Team Lead / SME – UK Payroll

Experience: 5 - 7 Years | Shift: UK Business Hours

JOB OVERVIEW

We are looking for an experienced UK Payroll Team Lead / SME to support end-to-end UK payroll operations. The ideal candidate will have strong technical knowledge of UK payroll legislation, experience handling complex payroll activities, and the ability to guide team members, monitor quality, and ensure accurate and timely payroll delivery.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

- Manage and support end-to-end UK payroll processing

- Provide expertise in PAYE, National Insurance, RTI, statutory payments, tax codes, and UK payroll legislation

- Handle HMRC submissions, including FPS and EPS, payroll reconciliations, and corrections

- Support workplace pensions and automatic enrolment activities

- Review complex payroll transactions, exceptions, adjustments, and escalations

- Perform payroll audits, controls, variance analysis, and general ledger reconciliations

- Coordinate daily team activities, workload allocation, and quality checks

- Coach and provide technical guidance to payroll associates

- Support year-end activities, including P60, P11D, and P11D(b)

- Drive process improvements, automation, and payroll transformation initiatives

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

- 5 - 7 years of relevant UK payroll experience

- Strong knowledge of PAYE, RTI, National Insurance, statutory payments, and UK payroll legislation

- Good understanding of workplace pensions and automatic enrolment

- Hands-on experience in end-to-end UK payroll processing and reconciliations

- Experience handling complex payroll cases and providing technical guidance

- Previous experience coordinating teams, monitoring quality, and coaching associates

- Experience with Workday Payroll or similar enterprise payroll systems

- Strong Microsoft Excel, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills

- Experience in a shared services, managed services, or outsourced payroll environment

- Willingness to work UK business hours

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

- CIPP certification or equivalent UK payroll qualification

- Experience handling high-volume or multi-entity UK payroll

- Exposure to payroll transformation, automation, system implementation, or UAT