Payroll Team Leader

We're looking for an experienced UK Payroll Team Leader to join our Group HR function and take responsibility for delivering an accurate, compliant, and high-quality payroll service for approximately 2,000 UK employees.

As a key member of the People Services team, you'll lead and develop a small payroll team, oversee monthly and annual payroll activities, manage stakeholder relationships, and drive continuous improvement across payroll processes. This is an excellent opportunity for a payroll professional who combines strong technical expertise with people leadership and a passion for service excellence. You'll have the chance to influence payroll operations, deliver meaningful improvements, and work closely with stakeholders across HR, Finance, suppliers and external bodies.

• Ensuring all UK payroll activities are delivered accurately, on time, and in line with legislation and company policies.
• Leading, coaching and developing the payroll team.
• Managing the end-to-end monthly payroll process for approximately 2,000 UK employees.
• Overseeing annual payroll activities, including tax year-end processes and payroll scheduling.
• Acting as the escalation point for complex payroll queries and issues.
• Managing relationships with HMRC, payroll suppliers and key internal stakeholders.
• Supporting audits and ensuring payroll controls and compliance requirements are met.
• Partnering with Finance to provide payroll reporting, costing information and statutory returns.
• Maintaining and improving payroll processes, standard operating procedures and business continuity plans.
• Leading payroll-related projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensuring accurate processing of deductions, third-party payments, family leave, sick pay and other payroll-related activities.

We operate a hybrid working policy that requires a minimum of 2 days per week in the Oxford office.

You'll bring both payroll expertise and leadership experience, with the ability to build strong relationships across HR, Finance and external partners.

• Experience managing a payroll team or a closely related HR operational team.
• Strong understanding of UK payroll legislation and payroll best practice.
• Experience working with payroll systems.
• Excellent knowledge of monthly and annual payroll cycles.
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Experience reviewing and improving operational processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong Microsoft Excel and wider Microsoft Office skills.

• Experience with SAP Success Factors Employee Central Payroll.
• Knowledge of payroll business continuity planning.
• Understanding of payrolled Benefits in Kind.

We are committed to supporting diversity in our workforce, and ensuring an inclusive environment where all individuals can thrive. We seek to employ a workforce representative of the markets that we serve and encourage applications from all.