Payroll Manager

A leading international hospitality group is seeking a Payroll Manager to join their Finance Team at their vibrant head office in Covent Garden, London. This is an exceptional opportunity for you to take ownership of the payroll function across the UK and Ireland, supporting a diverse workforce and contributing to the ongoing success of a renowned brand family. You will be empowered to nurture and develop a dedicated team, streamline processes, and ensure compliance with all relevant regulations. The organisation offers a supportive culture that values your expertise, encourages professional development, and provides access to a comprehensive benefits package. With flexible working opportunities, generous pension contributions, and a commitment to employee wellbeing, this role is perfect for someone who thrives in an inclusive and collaborative environment. * Join a knowledgeable and supportive Finance Team based in the heart of Covent Garden, where your interpersonal skills and payroll expertise will be highly valued. * Benefit from flexible working opportunities, generous pension contributions, private medical care, and access to exclusive discounts on food, drinks, and lifestyle products. * Enjoy career growth through structured training opportunities, including support for professional qualifications and hands-on barista training during your first week.

What You'll Do:

As Payroll Manager, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring every member of staff is paid accurately and on time across multiple brands within the group. Your day-to-day activities will involve managing complex payroll cycles for both salaried and hourly-paid colleagues using semi-automated systems tailored to the business’s unique needs. You will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of payroll processing—from data input through reconciliation—while also handling queries with warmth and professionalism. Working alongside HR, IT, Operations, and external partners means you’ll have ample opportunity to share knowledge, foster collaboration between departments, and drive continuous improvement initiatives. Your ability to adapt quickly in a growing business environment will help you succeed as you support your team’s development while upholding rigorous standards of accuracy and compliance.

* Oversee the accurate processing of five monthly payrolls for approximately 1,300 salaried employees in the UK, ensuring all statutory payments, deductions, tax codes, student loans, pensions, salary sacrifice schemes, and attachment of earnings orders are managed efficiently.

* Supervise four fortnightly payrolls for around 5,500 hourly paid employees in the UK, maintaining meticulous attention to detail across all aspects of pay administration.

* Manage the preparation and control of Irish payroll for approximately 100 employees via an outsourced provider based in Dublin, ensuring seamless cross-border operations.

* Utilise in-house systems such as Rotageek, HR databases, Cognos reporting tools, Scottish Widows and Peoples Pension online portals to maintain up-to-date employee data and manage auto-enrolment processes.

* Prepare and post payroll journals for company profit and loss accounts while reconciling payroll accounts to the company balance sheet with precision.

* Ensure timely reconciliation of P32 and PAYE submissions for accurate monthly payments to HMRC and manage PAYE settlement agreements effectively.

* Respond promptly and empathetically to email, telephone, and walk-in queries from employees at all levels within the organisation.

* Collaborate closely with HR and Operations teams to identify best practices and continuously improve process compliance across the business.

* Stay current with payroll and pension legislation through CIPP membership and relevant courses while maintaining general knowledge of employment tax rules.

* Build strong relationships with external providers—including software vendors and benefit administrators—to ensure smooth project delivery and system updates.

What You’ll Bring:

To excel as Payroll Manager in this thriving hospitality group, you will bring proven experience managing complex multi-cycle payrolls within a fast-evolving business landscape. Your technical proficiency with industry-standard systems such as SAP or Pegasus Opera 3 will be complemented by your advanced Excel capabilities. You are known for your approachable communication style—balancing empathy with clarity—and your capacity to resolve issues swiftly while maintaining trust across all levels of the organisation. Your understanding of current legislation ensures compliance at every stage; meanwhile your enthusiasm for sharing knowledge supports both individual growth within your team and broader organisational objectives. By fostering collaboration between departments and nurturing those around you through supportive leadership practices, you will contribute meaningfully not only to operational excellence but also to a positive workplace culture.

* Membership of the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals or equivalent recognised payroll qualification is essential for this position.

* Extensive hands-on experience managing end-to-end payroll processing within a medium or large organisation is required.

* Proven ability to communicate in a friendly yet firm manner when addressing queries from colleagues at all levels is vital.

* Exceptional organisational skills combined with strong problem-solving abilities enable you to handle high volumes of queries efficiently.

* Demonstrated competence using SAP or Pegasus Opera 3 payroll systems as well as advanced Excel skills are necessary for success in this role.

* Experience working with semi-automated or bespoke in-house applications for employee data management is highly desirable.

* A genuine passion for motivating teams coupled with effective people management skills ensures you can nurture talent within your direct reports.

* Up-to-date knowledge of current payroll legislation—including HMRC regulations—and pensions auto-enrolment requirements is expected.

* Ability to build positive relationships with internal stakeholders (HR/IT/Operations) as well as external providers (payroll outsourcers/software vendors).

* A personable approach that brings energy and positivity into the workplace helps foster an inclusive team spirit.

What Sets this Company Apart:

This organisation stands out as one of Europe’s most respected hospitality groups—operating across multiple countries under several beloved brands—thanks to its unwavering commitment to quality service and employee wellbeing. Based in lively Covent Garden offices surrounded by cultural attractions, you’ll enjoy an inspiring work environment designed for connection and creativity. Employees benefit from flexible working arrangements that promote work-life balance; generous pension contributions; private medical care; Medicash healthcare scheme; bonus incentives; 25 days’ holiday (plus bank holidays), rising with service; exclusive discounts on handcrafted drinks, food items, coffee-at-home products; access to a comprehensive benefits platform; plus ongoing support for professional development including funded qualifications. From day one you’ll feel welcomed into an inclusive community where everyone’s contribution matters—and where even barista training is part of your onboarding journey! This is more than just a job: it’s an opportunity to grow your career while making meaningful connections every day.

What's next:

If you are ready to make a real impact in a collaborative environment where your expertise is celebrated—this could be your next career move!

Apply today by clicking on the link below—your future team can’t wait to meet you!

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