We're Hiring: UK Payroll Team Lead / Subject Matter Expert (SME)

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced UK Payroll Team Lead / SME to oversee end-to-end payroll operations and ensure accurate, compliant, and timely payroll delivery. The ideal candidate will have strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, expertise in handling complex payroll activities, and the ability to provide technical guidance, coach team members, and drive process improvements.

Job Details

• Location: Bangalore

• Experience: 5–7 years

• Band: BPO 3/4

• Work Schedule: UK Business Hours

Requirements

Mandatory Skills and Experience

• 5–7 years of relevant UK payroll experience.

• Strong knowledge of PAYE, National Insurance, RTI, statutory payments, tax codes, and UK payroll legislation.

• Hands-on experience in end-to-end UK payroll processing and reconciliations.

• Understanding of workplace pensions and automatic enrolment.

• Experience handling complex payroll cases, adjustments, exceptions, and escalations.

• Previous experience coordinating teams, monitoring quality, and coaching payroll associates.

• Experience with Workday Payroll or similar enterprise payroll systems.

• Strong MS Excel, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.

• Experience in shared services, managed services, or outsourced payroll environments.

• Willingness to work UK business hours.

Preferred Qualifications

• CIPP certification or equivalent UK payroll qualification.

• Experience managing high-volume or multi-entity UK payroll.

• Exposure to payroll transformation, automation, system implementation, or User Acceptance Testing (UAT).

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and support end-to-end UK payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely processing.

• Provide technical expertise on PAYE, National Insurance, RTI, statutory payments, tax codes, and payroll legislation.

• Handle HMRC submissions, including Full Payment Submissions (FPS) and Employer Payment Summaries (EPS).

• Support workplace pension administration and automatic enrolment activities.

• Review complex payroll transactions, adjustments, exceptions, and escalations.

• Conduct payroll audits, control checks, variance analysis, and general ledger reconciliations.

• Coordinate daily team activities, workload allocation, and quality assurance.

• Coach and guide payroll associates on technical and operational matters.

• Support year-end payroll activities, including P60, P11D, and P11D(b).

• Identify opportunities for process improvement, automation, and payroll transformation.