Job title: Payroll Manager
Job type: Permanent
Emp type: Full-time
Salary type: Annual
Salary: negotiable
Job published: 05-01-2026
Job ID: 76296

Job Description

Payroll Manager

12-Month Fixed Term Contract | Hybrid (2–3 days per week in Cardiff)

We’re partnering with an excellent, well-established organisation to recruit an experienced Payroll Manager on a 12-month fixed-term contract. This is a hands-on leadership role, ideal for someone who enjoys managing people, ensuring operational excellence, and delivering a high-quality payroll service within a shared services environment.

You’ll take ownership of payroll delivery for the UK workforce, leading a small, established team and working closely with Finance and wider stakeholders to ensure accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement.

 

The Role

As Payroll Manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day management and performance of the payroll function, including:

  • Leading and supporting a team of Senior Payroll Officers, Senior Administrators and temporary staff

  • Overseeing end-to-end UK payroll processing in a high-volume environment

  • Ensuring all payroll data is accurate, compliant, and delivered to agreed deadlines

  • Completing and reviewing payroll checks prior to submission

  • Managing BACS payments to employees, HMRC and third-party bodies

  • Authorising payroll payments in collaboration with Finance

  • Maintaining and reconciling General Ledger payroll entries and resolving exceptions

  • Monitoring legislative and policy changes, ensuring payroll processes remain compliant

  • Supporting audit activity and process reviews, including engagement with external consultants

  • Acting as a key point of contact for payroll-related queries that impact pay, tax or benefits

This role requires someone who is confident, grounded and personable, with the ability to lead calmly and effectively through a fixed-term period of change.

 

What We’re Looking For

  • Proven experience in a UK Payroll Manager or Payroll Operations Manager role

  • Strong people leadership skills with experience managing mixed-level payroll teams

  • Demonstrable experience working within a shared services payroll model

  • Exposure to high-volume payrolls

  • Solid understanding of UK payroll legislation, pensions and auto-enrolment

  • Experience of payrolling benefits and P11Ds (at a working knowledge level)

  • High attention to detail and strong governance mindset

  • Confident communicator, able to work collaboratively across functions

 

What’s on Offer

  • 12-month fixed-term contract

  • Hybrid working – 2–3 days per week in Cardiff

  • Opportunity to lead an established payroll function within a respected organisation

  • Supportive, professional working environment

 

If you’re an experienced payroll leader looking for a well-defined fixed-term opportunity where you can make a real impact, we’d love to hear from you.