Scottish Canals
Payroll Manager
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Salary: £49,588 - £54,187
Closing Date: 06/08/2026
Department: People
Location: Falkirk or Glasgow
Hours Per Week: 35
Where to find us
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Job Description
About Us
Scottish Canals are the custodians of the nation’s canal network and surrounding estates. Our vision is to invest in the canal network to generate lasting benefit for people and communities; celebrating their industrial heritage, ensuring they offer quality green and blue spaces for people and communities and contribute to Scotland’s resilience in tackling climate change.
Our success is rooted in valuing the contributions of our entire team - we care, we create, and we collaborate to continue to deliver a whole range of activities and services, from boating, and mooring, paddling, walking and wheeling, to living and playing and improving what the canals have to offer to our visitors and communities. We also work collaboratively with our partners and stakeholders to contribute to a wealthier, fairer, greener and more resilient Scotland.
As an employer we offer a truly unique opportunity to be part of our team, help us realise our vision and contribute to safeguarding our heritage and ensuring our canals flourish now and in the future.
About The Role
We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Payroll Manager to join our People team in Falkirk or Glasgow. You will lead and develop Scottish Canals’ payroll function by ensuring accurate, compliant and efficient payroll and pension operations, provide expert technical advice and drive system and process improvements.
The role is offered on a permanent basis, Working 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday.
Primary Responsibilities Of The Role
- Lead the payroll function across multiple sites, ensuring accurate and timely processing of salaries, pensions, expenses and payroll transactions.
- Manage and improve payroll systems, processes and controls, including payroll projects, annual pay reviews, National Minimum Wage compliance and benefit scheme reviews.
- Provide technical payroll expertise, ensuring compliance with payroll legislation, HMRC requirements, pension regulations and GDPR.
- Lead the review and restructuring of the organisation's pension provision and maintain effective relationships with pension providers.
- Produce payroll and pension reporting, reconciliations, audits and analysis for management, auditors and external bodies.
- Support, develop and provide guidance to colleagues involved in payroll administration and associated financial processes.
- Maintain accurate payroll records, reporting and business information, ensuring data is managed securely and effectively.
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About The Reward
This role offers a progressive starting salary of £49,588 (Band F).
Scottish Canals offer a generous annual leave entitlement of 224 hours, plus 6 public holidays, along with enhanced sick pay, discounted shopping vouchers, health cash plan and a contributory pension scheme with up to 10% employer contribution.
About You
Qualifications and Knowledge
- Degree-level qualification (or equivalent relevant knowledge and experience).
- Knowledge of payroll legislation, tax regulations, HMRC reporting requirements and statutory payroll obligations.
- Knowledge of defined contribution and defined benefit pension schemes.
- Knowledge of process design, system documentation, user guides and payroll procedures.
- Experienced payroll professional with strong technical payroll and pension knowledge.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and comfortable working with payroll systems and data.
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Skills And Experience
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Organised and able to manage competing priorities, deadlines and confidential information effectively.
- Experience leading end-to-end payroll operations and ensuring compliance and accuracy.
- Experience managing payroll projects, system improvements and digital transformation initiatives.
- Experience producing payroll analysis, management information and audit reporting.
- Experience working with pension providers and payroll-related reconciliations.
- Ability to develop processes, controls and system improvements.
- Line management experience (desirable).
Qualities And Abilities
- A proactive, collaborative team player who can work effectively with colleagues at all levels.
- Flexible, motivated and committed to maintaining high professional standards and continuous improvement.
- Ability to work on own initiative and exercise judgement when handling sensitive and confidential information.
- Agility and openness to new challenges, technology and continuous improvement.
- Commitment to learning, self-development and supporting the development of others.
- Controls-focused mindset with a passion for problem solving.
Scottish Canals reserve the right to close this vacancy before the closing date if a sufficient number of applications are received.
Take a look around the company https://www.scottishcanals.co.uk/corporate/join-our-team/
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