Group Payroll Manager

Group Payroll Manager

Harrogate

Reporting to: HR Director

Role Objective

The Group Payroll Manager is responsible for the accurate, timely, and compliant delivery of payroll across a growing multi-entity UK organisation.

The role ensures all payroll, pension, and statutory obligations are fulfilled while delivering a professional and employee-focused service aligned to regulatory and governance standards.

Working closely with HR, Finance, and external payroll partners, the role plays a key part in payroll governance, data integrity, risk management, and financial control. A significant aspect of the position involves supporting organisational growth through acquisitions and business integration activity, ensuring continuity of pay and compliance throughout transition periods.

This role operates as an important control function, safeguarding compliance, mitigating risk, and contributing to the development of scalable and efficient payroll processes.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Leadership & Delivery

• Deliver end-to-end monthly payroll processing across multiple entities, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with statutory and internal requirements.
• Take ownership of payroll controls, accuracy, and delivery deadlines.
• Process starters, leavers, contractual changes, and variable pay elements accurately.
• Oversee salary payments and payment validation processes.
• Prepare payroll journals, reconciliations, and month-end reporting to support finance and management accounting requirements.
• Maintain accurate and auditable payroll and employee records across HR and payroll systems.
• Ensure compliance with UK payroll legislation including PAYE, NIC, SSP, SMP, attachments of earnings, and statutory reporting obligations.
• Prepare and submit statutory payroll returns including RTI, P11Ds, and HMRC-related correspondence within required deadlines.
• Maintain robust payroll controls, audit trails, and supporting documentation.
• Identify and escalate payroll risks, control weaknesses, or compliance concerns.
• Ensure payroll and employee data is handled securely and in accordance with GDPR and data protection requirements.

Pensions & Benefits Oversight

• Oversee pension administration including auto-enrolment, contributions, re-enrolment activity, and employee queries.
• Support administration and reconciliation activity relating to employee benefits schemes.
• Work closely with HR and benefits teams to ensure taxable benefits are accurately reflected in payroll processing and reporting.

Acquisition & Integration Support

• Support payroll activity relating to acquisitions, TUPE transfers, and payroll/system migrations.
• Ensure continuity of pay and compliance during integration of acquired businesses into group payroll and HR processes.
• Liaise with external payroll providers and third-party partners to ensure service quality and operational consistency.
• Contribute to the harmonisation of payroll policies, procedures, and controls across the organisation.

Stakeholder Engagement & Continuous Improvement

• Act as a trusted payroll adviser to HR, Finance, and senior stakeholders.
• Deliver a responsive and professional payroll service, resolving employee queries effectively.
• Support payroll audits, reviews, and process improvement initiatives.
• Contribute to continuous improvement and operational efficiency across payroll and HR operations.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience

• Strong end-to-end knowledge of UK payroll processing including PAYE, NIC, statutory payments, pensions, and year-end processes.
• Good understanding of HMRC regulations, RTI reporting, P11Ds, and payroll compliance obligations.
• Knowledge of workplace pensions and auto-enrolment legislation.
• Experience preparing payroll reconciliations, journals, and financial reporting.
• Ability to interpret and apply payroll legislation accurately.
• Experience working with outsourced payroll providers.
• Experience supporting acquisitions, TUPE transfers, or payroll/system migrations desirable.
• Payroll qualification or commitment to ongoing professional development advantageous.

Systems & Analytical Capability

• Experience using integrated HR and payroll systems within a multi-entity environment.
• Strong Excel and data analysis capability.
• Ability to produce payroll reporting, analysis, and management information.
• Understanding of payroll controls, governance, and audit requirements.
• Ability to manage confidential and sensitive data with discretion.

Professional Behaviours

• High levels of integrity, accountability, and professionalism.
• Confidence in identifying risks and challenging inaccuracies where appropriate.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain payroll matters clearly to stakeholders.
• Sound judgement and decision-making capability.
• Strong customer service orientation and problem-solving ability.

Personal Effectiveness

• Excellent attention to detail and organisational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a deadline-driven environment.
• Resilient and adaptable within a fast-paced and evolving organisation.
• Collaborative approach with the ability to build strong cross-functional relationships.

Who we are

Bayford Hale is a specialist recruitment and executive search firm focused on the wealth management, asset management, family office, and financial planning sectors across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East. The business partners with clients to identify and secure high-calibre talent, combining deep industry networks with a discreet, relationship-led approach to search and advisory services.