Payroll Team Leader

Location: Hackney E8
Salary Grade: PO1
Responsible to: Payroll Manager
Length: 3 Months
Hybrid
ASAP Start
PAYE: 21.92 to 23.94 per hour
Umbrella: 29.87 to 32.26 per hour

Hackney is one of the UK's most diverse and highest-performing local authorities. We thrive on challenge and change, operating with a culture that is Open, Inclusive, Ambitious, Pioneering, and Proactive. Our HR Specialists are focused on making Hackney a place where everyone feels valued and has the chance to lead a healthy, successful life.

As a Payroll Team Leader, you will play a pivotal role in providing an efficient and effective payroll service to the Council and its partnership organisations. You will work at the heart of our HR & Traded Services team, ensuring our staff are supported by seamless payroll delivery.

Key Responsibilities:

• Team Leadership: Lead, mentor, and nurture a team of eight Payroll Officers, empowering them to grow in confidence and deliver excellent customer service.
• Operational Excellence: Manage the input of payroll data, including starters, leavers, and contractual changes, while ensuring all statutory and contractual obligations are met.
• Technical Oversight: Act as the first point of contact for complex payroll, legislative, and system issues, specifically advising on iTrent data entry.
• Financial Integrity: Responsible for processing BACS and third-party payments, and checking high-stakes calculations such as maternity, paternity, and adoption pay.
• Strategic Support: Assist the Payroll Manager with month-end and year-end processes (P60s and P11ds) and deputise for them as required.

We are looking for a candidate who combines technical payroll expertise with a proactive leadership style. You should demonstrate:

• Experience: Proven experience working in a payroll department within a large, complex organization, including supervising a team.
• Leadership Skills: A track record of managing and empowering individuals to meet performance targets and achieve continuous improvement.
• Expert Knowledge: Deep understanding of PAYE regulations, Local Government pension schemes, and statutory payments like SSP and SMP.
• Technical Proficiency: Significant experience with iTrent (essential) and advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel for data manipulation.
• Communication: The ability to explain complex payroll information to diverse stakeholders and handle sensitive situations with empathy and professionalism.

This role offers the opportunity to work in an agile way, combining home-based work with time at our offices in the Hackney Service Centre. We are committed to professional development and ensuring our team is fully equipped to meet the challenges of a modern payroll service.

Commercial Services Trading Ltd is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.