HR Heads
Payroll Operations Manager
Get notified of more jobs like this · No spam, ever
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Payroll Operations Manager
Hybrid Working (4 Days Onsite)
Oxfordshire
£70,000 - £75,000 + Excellent Benefits
Payroll isn't just about accuracy. It's about trust.
Our client is looking for a Payroll Operations Manager to take ownership of a critical function supporting approximately 1,400 employees. This is a highly visible role within the People Services function, offering the opportunity to influence how payroll operates today and how it evolves in the future.
Importantly, this is not a traditional Payroll Manager position. There are no large teams to lead or extensive people management responsibilities. Instead, this role is ideally suited to an experienced payroll professional who enjoys operating as the subject matter expert, taking accountability for outcomes, and driving continuous improvement.
You'll be the trusted authority on payroll across the business, partnering with senior stakeholders, managing key supplier relationships, and helping shape future payroll strategy, systems and ways of working.
The Opportunity
Reporting into the People Services leadership team, you'll oversee end-to-end payroll operations, ensuring payroll is delivered accurately, compliantly and on time.
Alongside day-to-day ownership, you'll:
- Act as the organisation's payroll subject matter expert.
- Manage relationships with external payroll and pension providers.
- Partner with Finance, Tax and People Systems teams to ensure seamless operations.
- Drive process improvement, governance and operational excellence.
- Identify and implement opportunities for automation and simplification.
- Support future payroll transformation and systems change initiatives.
- Develop payroll knowledge bases, documentation and self-service resources.
- Help shape the use of AI and emerging technologies within payroll and people services.
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
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.
A Role for Someone Who Wants to Make an Impact
This role will suit an individual who enjoys working independently, building credibility with stakeholders and taking ownership of complex challenges.
You'll be comfortable navigating a dynamic environment, identifying issues before they become problems, and implementing practical solutions that improve efficiency, accuracy and employee experience.
What We're Looking For
We're keen to speak with candidates who can demonstrate:
- Proven end-to-end UK payroll expertise.
- Strong knowledge of payroll legislation, compliance and statutory requirements.
- Experience working with third-party payroll providers.
- The ability to operate confidently as a standalone payroll expert.
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
- A proactive, solutions-focused mindset.
- Experience delivering process improvement, transformation or change initiatives.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving capability.
- A genuine interest in technology, automation and AI-enabled ways of working.
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
Particularly Valuable Experience
- Workday.
- Payroll systems implementation, optimisation or integration projects.
- Supplier and vendor management.
- Payroll migrations or transformation programmes.
- Creation of scalable payroll processes, controls and governance frameworks.
- Experience using AI tools within payroll, shared services or operational environments.
Who Will Thrive Here?
The successful candidate is likely to be someone who gains satisfaction from ownership rather than hierarchy.
You may currently hold a Payroll Manager, Payroll Lead or Senior Payroll Specialist role and be looking for a broader opportunity where your expertise, judgement and contribution have a direct impact on business performance.
You'll be able to clearly articulate your personal achievements, describe the challenges you've faced, explain how you approached them, and demonstrate the measurable outcomes you've delivered.
Why Apply?
This is a rare opportunity to step into a genuinely influential payroll leadership role where you'll have the autonomy to shape processes, improve operations, embrace new technology and help define the future direction of payroll within a forward-thinking organisation.
If you're looking for a position where your expertise is valued, your contribution is visible, and your impact extends well beyond payroll processing, we'd love to hear from you.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London