Head of Payroll

Head of Payroll -- Farnham

Our Client is a growing top 50 accountancy practice who provide expert solutions for entrepreneurial businesses and private individuals in Central and Southern England. They invest in their teams of high-quality specialists who work with the best-in-breed technology to create value for their clients which exceeds expectation.

Their culture is very important to them and is based on our company values of expert, respectful, innovative and collaborative. They develop high performing teams diverse in experiences, backgrounds and ideas. As a growing company, there are plenty of opportunities for development and quick progression. Their practice is known for having a friendly and supportive team culture where everyone receives training and development to increase their technical knowledge and their commercial and management skills. They put their people first and are constantly looking for ways to improve their people experience. With respectful as one of their values, they are committed to creating an inclusive culture that respects, values and celebrates cultural and individual differences.

They have several offices in Central and Southern England and have ambitious plans to expand our business. To support the organisation’s growth, they have a new opportunity for a Head of Payroll to join either our Oxford or Farnham offices. This is a permanent full-time role with flexible working options (flexing your hours on different days to suit your lifestyle).

The Role

Reporting to the Outsourcing service line lead and managing the payroll team of 20+, taking full operational ownership of the payroll function across the group. Working closely with the Integration Director to support the rollout of the service line run book.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Ownership of a separate Profit & Loss account with an expectation that there will be incremental margin improvement year-on-year.
• Set the strategy for and manage multi-cycle payrolls in a timely, accurate and efficient manner, ensuring that all customer, HMRC, RTI and other Statutory reporting deadlines are met.
• Recommend and implement changes to operating procedures regarding workflow and scheduling to meet productivity and quality standards.
• Foster the continuous streamlining and automation of processes, making positive recommendations and improvements, to include participation and leadership on projects to support.
• Ensure well-controlled work processes and the safeguarding of confidential payroll information.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships across the department and at all levels of management.
• Coach, mentor, and provide professional development for the payroll team.
• Ensure clear communication and interface with other departments and business units in meeting business requirements.
• Keep up to date with legislation and industry best practice in order to recommend and shape future developments in terms of practice and service offering to Clients, and analysing and leveraging data to drive insights to action
• Work closely with Compliance and Operations to ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and ethical standards in an aligned way across your area of responsibility, supporting the implementation of and following risk management processes and internal controls, and promoting a culture of compliance and ethics across your team.

What our client can offer you

• Hybrid and flexible working.
• Partner level mentor and a tailored career progression plan.
• Participation in our Management Development Programme.
• A varied role in a talented and experienced team.
• Joining a company with an exciting growth plan ahead.
• Plenty of opportunities to increase your technical knowledge and skills.
• Exposure to a wide range of clients across many industry sectors.
• An experienced manager to support your development and provide day to day guidance.
• A comprehensive induction and buddy to help you get up to speed in your first few months.
• Competitive salary and benefits package including pension, life assurance, health cash plan, retail discount scheme, electric vehicles salary sacrifice, cycle to work, hybrid and flexible working.
• Generous core holiday allowance plus holiday trading, flexible bank holidays, and additional holiday with service.
• Wellbeing programme with regular events and activities focused on your physical and mental wellbeing. They also offer all employees a Wellbeing Day each year - a day dedicated to boosting your wellbeing.

About You

• You will have 5+ years of Leadership or senior management experience within a large payroll bureau environment and will be fully CIPP Qualified.
  
  In addition you will have a :
• Strict attention to detail; solid judgment and strong analytical skills.
• Well-organised with proven track record of organising others to achieve goals and plans and manages time carefully to ensure all tasks are achieved within stated timeframes.
• Be techsavvy, with a flexible but firm approach.
• Advanced Excel proficiency, including data analysis tools such as VLOOKUPS
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with individuals at all levels of the organisation.
• Well-developed problem-solving skills; committed to quality service.
• Be willing to travel regularly between sites within the group dependent on delivery.
• Prior experience of developing a Global Payroll proposition, and/or wide HR services also desirable