Job Description
Umbrella Payroll Manager
Location: Borehamwood (Hybrid)
Salary: Up to £65,000
Contract: Full Time | Permanent
About Us
Our client is a UK umbrella payroll provider, delivering reliable, compliant, and transparent payroll services to contractors and recruitment agencies. They pride ourselves on integrity, operational excellence, and a culture that supports growth while keeping compliance at the heart of everything we do.
The Role
We’re looking for a hands-on operations leader to take charge of our umbrella payroll operations. This is a senior role for someone who thrives on operational oversight, enjoys problem-solving, and has a keen eye for compliance.
You’ll be responsible for running payroll smoothly, ensuring all processes meet FCSA and HMRC standards, and shaping a team and systems that can grow with the business. This role combines leadership, strategy, and day-to-day operational ownership.
What You’ll Do:
Lead Payroll Operations
* Take full ownership of umbrella payroll, from processing to reporting
* Ensure payroll is accurate, timely, and fully compliant
* Manage PAYE, NICs, statutory payments, pensions, holiday pay, and expenses
* Be the go-to person for complex payroll and contractor questions
* Maintain strong operational controls and oversight
* Grow and develop a high-performing payroll team
Drive Compliance & Governance
* Embed compliance across all processes and team practices
* Keep documentation, controls, and audit-ready evidence up to date
* Prepare for audits and inspections and ensure smooth reviews
* Stay ahead of regulatory changes and implement them effectively
* Collaborate with Finance and Compliance to maintain ethical operations
Champion Systems & Data Integrity
* Oversee payroll systems and data management
* Identify opportunities to improve processes, automate tasks, and reduce risk
* Ensure GDPR compliance and secure access controls
* Provide MI and insights to support operational decision-making
Lead & Develop the Team
* Build a motivated, skilled payroll and operations team
* Ensure training on compliance, legislation, and internal processes
* Drive performance management, quality checks, and continuous improvement
* Plan for team growth and succession
Support Growth & Strategy
* Ensure operations can scale with business growth
* Work with other teams to enable compliant, controlled expansion
* Provide operational insights and advice to senior leadership
Skills & Experience
Must Have:
* Extensive experience in umbrella or contractor payroll operations
* Strong knowledge of FCSA compliance and HMRC payroll regulations
* Experience leading payroll teams and managing operational controls
* Comfortable in a regulated, audit-led environment
* Excellent process, governance, and systems understanding
Nice to Have:
* Hands-on experience with FCSA audits
* Experience scaling operations in a growing business
* CIPP qualification (or equivalent)
Who You Are
* Detail-focused, with a strong compliance and risk mindset
* Confident, calm, and authoritative in senior operational decisions
* Trusted by colleagues and auditors alike
* A leader who enjoys developing people and processes
Interested? Please apply or contact Liam on liamh@jgarecruitment.com
JGA Recruitment Group Ltd ("We") are committed to equality of opportunity for all applications regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships. We strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply.
We are also committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. We are a specialist payroll, HR & Reward recruitment agency and recruitment business as defined in the Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 (our business). These statements together with our privacy notices set out the basis on which any personal data we collect from you, or that you provide to us, will be processed by us.