Payroll Compliance Manager

Ref Number

B01-05635

Professional Expertise

Finance

Department

Vice-President (Operations) (B01)

Location

London

Working Pattern

Full time

Salary

£54,931-£64,644

Contract Type

Permanent

Working Type

Hybrid

Available for Secondment

No

Closing Date

19-Aug-2026

About us

UCL’s Professional Services Hub brings together key customer-facing and transactional services across HR, Finance, Estates and IT. We are committed to delivering high-quality, efficient services with a strong focus on customer experience.

About the role

We are looking for an experienced Payroll Compliance Manager to help ensure that UCL’s payroll operations remain accurate, effective and fully compliant with UK legislation, HMRC requirements, internal policies and relevant industry standards. This is a specialist and influential role within the payroll leadership team. You will monitor changes in payroll legislation, assess their impact and ensure that appropriate changes are embedded into policies, procedures, systems and day-to-day payroll processes. You will provide expert advice across the payroll service, supporting colleagues with complex payroll queries, manual calculations and detailed explanations of pay. You will also help lead, support and supervise the payroll team to ensure that payroll is delivered accurately and on time. Working closely with colleagues across Finance, HR and project teams, you will identify opportunities to strengthen controls, improve processes and provide a consistent, customer-focused payroll service. Key responsibilities will include: Ensuring compliance with payroll legislation and statutory requirements, including PAYE, National Insurance, Real Time Information reporting, statutory payments, pensions auto-enrolment, student loans and holiday pay. Monitoring legislative and HMRC developments and advising the Head of Payroll on their implications. Reviewing and developing payroll policies, procedures and standard operating processes. Supporting the accurate and timely delivery of the monthly payroll cycle and statutory reporting requirements. Providing specialist advice on complex payroll calculations, deductions, benefits and salary-sacrifice arrangements. Identifying risks, weaknesses or inconsistencies within payroll and system processes and recommending improvements. Overseeing payroll testing, including the development of test strategies and test cases for system changes and software releases. Ensuring that payroll exception and error reports remain effective, accurate and compliant. Supporting the leadership of the payroll team and deputising for the Head of Payroll when required.

About you

You will be an experienced payroll professional with strong technical knowledge of UK payroll legislation and a proven ability to translate complex regulatory and policy requirements into practical, effective payroll processes. You will have experience working within a large and complex organisation and understand the governance, stakeholder and operational challenges involved in delivering a high-volume payroll service. Experience within higher education or a similarly complex environment would be particularly valuable. You will also bring: A CIPP Foundation Degree or equivalent relevant payroll qualification. Experience of managing or supporting monthly payroll closure, statutory reporting and payment requirements. Experience of drafting, implementing and improving payroll procedures. Experience of using integrated HR and payroll systems. Strong numerical, analytical and problem-solving skills, with exceptional attention to detail. The ability to interpret trends, variances and payroll data accurately. Experience of leading and engaging colleagues through operational or system change. A strong commitment to continuous improvement and customer service. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. The ability to manage competing priorities, anticipate issues and deliver to demanding deadlines with limited supervision. A professional, calm and dependable approach, including the ability to handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately. Experience of statutory year-end payroll activities, ticketing systems or Lean/Six Sigma improvement methodologies would be advantageous.

What we offer

As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below: 41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days) Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE) Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan On-Site nursery On-site gym Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service Discounted medical insurance

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. You can about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here : https://www.ucl.ac.uk/equality-diversity-inclusion/