The Payroll & Benefits Manager is responsible for leading the organisation's payroll and benefits function, ensuring the delivery of an accurate, compliant and employee-focused service across a diverse workforce of hourly-paid (casual) and salaried employees. The role also provides leadership, development and day-to-day management of a small Payroll & Benefits team, ensuring high levels of service, capability and performance.

As the organisational subject matter expert for payroll and benefits, the role oversees all payroll-related activity, manages the relationship with the outsourced payroll provider, and ensures compliance with all relevant legislative, regulatory and contractual requirements. Working in partnership with the People Team, Finance and external providers, the Payroll & Benefits Manager ensures the effective administration of payroll, pensions and employee benefits, while providing expert advice and insight to support business decision-making.

The role is also responsible for driving continuous improvement, enhancing systems, processes and controls, and ensuring payroll and benefits arrangements remain efficient, scalable and aligned to organisational requirements. Through strong governance, stakeholder management and attention to detail, the Payroll & Benefits Manager plays a critical role in maintaining trust, accuracy and transparency across all payroll and reward activities.

Responsibilities

Payroll Management

Oversee the end-to-end payroll processes for all salaried, hourly-paid and casual employees, ensuring accurate and timely payments.
Manage the transfer of payroll information to and from the third-party payroll provider, validating payroll data and proactively resolving discrepancies.
Validate payroll inputs including timesheets, overtime, variable pay, salary changes, new starters and leavers.
Ensure payroll controls and reconciliations are completed prior to payroll sign-off and in line with internal governance requirements.
Act as the primary relationship owner for the outsourced payroll provider, ensuring service delivery is maintained in accordance with agreed SLAs and contractual requirements.
Liaise with HMRC, pension providers, benefit providers, the DWP, court authorities and other external stakeholders as required.
Where applicable, liaise with the Troncmaster to ensure accurate and compliant payment of tronc, gratuities and service charges through payroll.

Benefits & Reward Administration

Lead the administration and ongoing management of employee benefits programmes including pension, PMI, life assurance, critical illness, wellbeing and salary sacrifice benefits.
Conduct market benchmarking and benefits reviews to assess the competitiveness and effectiveness of the benefits offering.
Support the design, procurement, implementation and ongoing review of employee benefits plans.
Ensure all payroll and tax obligations associated with employee benefits are administered accurately and compliantly.
Support the delivery of cyclical reward activities, including annual salary reviews, bonus payments and benefits renewals.
Maintain effective relationships with external payroll, pension and benefits providers to ensure service excellence and compliance.

Compliance & Governance

Ensure payroll activities comply with all relevant legal, tax, pension, employment and GDPR requirements, e.g. NLW, Pension Auto Enrolment, and also any company policies e.g. RLW.
Keep up to date with changes in payroll legislation, raising with internal stakeholders, and implementing and testing any updates to systems and processes as required.
Ensure compliance with HMRC reporting obligations, by preparing and submitting all statutory filings as required, including end of year returns (P60s, P11Ds, etc) and pension contributions, in a timely manner and within statutory deadlines
Lead payroll audits, compliance reviews and statutory reporting requirements, identifying and mitigating risks where required.
Maintain accurate payroll records and ensure robust data integrity across payroll and HR systems.

Team Management & Development

Lead, motivate and develop the Payroll & Benefits team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
Provide clear direction, coaching and support to team member, ensuring individual and team objectives are achieved.
Manage workload allocation and resource planning to ensure payroll deadlines and service standards and consistently met.
Conduct regular performance reviews, development conversations and succession planning activities.
Identify training and development opportunities to build capability and maintain up-to-date payroll and benefits knowledge within the team.

Stakeholder & Employee Support

Act as the subject matter expert for payroll, pensions and benefits, providing accurate, timely and professional guidance and support to employees, managers and key stakeholders.
Investigate and resolve complex payroll queries, ensuring a positive employee experience and timely resolution.
Collaborate closely with People Services, Finance and operational teams to ensure payroll and benefits processes are aligned and effective.
Deliver clear communications regarding payroll changes, benefits updates and statutory changes affecting employees.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

Produce payroll, benefits and reward reports, providing analysis and insights to support business decision-making.
Analyse payroll trends, overtime costs, absence-related payments and benefit utilisation data to identify opportunities and risks.
Identify opportunities to enhance payroll efficiency, accuracy and employee experience through system, process and policy improvements.
Lead or support payroll-related projects, system upgrades and process optimisation initiatives.

Skills

Essential

CIPP qualification (Certificate in Payroll Practice, Foundation Degree or equivalent) or demonstrable equivalent professional experience.
Proven experience managing end-to-end payroll within a complex or high-volume environment.
Strong working knowledge of UK payroll legislation, PAYE, National Insurance, pensions, HMRC requirements and statutory payments.
Experience overseeing employee benefits and reward-related processes.
Previous experience of managing, developing or supervising payroll and / or people admin teams.
Strong payroll systems knowledge with advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
Ability to analyse payroll data, identify discrepancies and ensure accuracy.
Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
Ability to provide clear guidance on payroll, pensions and benefits matters.
Able to manage multiple priorities and operate effectively to strict deadlines.
Proven ability to lead, coach and develop team members to deliver high levels of service and performance.
Experience driving process improvements and maintaining high standards of compliance and service delivery.
Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail.
Discreet, trustworthy and professional when handling confidential information.
Proactive, solution-focused and customer-oriented.

Desirable

Experience with ADP payroll system
Experience with HumanForce or similar time management / rostering systems
Experience of operating tronc
Experience in hospitality, leisure, stadium or event industries.

Benefits

Private Medical Insurance (Vitality) – including Virtual GP access and rewards
Group Life Assurance – 4x salary paid to your nominated beneficiary
Birthday Day Off – an extra day to celebrate
Complimentary Meals on Shift – breakfast, lunch, fruit and hot drinks
Employee Assistance Programme & Wellbeing Platform – including counselling support
Company Pension Scheme
Generous Holiday Allowance – plus bank holidays
Career Development Opportunities – with progression across the campus