London Local Authority: Payroll Manager

A London Local Authority is seeking an experienced and motivated Payroll Manager to lead the delivery of a high-quality payroll service.

Reporting to senior management, you will take overall responsibility for the payroll function, ensuring the accurate and timely payment of employees whilst maintaining compliance with all statutory, pension and contractual obligations. This is an excellent opportunity for a payroll professional with strong leadership skills, local government experience, and a passion for service improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end payroll operation, ensuring accurate and timely processing of monthly payrolls for a large and diverse workforce.
• Lead, motivate, and develop the Payroll Team through effective performance management, coaching, training, and succession planning.
• Ensure compliance with all payroll legislation including PAYE, National Insurance, statutory payments, attachment orders, salary sacrifice schemes, and year-end reporting requirements.
• Oversee payroll-related deductions and pension administration, including Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) regulations and reporting requirements.
• Develop and maintain robust payroll controls, procedures, and reconciliation processes to ensure payroll accuracy and minimize risk.
• Lead on payroll audits, responding to internal and external audit recommendations and implementing corrective actions where required.
• Act as the payroll subject-matter expert, providing specialist advice and guidance to senior managers, HR, Finance, and employees on complex payroll matters.
• Manage the payroll aspects of organisational change programmes, restructures, TUPE transfers, and pay reviews.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with HR, Finance, Pension Administrators, HMRC, and external payroll providers where applicable.
• Produce payroll management information, statutory returns, and reporting data to support organisational decision-making.
• Lead on payroll system maintenance, upgrades, testing, and implementation of new functionality.
• Identify and implement process improvements, driving efficiencies and continuous service enhancement across payroll operations.
• Ensure compliance with local government pay agreements, terms and conditions, and national legislative changes affecting payroll delivery.
• Manage service level agreements and performance measures, ensuring key deadlines and service standards are consistently achieved.
• Support budget monitoring and financial reconciliation activities relating to payroll expenditure.