Payroll Transformation Lead This is a 9 month FTC for someone who wants to build something, not just keep it running. A group of 10+ entities is transforming the way it does payroll, moving from separate payrolls to one central team and an in-house bureau, and you will be the person driving that change. You will have a real say in how it is shaped, with a new HR system landing at the same time. The right person is an experienced payroll professional who has done this kind of work before, whether that is consolidating payrolls, bringing them in house or integrating a business after an acquisition. You are happy working independently and do not need a team around you to get things done. You are also a confident communicator who can bring finance directors and payroll teams with you as each entity moves across.
What You Will Be Doing
Leading the transition of several entities, covering hundreds of employees, into an established payroll team that already looks after the larger part of the group
Bringing payroll in house where an external provider currently handles it, and managing the handover so nothing gets dropped
Taking on a recently acquired entity that runs eight separate payrolls and working out how to consolidate them into something simpler
Working across a mix of weekly and monthly payrolls, covering both salaried staff and shift workers
Running a project to review pay dates across the group and recommending the timings that work best for each payroll
Helping to shape the internal payroll bureau and integrating each payroll into it as it moves across
Working side by side with the people currently running each payroll, so knowledge is shared and the handover stays smooth
Building relationships with finance directors and other stakeholders, and keeping them informed as each entity moves across
Keeping National Minimum Wage and pension compliance watertight across every payroll as they are brought together
Owning your own deliverables and priorities in a standalone role with no direct reports
What We Need From You
Someone experienced and capable, who has run payroll in a large, complex organisation and does not need hand holding
Someone who has handled multiple payrolls or entities at once, weekly and monthly, and is comfortable with the volume
Hands-on experience of salaried and shift worker payrolls, so variable hours and shift patterns hold no fear
A solid understanding of National Minimum Wage compliance and how it affects pay for shift workers
Working knowledge of workplace pensions and auto-enrolment
A communicator who is comfortable talking to finance directors and operational teams, and explaining changes clearly to people who are not payroll specialists
A project mindset, ideally from consolidating payrolls, moving payroll in house or integrating a payroll after an acquisition
Available at short notice, as the business wants to get moving quickly
What's in it for you
A salary of circa £70,000 to £80,000 on a 9 month fixed term contract
Hybrid working with remote flexibility, based in Birmingham city centre with the aim of being in the office around once a week, and the option to go to once a fortnight or once a month if you need to
Real influence over how a central payroll function is designed, rather than inheriting something already built
A standalone role with genuine autonomy and no team to manage, so your time goes on the work itself
Exposure to a new HR system going in alongside the payroll changes, across multiple entities and a spread of payroll types
A defined transformation project with a clear end point and a strong story for your CV
If this sounds like something you would love to get stuck into, apply now to find out more.