Payroll Manager – 6 months temporary cover

Near Chippenham | Hybrid working

Reed Accountancy & Finance are supporting a well-established UK organisation in the search for an experienced Payroll Manager to join their Finance function on a 6-month temporary contract.

The Role:

The Payroll Manager will take full responsibility for the accurate and timely delivery of monthly payroll and pension activities across multiple UK rail subsidiaries. The position is hands-on and requires strong technical payroll and pensions knowledge, alongside the ability to manage an outsourced payroll provider (ADP) and liaise effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

• End-to-end management and validation of monthly payroll for 1,000+ employees across multiple sites and contract types
• Day-to-day management of the outsourced payroll provider, ensuring accuracy, compliance and service levels
• Processing and reconciliation of payroll data, working closely with HR to validate all payroll inputs
• Full responsibility for the company pension scheme, including auto-enrolment and regulatory compliance
• Liaison with pension trustees, actuaries and third-party providers
• Production and maintenance of payroll reporting, including overtime and payroll reconciliations
• Monitoring and implementing payroll, pension and legislative changes
• Supporting continuous improvement of payroll processes and controls

Skills & Experience Required:

• Proven payroll management experience, ideally processing monthly payrolls for 500+ employees across multiple sites
• Strong pensions knowledge, including auto-enrolment
• Experience using large-scale payroll systems (ADP highly desirable) and interfacing with ERP systems
• Advanced Excel skills and exceptional attention to detail
• Confident communicator with the ability to build strong relationships with internal teams and external providers
• Strong problem-solving skills and sound understanding of HR and payroll compliance
• Accounting knowledge would be advantageous but not essential

Qualifications:

• Degree qualified or equivalent practical experience
• CIPP qualification (or working towards) is advantageous

What’s on Offer:

• 6-month temporary cover
• Competitive salary, dependent on experience
• Hybrid working arrangement
• Opportunity to step into a senior, high-impact payroll role within a complex organisation
• Exposure to specialist pension and stakeholder management activity