Product Manager

Product Manager

Industry: Payroll Software

Location: Cheadle Hulme (office-based, 5 days per week)

Salary: £50,000 to £60,000 depending on experience

Our client is a payroll-focused software business entering an exciting new phase of growth. Having established themselves as a leader within the umbrella payroll space, they are now formally expanding into the wider payroll market with a new product that launched last year and is already live with paying customers.

The product has moved beyond proof of concept and is being used to run payroll for thousands of employees across around 100 businesses. With ambitious plans to scale this platform significantly, they are now looking for a Product Manager to take ownership of its next stage of growth.

This is a hands-on, office-based role in Cheadle Hulme, working closely with senior stakeholders, customers and a distributed engineering function to shape a genuinely modern payroll product.

The role

This position will suit a mid to senior level Product Manager who is ready to step up, take ownership and have real influence over product direction. You will work closely with the Product Director and senior leadership, playing a key role in defining strategy while remaining hands-on with delivery.

You will be embedded within a small, close-knit UK team, while also working day-to-day with a larger engineering team based in India. This is not an outsourced setup, but an integrated subsidiary that works UK hours and collaborates closely with the product function.

What you will be doing

• Owning and shaping the product roadmap as the platform scales through its growth phase
• Working closely with software engineers, designers and QA to deliver high-quality features
• Collaborating with Sales, Marketing and Executive teams to define value propositions and target markets
• Speaking directly with existing and prospective customers to understand payroll challenges and identify opportunities
• Translating business and user needs into clear user stories, acceptance criteria and prioritised backlog items
• Ensuring the product remains compliant with relevant UK payroll legislation
• Challenging assumptions and contributing to product strategy, not just executing against it
• Planning and executing work within sprint cycles, supporting teams through delivery and removing blockers
• Reviewing completed work against agreed criteria and signing off features

Feature and backlog management

• Maintaining a clearly prioritised backlog aligned to product vision and commercial goals
• Continuously refining priorities based on customer feedback, market trends and business direction
• Providing well-defined requirements to support efficient and accurate delivery

What they are looking for

• Solid experience working in a product role within a software business
• Ideally someone who has held a couple of product roles and is ready to take on more ownership
• Comfortable working in a regulated environment, with payroll experience a strong advantage but not essential
• Confident communicator, able to engage with users, engineers and senior stakeholders
• Strong attention to detail, particularly around user stories, UAT and sprint delivery
• Experience working with cross-functional and distributed teams across time zones
• Self-starter mindset, comfortable operating with minimal handholding
• Organised, adaptable and comfortable in a fast-paced, growing business
• Strong mathematical skills

Location and working pattern

• Based in Cheadle Hulme
• Fully office-based, five days per week
• Flexible working hours, with start times between 8–10am and finish times between 4–6pm

Salary and benefits

• £50,000 to £60,000 salary depending on experience
• Medi-cash scheme, allowing claims back for dental and other healthcare costs
• 25 days holiday plus your birthday off
• Annual company trip, with previous destinations including Barcelona, Amsterdam and UK-based locations
• Quarterly social events and regular team get-togethers around Manchester
• Relaxed, social office environment with pool table, darts and Friday drinks
• On-site gym within the building
• Performance-related bonus potential tied to stretch targets

Culture and environment

This is a collaborative, office-led culture with a strong emphasis on teamwork and shared ownership. The business values input and challenge, and is looking for someone who will bring ideas, question direction where appropriate and genuinely care about building a great product.

If you are a Product Manager looking to take real ownership of a growing payroll platform and want to be part of a close-knit, ambitious team, this is a strong opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

At Inara Talent, we believe everyone deserves a fair chance to shine. We connect great people from all backgrounds with opportunities where they can thrive, making sure hiring is fair, inclusive, and truly diverse. No matter your race, gender, age, ability, or background—we focus on what really matters: your talent.