Payroll Transformation Lead (9 months FTC)

Payroll Transformation Lead (Fixed-Term,9

Months)

Reports to:

Deputy Finance Director / Finance Director
Working closely with:

HR Transformation Lead, MHR Implementation Team, Payroll Officer, Finance, HR & IT

Thepost‑holder will play a pivotal role in leading the transformation of the school’s payroll operations as part of the implementation of a new MHR HR & Payroll system. Working at the intersection of technology, process, and people, thepost‑holder will lead discovery, design, testing, implementation andpost‑go‑liveembedding of payroll processes, ensuring theschooltransitions smoothly to the new system with strong governance, data integrity and minimal operational disruption.

Thisfixed‑termrole is critical in ensuring that the new payroll environment is accurate, compliant, user-friendly, and capable of supporting the school’slong‑termneeds.

Conduct a detailed review of existing payroll processes, workflows, payroll cycles, statutory payments (SMP, SPP, SPL, SSP), and pension administration practices.

Analyse all employee types, pay structures, allowances, and variable elements, ensuring the new system can accommodate complexities across teaching and support staff.

Review the accuracy and integrity of payroll data,identifying gaps, inconsistencies, and cleansing requirements prior to system migration.

Work with HR and Finance to map all payroll inputs, outputs, reconciliations, and interdependencies, creating clear documentation to inform build decisions.

Produce concise discovery reports highlighting risks, decision points, andrequiredsenior leadership input.

Collaborate with the MHR implementation team, project manager, and business analyst to design efficient payroll workflows that reflect current realities while enabling future enhancements.

Provide subject‑matterexpertiseon payroll legislation, Teachers’ Pensions, support staff pensions, and statutory obligations to ensureaccuratesystem configuration.

Define payroll rules, pay elements, calculation logic, pension schemes,auto‑enrolmenttriggers, and reporting structures for build within MHR.

Work closely with HR to ensure alignment between HR and Payroll processes, especially at points of integration such as contracts, salary changes, and absence management.

Ensure that data integrity, internal controls, approvals, and segregation of duties are embedded into workflow design.

Design and lead payroll testing cycles including SIT, UAT, parallel run testing, scenarios, and regression testing.

Validate that all payroll calculations (e.g.,pro‑rata, overtime, allowances, deductions, pension contributions) run accurately across all employee groups.

Document defects, work closely with the project manager and vendor on resolution, and ensure testing outcomes are fully recorded.

Coordinate and support HR and Payroll team participation in testing, ensuring readiness forgo‑live.

Provide clearsign‑offcriteria for payroll readiness, ensuring quality standards are met before deployment.

Produce clear, engaging communications to support decision‑makingand ensure stakeholders understand process changes, new workflows, and impacts on roles.

Work closely with Payroll, HR, Finance, and IT teams to gather input, address concerns, and build ownership of new processes.

Act as an advocate for the payroll transformation programme, helping colleagues understand the rationale for change and expected benefits.

Develop a suite of training and support materials includingquick‑guides, process maps, FAQs, video demos, and user instructions tailored to different user groups.

Deliver training sessions anddrop‑inclinics to build capability and confidence ahead of and aftergo‑live.

Support the embedding of payroll changespost‑go‑livethrough monitoring adoption, triaging issues, and making iterative improvements.

Ensure all payroll processes and system rulescomply withHMRC requirements, pension scheme rules, employment legislation, and internal financial controls.

Maintain comprehensive project…