Interim Head of Payroll

**Interim Head of Payroll**

**£80k+**

**12 Month Contract - Could go permanent**

**Manchester / West Yorkshire based**

Pratap Partnership are partnering with a leading PLC who are looking to recruit an Interim Head of Payroll. This role will have overall responsibility for the payroll operation compliance, team direction, performance and maintenance of the payroll activities,processes and system. Collaborating with human resources and accounting departments, directing and supervising payroll staff, and ensuring efficient, accurate and timely payroll processing. Ensuring effective financial, operational and process controls arein place and that these are monitored and reported on monthly as well as the design and implementation of any new controls as required.

**Main duties and responsibilities**
- Responsibility for the preparation and auditing of all payroll activities including payroll payments, reports and forecasts including tax returns and reports for Government regulatory agencies ensuring they satisfy all government regulations
- Process optimisation - Identifying areas for improvement and developing and refining payroll procedures and full ownership of all payroll IT systems and relationships with payroll system suppliers. Ensuring that the payroll system is being fully utilisedin line with best practice in the market.
- Review reports and analyse projections of payroll reporting monthly (content & format as agreed)
- Ensure compliance with all the payroll financial and legal requirements, responsibilities and obligations, including statutory obligations in particular with relation to benefits and P11d
- Preparation of current financial reports and forecasts for future business growth including to ensure compliance with payroll financial and legal requirements, responsibilities and obligations
- Liaising with internal and external auditors to provide management with third party assurance on the operational performance and effectiveness of the payroll function.
- Developing strategic plans for team activities to include payroll strategy to achieve agreed targets, and effective future planning
- Conduct presentations and proposals to enable the team to deliver accurate and competitive payroll planning
- Set an example for team members of commitment, payroll activities, work ethics and habits and personal character
- Where required delegate authority and responsibility to team with supervision, accountability and review
- Ensure training and appraisal of individual team members to ensure optimum performance and manage the performance and development of team members
- Preparation and agreement of individual action plans and targets for all team members
- Manage and maintain contact with internal and external “client/customers” for feedback and to obtain client/customer satisfaction
- Maintain accurate payroll, associated financial and other records and activities
- Control payroll budget and expenses to meet agreed budgetary controls
- Interact and co-operate with all members of the organisation and its suppliers and clients/customers
- From time to time you may be expected to be part of special projects as are reasonably required of your job role even where these fall outside of your own department/team

**Essential requirements**
- Qualifications sufficient to perform the job role - Chartered Accountant, Degree in Business or Finance
- Experience gained from a similar sized organisation with the same level of responsibility
- Senior level experience of payroll governance with strong knowledge of payroll processes and relevant legal regulations.
- Thorough understanding of payroll and financial management obligations (including statutory obligations), requirements and dynamics
- Experience of Microsoft Office and payroll software
- Proven ability in payroll and financial management and control
- Proven leadership skills with ability to effectively drive and manage a team
- Strong organisation and project management skills
- Ability to work under pressure
- A hands-on leadership approach

You need to have and maintain (with regular training and updates as necessary) the knowledge, technical skills and qualifications that are necessary to perform your job role to comply with the requirements of the organisation and any applicable rules, regulations(particularly of any professional body) and with any law which applies to your job role.