Group Payroll Manager

Location: Scotland - Motherwell

Salary: £50,000 - £60,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Role Overview

The Group Payroll Manager will take full ownership of payroll operations across a rapidly expanding, highly acquisitive group. The role exists to bring consistency, compliance, and strategic leadership to a payroll landscape that is growing in scale and complexity with each acquisition.

The mission is to build a best-in-class, scalable payroll function that supports a diverse workforce, integrates newly acquired businesses smoothly, and ensures every colleague is paid accurately and on time.

Key Responsibilities

Group payroll leadership — Lead and manage end-to-end payroll operations across all group entities, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery.

Acquisition integration — Own payroll due diligence, onboarding, and harmonisation for newly acquired companies, including systems, processes, and data migration.

Process optimisation — Standardise payroll processes across the group, introducing controls, automation, and best practice.

Team management — Lead and develop a small but growing payroll team, ensuring capability and capacity scale with the business.

Compliance & governance — Ensure full compliance with HMRC regulations, pensions legislation, statutory reporting, and internal audit requirements.

Stakeholder partnership — Work closely with Finance, HR, Operations, and acquired leadership teams to support business needs and resolve payroll queries.

Systems ownership — Oversee payroll systems, vendor relationships, and system upgrades; lead the roadmap for future payroll technology.

Reporting & analytics — Deliver payroll reporting, cost analysis, and insights to senior leadership.

Audit – Key contact on payroll queries for audit

Adhoc reporting – Adhoc reporting to group HR / Finance as required

Experience & Skills Required

Senior payroll leadership experience within a multi-entity or group environment.

Proven track record managing payroll through acquisitions, integrations, or rapid organisational growth.

Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, HMRC requirements, and pension schemes.

Experience with payroll systems transformation or consolidation projects.

Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

High attention to detail, strong analytical capability, and a continuous-improvement mindset.

Ability to operate strategically while remaining hands-on when needed.

Why join?

Opportunity to shape and lead a payroll function during a period of significant growth.

A role with genuine influence at group level.

A collaborative culture with a leadership team that values expertise and innovation.

Career progression as the group continues to expand.

Benefits Package

• Competitive base salary £50K - £60K
• Pension scheme and employee benefits
• Private health insurance
• Life insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays (option to buy additional days)
• Clear career progression within a fast-growing Group
• Supportive, collaborative team culture