Payroll Manager

About the Opportunity

This is a new role in an expanding Finance team supporting the Director of Finance to deliver high quality, efficient, timely payroll every month. It is a particularly exciting opportunity to help deliver a migration from SAGE Payroll to Workday during 2024, and it will be pivotal in developing and delivering process and system improvements as the University continues to grow.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of process improvement and development, strong managerial skills and an aptitude for working independently to tight deadlines.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Payroll Manager is accountable for the day-to-day running of payroll at the University. These include Gross to Net calculations for all staff on a monthly basis, compliance with all

HMRC and pension requirements, as well as supporting the work required to deliver all necessary regulatory reporting to other external bodies where applicable.

Although the list is not exhaustive the Payroll Manager will be expected to:

Transactions

• Payroll Operations: Provide oversight (and cover as required) of Payroll Co-Ordinator duties as follows:
  • Onboarding all new staff onto SAGE Payroll as they join the University ensuring appropriate pro rata calculations are made and accurate Tax codes are used.
  • Processing of any changes relating to existing employees as instructed by HR.
  • Processing leavers as instructed by HR.
  • Pension auto-enrolment requirements including communications with staff,
  • processing opt-out, liaising with pension provider and The Pension Regulator as required.
  • Onboarding of relevant staff onto Scottish Widows platform.
  • Calculation and processing of salary sacrifice deductions where relevant.
  • Process related inbound and outbound interfaces
  • Process metrics and other payroll-related reports
  • Process timesheets, absences and leaves
  • Respond to queries from staff in a timely appropriate manner
  • Deal with staff queries in a timely and appropriate manner.
• Workday Payroll: Responsible for full knowledge of Workday Payroll functionality, related business process documentation impacting the Payroll function, as well as implementation of additional Workday payroll functionality.
  • Serves in a lead capacity to update process documentation and resolve conflicting processing practices.
  • Serves on project teams related to Workday implementation and upgrades, user acceptance and parallel payroll testing.
  • Brings experience, shares ideas and leads process improvement initiatives
• Time Tracking: Responsible for timely and accurate reporting and audits for time sheets ensuring weekly reconciliation and accurate processing of amended/retro time sheets. Recommendation for process improvements, working with business analysts and business partners to convey lack of adherence to time tracking documented policies and procedures

Reporting & Compliance:

• Provide the Director of Finance accurate and complete monthly net calculations for review and subsequent payment by Finance.
• Monthly reporting of Full Payment submissions, Full payment adjustments and any other Employee related return to HMRC as relevant.
• Monthly reporting of pension contributions to Scottish Widows.
• Liaise with Finance team to produce timely information for accounting.
• Support the Director of Finance with the regular review of any relevant policies and procedures as required.

Additional Duties:

• Assist the Director of Finance in preparing reports for senior management, stakeholders, and board members.
• Assist the Director of Finance during the migration from SAGE Payroll to Workday in conjunction with the implementation team. This includes:
  • Working with the Workday technical team to provide business and functional requirements for implementation and identify process improvements and analytics for management reporting
  • Test Workday for enhancements and cyclical releases
  • Participate in the go live prep and implementation of system functionality
  • Operationalize business processes to support the payroll system
  • Perform ongoing audits to ensure data compliance and accuracy
  • Create associated documentation, job aids and knowledge articles
• Line management of Payroll Co-Ordinator (full time role)
• To undertake such other duties commensurate with the nature of the post as may reasonably be required.
• Foster a positive work environment with a good team spirit, including the wider professional and academic departments

Person specification criteria:

To undertake this role, the following should apply – should you not have the experience below, please do highlight where transferrable skills would assist with you undertaking the role.

Experience:

• Strong payroll skills gained in a similar role (min 2 years)
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
  • Good written communications and strong interpersonal skills to deal with individuals at various levels, and on potentially sensitive matters
  • Good working knowledge of SAGE Payroll and/or Workday Payroll desirable.
  • Proficient with inbound and outbound interfaces, banking and accounting interfaces
  • Maintenance of accurate and detailed records
  • Excellent analytical and technical skills, including Advances level with Microsoft Office Suite
  • Hands on style with strong problem-solving skills and a keen attention to detail
• Education, Qualifications and Training
  • Membership of CIPP or working towards achieving it (support available)
• Personal Attributes:
  • Ability to work quickly, accurately and to deadlines, using a logical and methodical approach.
  • A team player, with the ability to work independently and take initiative
  • Ability to work under limited supervision, effectively prioritize work among conflicting demands to meet deadlines
  • Experience handling of confidential information

Enquiries:

Informal enquiries may be made to Vanessa Carreras, [email protected]. However, all applications must be made in accordance with the application process specified.

Application process:

Applications must include a covering letter of no more than one page that addresses the criteria for the role and a full curriculum vitae.

The panel will be shortlisting for this position on a rolling basis so please apply as soon as possible. We reserve the right to close this post before the closing date if we receive a large number of applications.

Please note this role may require a basic or enhanced DBS check. Please note this role may require a basic or enhanced DBS check. Our organisation acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard, protect and promote the welfare of our students and staff, and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice and Ofsted requirements. You must adhere to the above if you are offered a role with NU London.

Applications are welcome from all sections of the community and will be judged on merit alone. We welcome applications from all underrepresented groups, including the Global Majority. Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.

Job sponsorship: This job does not meet the requirement for a Certificate of Sponsorship under the Home Office Regulations.

Compensation: Up to £45,000 per annum, depending on experience

Compensation: Up to £45,000 per annum, depending on experience

Position Type

Finance

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.

Northeastern University is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. Northeastern values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion. 

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

To learn more about Northeastern University’s commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please see www.northeastern.edu/diversity.