Payroll Manager

Directorate: Chief Executive’s

Section: Workforce

Location: Civic Centre

Grade: Level 13 (Subject to Review)

Hours: 37 hours per week

This advert is open to both internal and external applicants.

About us:

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. And that’s where you come in. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.

Further information on the Council and our directorates

The Role:

Stoke on Trent City Council are looking for an experienced and dynamic leader to lead the Payroll, Pension and HR Administration function.

This is a key leadership role responsible for delivering a professional, efficient and fully compliant payroll, pensions and HR administration service across the organisation. You will ensure employees are paid accurately and on time, maintain strong governance and regulatory compliance and provide an exceptional customer focused service to a diverse range of stakeholders.

Leading a dedicated team, you will drive continuous improvement, modernise processes and champion digital innovation through SAP SuccessFactors and associated HR Information Systems. You will play a pivotal role in shaping service delivery, improving operational performance and ensuring the organisation remains at the forefront of payroll and HR administration best practice.

We are seeking a proactive and influential leader who combines technical expertise with a passion for service improvement and people development.

For more information on the role, please contact the Recruiting Manager Sam Hodgson, Sam.Hodgson@stoke.gov.uk

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the delivery of accurate, timely and compliant end to end payroll and pension services

• Provide strategic and operational leadership to Payroll and Payroll Administration teams

• Drive excellence through robust governance, controls and performance management

• Lead the development and optimisation of SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central and Payroll modules

• Champion digital transformation, employee self-service and automation initiatives

• Ensure compliance with payroll legislation, pension regulations, HMRC requirements and GDPR

• Oversee statutory payroll and pension submissions, year-end processes and audit requirements

• Build effective partnerships with HR, Finance, ICT, schools, academies and external clients

• Lead system enhancements, upgrades and testing to improve service delivery and user experience

About You:

• Significant experience leading payroll, pension and HR Admin services within a complex organisation

• Strong knowledge of payroll legislation, pensions administration and statutory compliance

• Proven leadership experience with the ability to develop, motivate and inspire teams

• Experience managing HR and payroll systems, ideally SAP SuccessFactors

• Strong understanding of governance, audit requirements and data protection principles

• Experience in delivering service transformation, process improvement and digital change initiatives

What we offer:

• A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent

• Hybrid and flexible working options

• An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme

• Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here

Pre-Employment Checks:

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Right to Work in the UK

• Proof of address

• Satisfactory references

• Occupational Health Clearance

• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations

• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable for the role)

The Council will not accept any speculative CVs from employment agencies.

No agency terms and conditions accompanying any such CVs will be accepted by the Council.

Any unsolicitedinformation sent by an employment agency will be treated as the property of the Council.

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.

To Apply

Please create / log into your account and then click 'apply'. If you have any queries or want an application form in another format, please email recruitment@stoke.gov.uk or call us on 01782 238189.

• Do you have the Right to Work in the UK?

Payroll ... (.pdf) (222kb)