Payroll & Benefits Manager

About the Role

We’re looking for a confident and experienced Payroll & Benefits Manager to take overall accountability for payroll and benefits delivery across Access Education Group.

This is a senior, hands-on leadership role responsible for ensuring payroll is accurate, compliant and delivered on time across multiple PAYE schemes. You’ll provide assurance and oversight while working closely with a payroll team member who supports operational processing.

Beyond payroll, you’ll play a key role in shaping and enhancing our benefits offering — reviewing current provision, exploring salary sacrifice opportunities, and ensuring our reward processes are robust, compliant and employee-focused.

If you thrive in a complex, multi-entity environment and enjoy balancing compliance, governance and continuous improvement, we’d love to hear from you.

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What You’ll Be Responsible For

Payroll Leadership & Accountability

• End-to-end accountability for accurate and timely payroll delivery across multiple PAYE schemes
• Oversight of monthly salaried, hourly and overtime payrolls
• Ensuring strong payroll controls, checks and sign-off processes
• Acting as the senior escalation point for complex queries or risks

Compliance & Governance

• Ensuring compliance with UK payroll legislation including PAYE, NI, RTI and statutory reporting
• Managing year-end processes (P60s, P11Ds, P45s etc.)
• Maintaining auditable payroll records
• Supporting internal and external audit activity

Benefits, Pensions & Reward

• Overseeing workplace pension schemes and auto-enrolment compliance
• Leading administration and governance of company benefits
• Reviewing and assessing benefits enhancements, including salary sacrifice schemes
• Supporting pay reviews, bonus schemes and settlements

Systems, Reporting & Improvement

• Working with People Systems and Finance to optimise payroll and HR systems
• Producing payroll reports and cost data to inform planning and decision-making
• Leading payroll-related improvement projects
• Supporting acquisitions, TUPE transfers and organisational change

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About You

You’ll be someone who takes ownership, provides assurance, and brings both technical expertise and a collaborative mindset.

You will have:

• Significant experience in a senior or lead payroll role
• Experience managing payroll across multiple PAYE schemes
• Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation and compliance requirements
• Experience with workplace pensions and auto-enrolment
• Experience working closely with Finance and HR/People teams
• A track record of supporting audits and maintaining strong governance

It would be great if you also have:

• CIPP qualification (or working towards)
• Experience in education, charity or multi-entity organisations
• Experience reviewing or implementing salary sacrifice schemes
• Exposure to TUPE, acquisitions or system implementations

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Why Join Us?

Access Education Group is a dynamic, multi-division organisation supporting creative, industry and sport education across the UK. This role offers the opportunity to shape payroll and benefits strategy, strengthen governance and add real value to the employee experience across the Group.

If you’re ready to take ownership of payroll delivery while driving improvement and innovation, we’d love to hear from you.

A full job description and person specification is available for download alongside our full benefits booklet. Based on volume of applications we may seek to interview before the vacancy closing date.   

Diversity and open expression are fundamental to creativity.  We are committed to promoting a culture of diversity and inclusivity for all our employees and potential employees.

DBS Checks: Enhanced DBS clearance will be required.