Payroll Manager

Focus Group

Payroll Manager overseeing compliant multi-entity payroll for Focus Group, a technology services company serving 30,000 SME customers. Leading payroll operations, systems migration, acquisitions integration and a small team.

Posted 8/26/2026full-timeShoreham-by-Sea • 🇬🇧 United KingdomMid-LevelSenior💰 £55,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in managing end-to-end payroll processes, ensuring compliance with UK payroll legislation, and leading payroll system migrations. Capable of developing and automating payroll processes while providing guidance on complex payroll queries.

Highest-signal resume keywords

End-To-End Payroll ProcessingPayroll System MigrationUK Payroll Legislation KnowledgeStatutory Reporting ManagementCIPP Qualification

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Payroll ManagementStatutory PaymentsPension AdministrationPayroll ReconciliationPAYE ManagementAuto-EnrolmentPayroll System AdministrationData ComplianceFinancial ControlsProblem-Solving

Soft Skills

Organizational SkillsAttention to DetailCommunication SkillsInitiativeTeam Leadership

Tools & Technologies

CIPHRSagePayroll SystemsHMRC SystemsPension Provider Systems

Certifications & Qualifications

CIPP Qualification

Industry Keywords

PAYE SchemesRTI/FPS SubmissionsP60P11DStatutory DeductionsEmployee BenefitsMandatory PayrollingTriennial Re-EnrolmentSSPNMW

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Own the professional management of payroll across the group, predominantly using CIPHR with some Sage, maintaining accurate pay data and compliance with statutory deadlines
Own and maintain the payroll system, including administration, upgrades and testing of process or system changes
Lead a future project to migrate payroll systems
Manage end-to-end monthly payroll processing, including starters, leavers, changes, variable pay, absence pay, statutory payments and deductions
Process deductions for employee benefits including pension, company cars, healthcare, cycle to work and childcare vouchers
Act as the main point of contact with HMRC and pension providers
Own payroll reconciliations, investigate discrepancies and maintain strong financial controls
Manage year-end payroll processes, including P60s, P11Ds and PAYE Settlement Agreements
Monitor payroll legislation changes and communicate their impact
Provide advice to staff and managers on payroll queries and act as escalation point for complex issues
Work with the People team to develop and automate payroll processes
Manage pension auto-enrolment and triennial re-enrolment
Lead, manage and develop the payroll team through workload planning, training, coaching and performance management
Integrate payrolls from acquired companies into the group

Requirements

What you’ll need

Experience running the complete payroll process for a similar-sized, multi-entity group, including operating separate PAYE schemes concurrently
Previous experience setting up a payroll from scratch and migrating acquired businesses onto a group payroll
Awareness of, or experience managing, the transition to mandatory payrolling of benefits in kind
Strong system skills, including exposure to payroll system transitions
Up-to-date knowledge of UK payroll legislation, including SSP, NMW, statutory payments, NI categories and thresholds
Experience managing statutory reporting, including RTI/FPS submissions and year-end P60/P11D processes
Hands-on experience of auto-enrolment and pension administration, including contract-based schemes and TPR compliance
Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to plan workload for yourself and your team and manage multiple, competing priorities to strict deadlines
Exceptional attention to detail, strong numeracy and problem-solving skills, and the confidence to use your own initiative
A confident communicator, comfortable liaising with senior stakeholders, HMRC and external providers
CIPP or an equivalent qualification

Benefits

Comp & perks

Company pension
Healthcare
Company car benefit
Cycle to work scheme
Legacy childcare voucher scheme