Job Title: Payroll Manager
Location: Ashford
Job Type: Full time (Hybrid - 2 days in the office/3 days at home)
Salary: £40,000 - £45,000 per annum

HRGO Plc is a third generation family business. We are proud of our supportive, down to earth culture where people roll their sleeves up, help each other, and take real ownership.

We're looking for an experienced Payroll Manager to take full responsibility for our in house payroll function, processing payroll for 1,000+ temporary workers every week. Unlike many recruitment businesses, we don't outsource to umbrella providers - our temps are paid in-house via Staffology, with the majority on PAYE and a small number of limited company contractors.

The role (why it's different)

This role is less about repetitive manual processing and more about making sure payroll works accurately, compliantly, and reliably supported by increasing automation. Staffology receives data via API integrations from our recruitment platform, FONT, so you will focus on controls, exceptions, reconciliations, complex cases, and continuous improvement.

You will also lead two Payroll Administrators and act as the main escalation point for payroll queries from temps, branches, customers, and colleagues. You will also oversee (and cover when needed) the monthly payroll for permanent employees too.

Key responsibilities

• Own and deliver the weekly temporary worker payroll accurately and on time

• Oversee Staffology processing and FONT API data flows; investigate exceptions and system/data issues

• Support weekly payroll and pay to bill reconciliations; resolve payroll related differences

• Ensure HMRC RTI submissions, payments, pensions and statutory filings are completed correctly and on time

• Maintain contingency plans for system, integration, or payment failures

• Act as payroll SME for complex calculations, adjustments and unusual cases

• Lead, support and develop two Payroll Administrators; ensure clear cover and responsibilities

• Manage escalated payroll queries and drive timely, clear resolution

• Produce reporting, support audit/period end needs, and maintain procedures/documentation

• Identify opportunities to improve automation, controls and processes as we scale

Essential experience

• Strong technical payroll expertise in a high volume, in-house weekly PAYE environment

• Solid UK payroll legislation knowledge (PAYE, NI, RTI, statutory payments, workplace pensions)

• Strong reconciliations/controls mindset and root cause investigation ability

• Confident handling complex cases beyond "system says so"

• Experience managing or developing a small team

• Strong stakeholder communication skills (payroll and non-payroll)

• Comfortable with automated payroll, modern systems and integrations