Payroll Team Manager (12 month FTC)
// Role Summary
Lead a dynamic payroll team, ensuring accurate and timely processing of complex payrolls while driving continuous improvement and stakeholder collaboration. This 12-month fixed-term contract role offers a hybrid working arrangement in Preston.
// Key Responsibilities
- Manage and develop a team of Payroll Advisors and Administrators.
- Oversee end-to-end payroll quality and ensure compliance with all regulations.
- Handle complex payroll queries and support audits.
- Drive continuous improvement and process enhancements.
- Partner with HR, Finance, and other stakeholders.
- 12-month fixed-term contract with hybrid working options.
// Role Specification
Payroll Team Manager (12 month FTC)
Join BAE Systems as a Payroll Team Manager on a 12-month fixed-term contract. You will be responsible for the day-to-day coordination of payroll activities, ensuring all payrolls are processed accurately, on time, and in strict accordance with statutory, regulatory, and internal policy requirements. This role is based in Preston, Lancashire, and offers a range of hybrid and flexible working arrangements.
As a leader, you will manage a team of Payroll Advisors and Administrators, providing essential guidance, support, and development to maintain consistent service standards. You will be the go-to for complex payroll queries, support crucial audits and compliance activities, and collaborate closely with HR, Finance, and other stakeholders to facilitate organisational changes, projects, and process improvements across the entire payroll operation.
What you’ll be doing:
- Take ownership of team KPIs and performance measures, ensuring payrolls are delivered accurately and on time, while enhancing service quality and driving performance improvements.
- Provide effective and supportive line management to Payroll Advisors and Administrators, coaching and developing them to achieve their full potential while maintaining a motivated and high-performing team.
- Oversee end-to-end payroll quality, ensuring accuracy at every stage of the process and full compliance with statutory, regulatory, and company policy requirements.
- Act as a subject matter expert for complex payroll queries, supporting escalations and ensuring timely resolution in line with agreed service levels.
- Champion continuous improvement by fostering a culture of innovation and process enhancement, ensuring the team feels engaged, supported, and confident in embracing change.
- Partner with HR, Finance, and wider business stakeholders to support organisational changes, projects, and process enhancements.
- Support audits and compliance reviews by embedding robust controls, maintaining high-quality standards, and promoting operational excellence across the team.
Your skills and experiences:
- Extensive operational payroll experience, ideally gained within a Shared Service environment.
- Demonstrable experience of managing and developing people, ideally leading a large team.
- Comprehensive knowledge of current payroll legislation, with awareness of forthcoming regulatory changes and their practical impact.
- Familiarity with ResourceLink or a comparable payroll and HR system.
- Experience of working within a complex, high-volume, and fast-paced payroll environment, with the ability to adapt to change.
You’ll join a large, collaborative UK Payroll team supporting all sectors across BAE Systems. Operating within a complex and fast-moving environment, the team manages a diverse range of activity, detailed processes, and multiple stakeholders, ensuring no two days are the same. This is an excellent opportunity to influence meaningful change and help shape the future of payroll delivery across the organisation.
Closing Date: 9th July 2026. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications.