Head of Payroll & Pensions - London

Salary: up to £86,000 per annum
Permanent | Hybrid (2 days per week in the office)

A rare and career-defining leadership opportunity has arisen for an experienced payroll and pensions professional to take strategic ownership of a large, complex and high-impact payroll & LGPS operation in London.

We are looking for a confident, forward-thinking senior leader who can drive excellence across payroll and pensions administration, lead high-performing teams and ensure full compliance with a wide range of legislative, regulatory and audit requirements. This is a role with genuine influence, modernisation potential and visibility at the highest levels of the organisation.

About the Role

As the Head of Payroll & Pensions, you will lead and shape a major payroll and pensions function responsible for:

A large, diverse workforce across multiple service areas and schools

A significant and complex payroll operation

A substantial public-sector pension scheme with a broad membership base

Ongoing governance, compliance and regulatory accountability

High-volume transactions, data management and system integrity

Strong internal and external stakeholder relationships.

You will be the organisation's senior expert on all payroll and pension matters, advising senior leaders, interpreting complex legislation, and ensuring robust systems, controls and processes across all areas of the service.

You will lead a skilled team, champion service improvements, and play a key role in financial leadership—contributing to strategy, risk management, audit processes, pension fund activities and long-term planning.

Key Responsibilities

In this leadership post, you will:

Provide strategic direction for the payroll and pensions service, ensuring a responsive, customer-focused and compliant operation

Manage and develop specialist teams delivering payroll and LGPS administration

Oversee the integrity, performance and development of payroll and pension systems, including a major ERP platform and specialist pension administration software

Ensure full compliance with payroll legislation, pension regulations and complex statutory requirements

Interpret regulatory changes and implement them across processes, systems and policies

Manage controls to safeguard data, prevent fraud and ensure accurate payments

Lead relationships with external partners, schools, academies and employers participating in the pension scheme

Oversee service-level agreements and full-cost recovery arrangements

Manage relationships with external actuaries and support key work associated with valuations and fund governance

Provide authoritative advice on taxation, HMRC compliance, pension discretions, dispute resolution and appeals

Ensure accurate data and reconciliations for financial reporting, audit requirements and pension fund accounting

Represent the organisation at senior committees, boards, forums and external events

Drive continuous improvement, innovation and service modernisation

Champion equality, inclusion, staff development and high professional standards.

About You

We are seeking a senior leader who combines strong technical expertise with strategic thinking, excellent communication skills and the ability to influence at the highest levels.

You will bring:

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Extensive experience managing large-scale payroll and pensions functions

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Strong knowledge of statutory payroll requirements and public-sector pension regulations, particularly LGPS

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A confident grasp of payroll and pension systems (e.g., Oracle Payroll, Altair, or similar platforms)

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Significant experience in complex environments with high-volume transactions

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Strong numeracy, analytical skills and problem-solving ability

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The capacity to interpret complex legislation and translate it into operational practice

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Proven leadership, staff development and performance management experience

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Excellent relationship-building and communication skills at all levels

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A commitment to continuous improvement, innovation and high-quality service delivery

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Relevant professional qualification(s) in payroll or pensions, or extensive equivalent experience.

You'll be resilient, organised, and capable of balancing strategic leadership with detailed operational oversight.

What We Offer

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Competitive salary up to £86,000

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A senior leadership role with significant influence and autonomy

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Hybrid working with two days a week in the office

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The chance to modernise, reshape and strengthen a high-profile service

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A collaborative environment with a strong focus on innovation and improvement

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Opportunities to work with a wide variety of stakeholders across London and beyond

How to Apply

If you are an experienced payroll and pensions leader looking for a challenging and rewarding senior role in London — where your expertise will directly shape service quality, compliance and financial governance — we would be delighted to hear from you.

Please apply with your CV and a supporting statement outlining how your skills and experience make you a strong fit for this role.7

Ash Fitzgerald - Imperium Resourcing