Payroll Manager (6-month FTC)

We are seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to join our team for a 6-month fixed term contract. Reporting directly to the Head of Payroll, you will play a pivotal role in managing the Group Salaries Team, ensuring that we deliver exceptional customer service to both our internal and external clients. Your expertise will be crucial in maintaining full governance and compliance with statutory requirements, making you an integral part of our operations.

In this exciting role, you will collaborate closely with the Assistant Payroll Manager and the Senior Payroll Analyst to ensure the seamless execution of payroll processes. Your leadership and organizational skills will be key in driving efficiency and accuracy across all payroll activities. If you are passionate about payroll management and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we invite you to apply and become a vital member of our team.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the complete team, overseeing all aspects of People Management, including weekly one-to-one meetings and bi-annual PDR completion.
• Maintain strong relationships with service providers FMP/IRIS and Activ
• Maintain the bureau payroll relationship.
• Serve as the escalation point for payroll-related processes, liaising with HR for issue resolution.
• Ensure tax compliance in collaboration with the Group Tax Manager.
• Oversee the collation of workload and task rota with assistance from the Assistant Payroll Manager.
• Carrying out training assessment requirements needed for the Team and making sure this is executed
• Overseeing the Tax compliance reporting across all payrolls in house and bureau including Payrolling Benefits in Kind and P11D reporting 
• Final responsibility for all checking and control process within the team
• Perform final month-end checking and exception controls across all payrolls.
• Monitor and clear shared mailbox inquiries, handling sensitive data requests.
• Update payroll process documentation and implement new procedures in conjunction with the Assistant Manager.
• Assist in audit preparation and testing sample checks.
• Control reporting for all internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage recruitment and onboarding processes.
• Support the onboarding of a new HRIS payroll system, including testing, parallel processing, and go-live phases.
• Support with payroll ad-hoc projects 
• The role will be expected to assist the Finance Service Director to cover for the Head of Payroll when necessary.

What you’ll bring

Essential criteria:

• Extensive experience working within a payroll department and managing others, with the potential to fulfil PRH's people manager qualities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Advanced knowledge and experience using Microsoft Outlook and Excel.
• A methodical approach to work and the ability to adapt to changing priorities.
• Resourcefulness, determination, and purpose to deliver effectively.
• Ability to work inclusively with a diverse range of people, both within and outside the organisation.

Preferred criteria:

• Experience with payroll systems, with Payrite/FMP/IRIS experience being desirable.

Application instructions

Please apply with your CV and cover letter outlining why you are the right candidate for the role by 11:59pm on Sunday 8th June.  

Salary

Up to £66,000 dependent on how your skills and experience align to the role, plus bonus and benefits.

What you can expect from us

Our people are the heart of our business, and we work hard to support a culture of responsibility and recognition.

Hybrid working

While our offices across the UK are places to connect, collaborate and celebrate with colleagues, we recognise that flexibility around where you work is just as important. For this role we expect that you will work from our office in Frating, Essex, 3 days per week.

About Penguin

We’re the UK’s largest publisher; made up of some 2,000 people and publishing over 1,500 books each year. Our doors are open to all kinds of talent. In a constantly evolving industry, we work hard to stretch the definition of the word publisher. Here, you’ll work with a breadth of talent who all play their part to make each of our books a success. Together, we make books for everyone because a book can change anyone.

The recruitment process

As a Disability Confident Committed organisation, we offer interviews to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role, and opt-in on their application form. The essential criteria for this role are listed as part of the ‘What you’ll bring’ section. There may be times when the volume of applications means we cannot take all eligible candidates to interview.

We encourage you to tell us about any reasonable adjustments you may need by emailing PRHCareersUK@penguinrandomhouse.co.uk. Remember, you only need to share what you are comfortable to for us to support your request.

Please note, we are not able to accept agency CVs for this role. Any CVs sent speculatively will not be eligible for a fee.

Company: The Random House Group Limited 

Country: United Kingdom 

State/Region: Essex 

City: Frating 

Postal Code: CO7 7DW 

Job ID: 280194