UK Payroll Manager

Are you an experienced payroll professional who thrives in a fast-paced, complex environment? Do you enjoy leading teams, improving processes and ensuring payroll is delivered accurately and compliantly? An established and highly respected employer based on the outskirts of Fareham is seeking a UK Payroll Manager to join their team on an initial six-month fixed-term contract. This is a key appointment, offering the opportunity to lead payroll operations, support ongoing projects and make a tangible impact within a large and dynamic business. Reporting into senior leadership, you will oversee payroll delivery, drive operational excellence and provide leadership to a dedicated payroll team during a period of continued change and development. What will the UK Payroll Manager role involve? Leading the day-to-day delivery of UK payroll, ensuring accuracy, compliance and adherence to strict deadlines Managing and developing a payroll team, providing guidance on complex payroll matters and supporting individual performance Overseeing payroll reconciliations, validations and controls, ensuring issues are identified and resolved promptly Working closely with HR, Finance and Benefits teams to maintain data integrity and improve payroll processes Supporting payroll-related projects, audits and reporting requirements Ensuring compliance with legislation, internal controls and SOX requirements Acting as the escalation point for complex payroll queries Suitable Candidate for the UK Payroll Manager vacancy: Significant experience managing UK payroll within a large or complex organisation Proven experience leading and developing payroll teams Strong knowledge of payroll legislation, controls and compliance requirements Experience of payroll audits, reconciliations and process improvement initiatives Confident working with HRIS and payroll systems, alongside advanced Excel skills Excellent stakeholder management, communication and organisational skills Experience of SOX controls and international payroll exposure would be advantageous Additional benefits and information: Competitive salary Initial six-month fixed-term contract with potential for extension 37-hour working week with an early finish on Fridays Office-based role with the opportunity to work from home one day per week Opportunity to join a successful organisation and play a key role in a high-profile payroll function Free on-site parking and modern office environment If you are an experienced payroll leader available for a fixed-term opportunity and looking to make an immediate impact, we would be keen to hear from you. CMA Recruitment Group is acting as a recruitment agency in relation to this role. CMA complies with all relevant UK legislation and doesn’t discriminate on any protected characteristics. By completing the application process, you agree to the terms outlined in our Privacy Notice and that CMA may contact you in connection with your application in relation to CMA providing you with work finding services. Our Privacy Notice can be viewed under the privacy tab on our website. CMA is currently receiving a high volume of applications. Whilst we ensure all applications are considered, regrettably, it may not be possible to respond individually to all applications received