Head of Payroll

Payroll Consultant/Head of PayrollLocation: London - Hybrid WorkingContract Type: 1-Year Fixed Term ContractWork Pattern: Full TimeSalary: paying up to £100,000 plus benefits (with potentially some flexibility on salary)About The RoleOakleaf Partnership are partnering with a leading financial services organisation to recruit an experienced Payroll Consultant for a 1-year fixed-term contract.This is a broad and varied role, managing a small team, and combining payroll operations, transformation, governance and stakeholder management. You will take ownership of multiple UK and international payrolls within a co-sourced model, whilst also playing a key role in upskilling your team, and improving processes, systems and controls across the function.The role would suit an experienced Payroll Leader who enjoys working in a changing environment and has a genuine interest in payroll transformation and continuous improvement.What the role is:Managing the end-to-end delivery of multiple UK and international payrolls, ensuring accurate, compliant and timely processing.Overseeing payroll inputs, outputs, reconciliations, approvals and exception reporting.Acting as a key escalation point for complex payroll queries and issues.Managing relationships with external payroll providers, ensuring strong service delivery and governance.Leading regular governance meetings and monitor performance against agreed SLAs and KPIs.Driving payroll transformation and process improvement initiatives across systems, processes and operating models.Identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, automation, controls and standardisation.Supporting HR and payroll system implementations, upgrades and integrations.Working closely with HR, Finance, Tax, Reward and wider business stakeholders.Managing and oversee pension administration, Auto Enrolment requirements and provider relationships.Maintaining robust payroll controls, processes and documentation, ensuring compliance with UK legislation and statutory requirements.Supporting payroll audits and ensure any recommendations are effectively implemented.Developing reporting and payroll analytics to improve visibility, governance and decision-making.Providing guidance and support to Payroll Advisors, helping to build capability and reduce key-person dependency.Skills & ExperienceWe are looking for an experienced payroll professional who can combine strong technical knowledge with the ability to manage change and improve processes.You will ideally have:Proven experience managing multiple UK and international payrolls within the Financial Services sectorExperience working within a co-sourced payroll model and managing external providers.Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, HMRC requirements, pensions and Auto Enrolment.Experience delivering payroll transformation, systems implementation or process improvement projects.Strong vendor and stakeholder management skills.Excellent attention to detail and a structured approach to payroll governance and controls.The ability to work confidently in a changing and evolving environment.Strong Excel skills; experience with Workday would be advantageous.Previous experience within financial services or another regulated environment would be beneficial.This is an excellent opportunity for a payroll professional who enjoys being hands-on whilst also having the opportunity to influence how payroll operates, improve processes and support wider transformation.If you are an experienced Payroll Leader looking for a role where you can make a genuine impact, please apply now!TPBN1_UKTJ