KennedyPearce Consulting
Payroll Lead

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Payroll Lead
Location
Central London
Salary
£50,000 - £60,000 (potential flexibility)
Working Pattern
100% Office Based
This is an exciting opportunity to join a successful and growing organisation as it transitions payroll from an outsourced provider to an internal function. Reporting directly to the Finance Director, with a dotted line into the Head of HR, you'll take ownership of the payroll function, helping to shape payroll processes, advise on best practice and play a key role in implementing a new payroll system.
This role would suit an experienced payroll professional who enjoys taking ownership, building strong relationships across the business and acting as the organisation's payroll subject matter expert.
The Role
- Lead the end-to-end payroll process for approximately 200 employees.
- Process payroll for a mixture of permanent employees and self-employed workers.
- Accurately calculate commissions, variable pay and TRONC payments.
- Act as the primary point of contact for all payroll-related queries across the business.
- Work alongside the Finance Director to evaluate, implement and embed a new payroll system.
- Advise senior stakeholders on payroll best practice, controls and process improvements.
- Work closely with Finance, HR and operational teams to ensure payroll is processed accurately and on time.
- Maintain payroll records and ensure compliance with current payroll legislation.
- Continuously identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls and efficiencies.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
About You
To be successful in this role, you'll ideally have:
- Proven end-to-end payroll experience.
- Experience processing payroll involving commission, variable pay and/or TRONC arrangements.
- Previous experience working within a multi-site environment, ideally within hospitality, retail, leisure, beauty or a similar customer-facing business.
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the confidence to engage with senior leadership.
- Excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem solving.
- Previous experience supporting or leading a payroll system implementation would be highly advantageous.
- The confidence to provide guidance and recommendations on payroll best practice and process improvement.


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Benefits
- Complimentary services.
- Generous employee discount on products.
- Company pension scheme.
- 22 days annual leave, increasing to 25 days with length of service, plus bank holidays.
- Flexible working hours, with core office hours between 10:00am and 4:00pm.
- The opportunity to lead the transition from an outsourced payroll model to an in-house function.
- A collaborative and supportive working environment with genuine long-term career stability.
If you're an experienced payroll professional looking for an opportunity to lead payroll within a well-established multi-site business while helping shape the future of the payroll function, I'd be delighted to hear from you.
To apply, please submit your CV or contact me directly for a confidential discussion.
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