support the flexible work patterns that best suit you.

We re…