Payroll Manager

Job title: Payroll Manager

Location Northfleet

Contract length: 12 months (potential perm transfer following contract end)

Pay rate: Circa 46,000 per annum

Role Summary

Manage and coordinate the operational service delivery of the payroll and pension team, delivering an efficient and cost effective service to both Kent and Essex by ensuring the accurate and timely payment of salaries and pensions, in line with a demanding timetable, and providing expert advice, guidance and interpretation to staff, senior managers and wider stakeholders across a range of specialist areas including pensions. Deputise for the Head of Payroll and Pensions when appropriate in order to maintain the provision of an efficient and cost effective service for both Forces and support to Chief Officers on payroll and pension matters.

Main responsibilities:

• Direct and manage the Payroll & Pensions Service, providing leadership to the team, promoting effective communication, undertaking recruitment, oversee staff appraisals, development processes, health and welfare and training and developing a culture and systems that promote equality and value diversity in order to maximise individual and team performance, ensuring that staff contribute effectively towards the Forces business aims.
• Direct, plan and co-ordinate the Payroll and Pensions Service determining priorities, planning and managing appropriate deployment of resources and providing an efficient and cost effective service to both forces, in accordance with Regulations, policy and legislation, including the effective monitoring and evaluation of working practices, procedures and contracts, ensuring strategic management and alignment of all work, so as to achieve a high quality payroll and pensions service.
• Payroll: Manage payroll control and processing, the production and the continuous payment of salaries, expenses, fees and pensions to all current and former Police Personnel of Essex and Kent Police, Independent Custody Visitors and Specials to ensure that all payments and deductions are accurate, timely and in accordance with all current legislation, guidelines and policy.
• Pensions: Manage pensions, leavers, retirees, auto-enrolment, buy backs, nil pay ensuring accuracy, relevance and security of data in line with changes to regulations, policy, statistical and statutory requirements.
• Projects: Define, develop, enhance and maintain the configuration of systems and processes as a result of internal and external changes. Lead project initiatives and liaise with senior internal stakeholders in order to ensure the efficient operation of an integrated payroll system and the accuracy, relevance and security of data in line with changes to regulations, policy, statistical and statutory requirements.
• Monitor and control the production of data, then approve the submissions for external bodies including Home Office, HMICFRS, National Fraud Initiative, HMRC, external auditors etc. such as payroll, payment data, statistics, personal data etc., in line with legislative requirements enabling auditor sign off and to ensure that financial penalties are not incurred. Undertake the completion of pension returns for the 10 schemes on a monthly and annual basis. This involves being adept at interpretation of the final salary schemes and newer career average schemes as well as definitions past and present of pensionable pay, since members will likely have membership of different sections.
• Undertake the calculation of pay and pension changes received from various sources, including Police Regulations and Local Government Pension Administrators, and amend internal policy and procedures accordingly.
• Attendance at seminars, meetings and workshops organised by national organisations, regional groups and the Force's taxation advisers, in order to enhance continued professional development and ensure the implementation of effective and compliant solutions to gather and disseminate information.
• Lead along with the Head of Payroll and Pensions on specialist advice, information and statistics on payroll and pension issues to senior managers, auditors, contractors and other authorised persons in order to aid decision making, budgeting and staffing matters, attend the High Court as an expert witness. Assist the Head of Payroll and Pensions to manage the forces response to legal cases which result in amendments to historic pensions, current pension schemes and pay. Implement working groups and ensure adequate resources to deliver solutions within the legislative timescales.
• Monitor Payroll integrity utilising the Payroll and Pensions Team where appropriate, refer problems, malfunctions and issues directly to the SAP Development Team, oversee resolution progress and facilitate prompt completion of concerns in order to maintain and improve efficient and timely operations. Supervise the maintenance, quality assurance and continuous improvement of all internal controls in order to provide a full verification service to meet the requirements of any internal or external audit process.

Randstad Business Support is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.