Payroll Implementation Lead; UK Payroll

Position: 4666- Payroll Implementation Lead (UK Payroll)
Location: Norbiton

Manpower are currently seeking an interim Payroll Implementation Lead (UK Payroll), to work with our global FMCG client Unilever, renowned for brands such as Dove, Sure, Persil, and Simple, and become an integral part of their fast-paced FMCG environment.

The position is based in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. This is a full-time temporary role to run for 12 months, requiring 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday. The office days will be Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with the remainder of the week working remotely. Compensation for this role is competitive, paying £55,000 per annum, pro rata, depending upon experience.

The role currently offers a mix of remote and onsite working, subject to adjustment based on business requirements.

About the role

The Payroll Implementation Lead is accountable for the successful implementation of payroll operations under the Transition Service Agreement (TSA), ensuring accurate, timely and compliant payroll from Day 1 across in-scope markets. Working to the principle that "everything that runs payroll today keeps running as it does today", the role delivers legal-entity and payroll set-up, data migration, testing, parallel runs and cutover with zero disruption to employees.

The role sits at the intersection of vendors, technology, HR and Finance. It requires the ability to track and progress a high volume of concurrent requests against short, non-negotiable payroll timelines, while maintaining rigorous governance, controls and clear escalation. It combines hands-on payroll and systems expertise (Workday, SAP, GL / Finance) with strong program delivery and stakeholder management.

Key responsibilities
1. TSA Design, Requirements & Implementation
Support the development of the TSA design, plan and Day 1 operating model, translating program principles into country-level implementation workplans.
Lead local business requirements gathering and work with payroll vendors to confirm statutory, tax and social security requirements per market.
Review payroll requirements documentation from vendors to implement the TSA, applying best practice and challenging gaps before build.
Deliver required service designs and solutions by working closely with the vendor and project team throughout implementation.
2. SOPs & Payroll Documentation
Provide best-practice guidance and templates and, where SOPs are missing, create and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and process documentation for each market.
Review all payroll documentation required to support live payroll processing and ensure it is version-controlled and audit-ready.
Maintain knowledge materials and trackers to safeguard operational continuity and knowledge transfer to the TSA Run team.
3. Data Migration, Testing, Parallel Runs & Cutover
Support data migration, including mock data loads, mapping and validation of master data accuracy from Workday to the payroll vendor platform.
Develop and execute test plans and test scripts; validate payroll functionality end-to-end (gross-to-net, deductions, benefits, T&A inputs).
Prepare and run parallel runs - identify suitable pay periods, coordinate data loads and validate results against baseline to confirm accuracy.
Participate in cutover and go-live readiness, including validation of data conversion accuracy, reconciliation and sign-off criteria.
Review and validate inputs including Benefits, Time & Attendance (T&A) data and integrated feeds, providing inputs as required by the vendor.
4. Systems, Integrations & Finance (Workday - SAP - GL)
Own the payroll view of key integrations and interfaces, ensuring HR, T&A, payroll, banking and middleware feeds are accurate, approved and ready.
Ensure Workday remains the source of truth across the TSA bridge and that people-data…