Role Overview
As Payroll Team Leader, you will play a key role in delivering a seamless, accurate and timely payroll service for over 30,000 colleagues across the JD Group. Payroll delivery is managed through a structured leadership model, and this role is not solely responsible for the full population. You will have direct responsibility for leading up to three Payroll Executives, while working closely with Payroll Managers, an Assistant Payroll Manager and fellow Team Leaders to collectively deliver payroll outcomes. Partnering with key stakeholders across People Services, Finance, Operations and Technology, you will support operational excellence, continuous improvement and consistent delivery against agreed deadlines and service levels, with the full support of the payroll leadership team. This is a pivotal leadership role within the payroll operation, focused on empowering and enabling your team through coaching, quality oversight and clear ways of working. You will contribute to ensuring payroll delivery remains accurate, compliant and efficient, while maintaining a strong colleague focused approach and shared ownership of payroll performance.
Responsibilities
* Oversee the day-to-day delivery of payroll activity within your team, ensuring accurate and timely processing in line with internal controls and legislative requirements.
* Manage and prioritise team workloads to meet key deadlines and service levels, supporting peak periods and reallocating tasks where required.
* Own the quality and accuracy of outputs produced by the team, promoting best practice and ensuring consistent standards are met.
* Coach, support and develop Payroll Associates and Payroll Executives through day-to-day guidance, training and feedback, helping them build confidence in payroll processing and query resolution.
* Monitor and analyse payroll queries and errors, implementing proactive solutions to reduce repeat issues and improve resolution times, whilst maintaining a colleague‑centric approach.
* Act as a key escalation point for complex pay queries and operational issues, partnering with Payroll Managers/Assistant Managers and stakeholders to ensure timely and effective resolution.
Qualifications
* Desirable: Experience of working with Dayforce payroll software; CIPP or similar accredited experience; mentoring a team; advanced Excel skills; experience of analysing processes and looking for continuous improvement.
* Essential: Previous experience of leading, coaching or mentoring a team within a fast‑paced payroll or shared services environment; strong understanding of UK payroll legislation, with exposure to ROI and/or offshore payrolls beneficial; excellent organisation and time‑management skills; people‑focused with a desire to see others succeed; ability to keep colleagues at the centre of all you do; independent and collaborative working style; excellent communication skills to break down complex pay and process queries.
What Can We Offer You?
JD offers full training with in‑house expertise on processing a variety of payrolls to deliver first‑class service. Opportunities exist to hone and develop your skills and progress within the role and the business, including apprenticeship study support, funded training leading to recognised payroll qualifications and in‑house development in leadership and public speaking. JD promotes wellbeing through departmental wellbeing champions and health and wellbeing events. Competitive benefits include staff discount at JD stores, discounted JD gym membership, 28 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays) with increases over service, a pension scheme, unlimited fruit, tea and coffee and an onsite subsidised canteen. The company values diversity and inclusion and supports initiatives and networks to ensure all colleagues can thrive.
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