Payroll People Service Partner

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Payroll Manager to join a respected organisation in Manchester, offering a competitive salary of £45,000pa-£50,000pa. This role is perfect for someone who thrives on ensuring accuracy and compliance across multiple payroll cycles while also playing a pivotal part in people services and HR initiatives. You will be at the heart of payroll operations, supporting both the finance and HR teams, and making a real impact on business performance. The organisation values flexibility, professional growth, and encourages knowledge sharing within a supportive team environment. If you are looking for a position where your expertise in payroll legislation, process optimisation, and employee relations will be truly valued—and where you can contribute to meaningful projects—this could be the next step in your career.

As Payroll Manager based in Manchester, you will play a central role in managing end-to-end payroll operations while also partnering closely with HR colleagues on key people initiatives. Your day-to-day activities will involve overseeing all aspects of payroll processing—from onboarding new starters to handling last-minute amendments—ensuring every detail is correct before each cycle is finalised.

Key duties include:

• Manage multiple payroll cycles with precision, ensuring all starters, leavers, amendments, and ad-hoc pay runs are processed accurately and on time.
• Verify payroll data meticulously before each run, troubleshooting discrepancies and maintaining robust documentation for audit purposes.
• Ensure full compliance with PAYE, National Insurance, pensions auto enrolment, statutory payments (SSP/SMP), HMRC regulations, and year-end duties such as P60s and P11Ds.
• Produce detailed payroll reports, clearly explaining variances to stakeholders and collaborating closely with Finance for accurate month-end processes.
• Act as the main point of contact for complex payroll queries, providing expert guidance to employees and managers alike.
• Support annual salary review and bonus processes within the HRIS system, ensuring seamless integration between payroll and people data.
• Oversee the employee self-service benefits platform, ensuring accurate cost allocation and effective communication of benefits to staff.

To excel as Payroll Manager you will bring significant hands-on experience managing end-to-end payroll functions within large or complex organisations—ideally within the retail sector or similar environments. Your background should demonstrate not only technical proficiency but also an ability to work collaboratively across departments such as Finance and HR.

You will have experience in the following areas:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in payroll management or equivalent certification/qualification by experience is essential for this role.
• Comprehensive understanding of UK payroll legislation including PAYE, NICs, Auto Enrolment pensions schemes is required.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex high-volume payroll processes with meticulous attention to detail is vital.
• Proven experience working with BACS payments systems as well as pension schemes, salary sacrifice arrangements, and benefits in kind is necessary.
• Familiarity with integrating payroll interfaces into finance systems and pension providers is highly desirable.
• Exceptional numerical skills combined with strong analytical abilities are needed to interpret data accurately and explain variances clearly.
• Excellent communication skills are crucial for building positive relationships across teams while handling sensitive information discreetly.

This organisation stands out by fostering an inclusive workplace culture where collaboration is encouraged at every level. Employees benefit from flexible working arrangements that promote work-life balance alongside access to ongoing training opportunities designed to support both personal growth and professional advancement. The company’s commitment to transparency ensures everyone feels connected to its mission while being empowered to share ideas that drive continuous improvement.

If you are passionate about making a difference through expert payroll management while contributing positively within a collaborative team environment—this could be your ideal next move!

Apply today by clicking on the link below; take the first step towards joining an organisation where your expertise will be valued and your career supported.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates