Location
London Borough of Tower Hamlets (Office based in London, E14 4PU or Edinburgh, EH8 8FT)

Hours
Full Time

Salary
£51,487 per annum plus £12,204 employer contribution towards the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme

About the Role
The Payroll & Systems Manager takes full operational ownership of the Government Actuary's Department’s end-to-end outsourced payroll delivery, ensuring complete compliance with statutory regulations, internal controls, and Civil Service pension frameworks. This role acts as the departmental Subject Matter Expert (SME) for HR Information Systems, leading on system configuration, data integrity, and advanced workforce reporting to drive efficiency and support financial modelling. Working within a small, agile team, you will provide critical cross-cover and adapt flexibly to evolving business priorities.

Payroll & Benefits
Lead the monthly payroll cycle, managing the interface with the outsourced provider, conducting data validation, and resolving anomalies prior to senior management sign-off. Oversee GAD's interface with Civil Service Pensions and benefits platforms (including Edenred/Mylifestyle), researching and resolving complex queries. Support workforce financial modelling, head-count forecasting, and data analysis for the annual HMT Pay Remit submission. Coordinate implementation of changes arising from the annual salary review. Continuously review, document, and optimise payroll and benefits processes to streamline administration and mitigate risk. Keep up to date with regulations, inform stakeholders of relevant changes, and ensure all systems remain compliant.

HR Systems and Data Management
Lead on HR Information Systems (HR/employee management system, payroll & benefits platform), overseeing effective management and maintenance of HR systems. Act as the super-user and lead for the Zellis HR Information System, maintaining configurations, managing vendor relationships, and ensuring optimal user experience. Ensure the system is user-driven and provide timely responses to queries. Design, build, and maintain periodic HR dashboards for internal and external use, tracking management information, key performance indicators, absence rates, and workforce demographics. Ensure all HR system data handling and reporting frameworks strictly adhere to GDPR, Freedom of Information, and Subject Access Request compliance guidelines.

Personal Responsibility
Work in partnership with the HR team to deliver a comprehensive HR service. Line manage one staff member. Take ownership of personal development and network with HR/Payroll professionals in other organisations.

This job description reflects current duties but is not exhaustive and may change based on organisational needs.

Experience
Proven experience managing end-to-end payroll operations with a strong working knowledge of PAYE legislation and statutory regulations. Experience in managing HR Information Systems, including system configuration and vendor management. Skilled in advanced MS Excel functions such as VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables, and data manipulation. Experience supporting workforce financial modelling and head-count forecasting. Knowledge of GDPR, Freedom of Information, and Subject Access Request compliance.

Responsible for collating and completing all payroll checks prior to submission and ensuring timely, accurate payroll delivery each month. Ability to keep professional knowledge up to date and implement legislative/regulatory changes effectively.

About you
Detail-oriented and proactive with excellent problem-solving skills. Able to work flexibly within a small, agile team and manage competing priorities. Strong communication skills to liaise with internal and external stakeholders. Committed to continuous professional development and networking within HR and payroll communities. Demonstrates behaviours including Making Effective Decisions, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together, Developing Self and Others, and Managing a Quality Service.

Qualifications
National Payroll Certificate or CIPP Practitioner Certificate, or significant payroll experience is essential. Advanced proficiency in MS Excel is required. Knowledge of relevant data protection and information governance legislation is essential.