Allen Lane
Head of Payroll & Recruitment
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Are you an experienced HR operations leader looking to modernise payroll and recruitment within a forward-thinking local authority?
Our client is one of London's largest and most ambitious local authorities, serving a diverse and vibrant community while delivering hundreds of essential public services that make a real difference to residents' lives. With an ambitious transformation programme underway, they are committed to becoming a more efficient, digitally enabled and customer-focused organisation, ensuring they continue to attract, develop and retain talented people who are passionate about public service.
They are now looking to appoint a strategic Head of Payroll & Recruitment to lead two critical functions that underpin the employee experience and support the delivery of excellent services across the council.
Reporting to the Director of HR & Workforce Transformation, this is a high-profile leadership role with accountability for Payroll and Recruitment. You will lead service improvement, digital transformation and operational excellence, ensuring payroll and recruitment services are efficient, compliant and customer-focused while supporting the council's workforce strategy and long-term financial sustainability.
The Head of Payroll & Recruitment is a permanent position paying £69,641 - £78,782 per annum, inclusive of Local Weighting Allowance.
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Key Responsibilities
- Leading the Payroll and Recruitment teams, driving high performance, service excellence and continuous improvement across both functions.
- Owning the end-to-end payroll service, ensuring accuracy, compliance and strong governance while modernising systems and processes to improve efficiency and resilience.
- Developing and delivering innovative recruitment strategies that strengthen the council's employer brand, improve attraction and retention, and reduce reliance on agency and interim staff.
- Driving digital transformation across payroll and recruitment, increasing automation, self-service and system integration to enhance the employee and candidate experience.
- Leading workforce planning initiatives alongside senior stakeholders to ensure recruitment activity supports future organisational priorities.
- Managing significant supplier contracts and procurement activity, ensuring strong commercial performance, value for money and effective contract management.
- Providing strategic advice and challenge to senior leaders on operational HR matters, service performance and continuous improvement.
- Ensuring payroll and recruitment services operate in full compliance with statutory requirements, governance standards and organisational policies, while proactively managing risk and performance.
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This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced HR operations leader with significant expertise in payroll, recruitment and service transformation within a large, complex organisation. You will have a proven track record of leading high-performing teams, improving operational performance and delivering customer-focused services through innovation and digital transformation. Experience of managing large contracts, driving workforce planning initiatives and influencing senior stakeholders is essential, alongside a strong understanding of payroll governance, employment legislation and HR best practice. Experience within local government or the wider public sector would be highly advantageous.
Interview Process
The interview process will consist of two stages, with the final stage taking place in person.
Apply now to join an ambitious organisation where you can transform critical people services and play a key role in shaping the future of a council committed to delivering outstanding services for its communities.
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