Job description
Head of Payroll
VANRATH are delighted to be recruiting for a Head of Payroll on behalf of a large, complex organisation operating across the UK and Ireland. This is a senior leadership role with full accountability for payroll delivery within a high-volume, multi-entity environment.
The role would suit a strategic, hands-on payroll leader with strong people management capability and a passion for improving systems, controls, and service delivery.
The Role
As Head of Payroll, you will be responsible for the end-to-end payroll function across the UK and Ireland. Key responsibilities include:
Leading and delivering accurate, compliant payrolls for a large workforce, consistently meeting SLAs
Ensuring full compliance with payroll legislation, pensions, statutory reporting, and governance standards
Developing and embedding strong payroll controls, reporting, and risk mitigation processes
Driving continuous improvement, standardisation, and efficiency across payroll operations
Leading payroll input into wider HR systems and transformation initiatives
The Ideal Candidate
Essential:
10+ years' experience in senior payroll leadership within a large or complex organisation
Proven experience managing managers and multi-layered teams
Strong working knowledge of payroll compliance, controls, and best practice
Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
Highly detail-driven with the ability to identify issues and deliver improvements
Desirable:
Experience in a SOX-controlled or highly regulated environment
Exposure to Time & Attendance systems
Involvement in payroll or HR system implementations (e.g. SAP)
Qualifications
Degree in Finance, Accounting, HR, or a related discipline
Professional payroll qualification or accreditation (preferred)
For further information on this vacancy, or any other Accountancy and Finance jobs in Belfast or wider Northern Ireland, please apply via the link below or contact Kevin Roberts in the strictest confidence
