Payroll Transformation Manager
My client are seeking a skilled Payroll Transformation Manager to lead and implement a payroll system upgrade and process improvement.
Client Details
Our client is a well-established organisation seeking an experienced Payroll Transformation Manager to lead our transition to the UK's mandatory Payrolling of Benefits in Kind (BiKs), taking effect on 6 April 2027.
This role is a blend of project management, system implementation, and process re-engineering. You will be responsible for upgrading our payroll software, eliminating retrospective year-end P11D processes, and establishing a seamless, real-time data flow between HR, Finance, and Payroll. Your ultimate goal is to ensure full compliance with HMRC's Real Time Information (RTI) requirements well ahead of the 2027 deadline.
Description
Key Responsibilities
1. Project Leadership & System Readiness
- System Upgrades: Partner with our payroll software vendors to manage the implementation of HMRC's updated RTI technical specifications (including the 200+ new data fields).
- Testing & QA: Design, manage, and execute comprehensive parallel payroll runs to stress-test system calculations, notional pay inputs, and Real Time Information (RTI) transmissions.
- Data Migration: Audit and clean historical benefits data (e.g., company car CO2 emissions, medical premiums) to ensure accuracy before migration into the live payroll system.
- Workflow Design: Map and overhaul the current HR-to-Payroll data pipeline, replacing manual month-end/year-end processes with automated, real-time data sharing.
- Policy Implementation: Establish and enforce strict mid-month cut-off dates and standard operating procedures for handling mid-year benefit changes (e.g., starters, leavers, pro-rata calculations).
- Vendor Management: Work closely with third-party benefit providers (medical insurance, fleet management) to automate data feeds directly into our payroll environment.
- Cash Flow Coordination: Collaborate with the Finance team to manage the 2027 "double-payment" cash flow impact (reconciling legacy July 2027 Class 1A NICs alongside new monthly real-time payments).
- HMRC Compliance: Ensure all taxable benefits are correctly categorised, valued, and processed as notional pay in strict compliance with current and upcoming UK tax legislation.
- Stakeholder Management: Act as the central point of contact and bridge the gap between HR, Finance, IT, and Business Leaders.
- Employee Communications: Create clear, accessible communication strategies and templates to explain changes in monthly take-home pay and tax codes to the wider workforce.
- Internal Training: Train internal HR and Payroll operational teams on the new system mechanics and how to handle employee queries.
Skills, Qualifications, and Experience
Essential:
- UK Payroll Expertise: Deep operational knowledge of UK payroll legislation, PAYE, RTI, and the mechanics of Benefits in Kind (BiKs).
- Transformation Experience: Proven track record of leading complex payroll system implementations, software upgrades, or large-scale process transformation projects.
- Project Management Skills: Formally trained in project management methodologies (e.g., PRINCE2, Agile, Lean Six Sigma).
- Systems Proficiency: Advanced experience with major enterprise payroll/HR platforms (e.g., Workday, SAP, Sage, CoreHR]).
- Communication: Exceptional communication skills with the ability to translate complex tax and technical jargon into simple, universal language for non-technical stakeholders.
- Professional Qualification: CIPP (Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals) or equivalent payroll/tax qualification.
- Experience managing payroll changes across a large, diverse workforce with varied benefit schemes.
- Competitive daily rate of £360 to £440.
- Temporary role based in London.
- Chance to lead a significant payroll transformation project.
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