The Principal Payroll Consultant – Managed Services is a senior operational and strategic role responsible for the overall health, efficiency, governance, and growth of managed service payrolls. The role has a strong focus on payroll efficiency, continuous improvement, governance, and commercial insight, using payroll data to optimise delivery, profitability, and customer outcomes. Working closely with Customer Success, Sales, Partnerships, and Payroll Operations, this role ensures payroll services are delivered accurately, efficiently, compliantly, and at scale.
Key Responsibilities
Payroll Efficiency & Performance
Own month-on-month analysis of payroll delivery, reviewing estimated vs actual hours across managed payrolls
Identify inefficiencies, root causes, and opportunities to reduce manual effort and rework
Deliver continuous improvement initiatives with a target of 15% efficiency savings
Provide insights to improve cost control, utilisation, and scalability
Customer Success & Service Delivery
Support the Payroll Customer Success Manager with issue resolution, service improvements, and customer outcomes
Contribute to Quarterly Business Reviews and ensure agreed actions are delivered
Act as an escalation point for complex payroll operational or delivery issues
Identify and implement improvements across payroll processes, systems, controls, and operating models
Ensure sustainable adoption of operational changes across the payroll function
Promote accountability, best practice, and continuous improvement
Commercial Growth
Partner with Sales and Partnerships to support BAU payroll growth
Contribute to monthly revenue discussions, providing insight into operational capacity and service opportunities
Support upsell and cross-sell opportunities through operational and customer insight
Payments, Governance & Compliance
Oversee end-to-end BACS and Faster Payments processes for managed payroll customers
Ensure strong controls, payment accuracy, and risk management
Maintain payroll governance standards across Managed Services
Keep up to date with payroll legislation and coordinate implementation of regulatory changes and team training
Operational Ownership
Own the Hypercare to BAU transition process, ensuring smooth onboarding and service stabilisation
Oversee the Support Desk, ensuring queries remain within agreed scope and identifying improvement opportunities
Extensive UK payroll experience, ideally in a managed services or outsourced payroll environment
Strong knowledge of PAYE, statutory deductions, pensions, and payroll compliance
Proven experience using data and metrics to drive operational efficiency
Experience overseeing payroll payments (BACS/Faster Payments)
Strong stakeholder management, communication, and analytical skills
Experience working cross-functionally with operational, customer success, or commercial teams
Experience with Sage payroll products
Experience leading Hypercare or onboarding functions
Experience in multi-client or high-volume payroll environments
Unlimited paid leave (subject to our Annual Leave Policy)
Bi-annual salary & bonus reviews
Fully flexible work schedule
Modern office in Manchester's Northern Quarter
Access to Perkbox for regular employee discounts
24/7 access to virtual GP appointments via Doctor Care Anywhere
Regular team events and social nights
Development time and funding
Regular gifts and perks from Phase 3 to reward outstanding achievements, new members to your family, house moves and big birthdays
Access to home office equipment
And many more!
Phase 3 is a Disability Confident employer and we endeavour to recruit from the widest possible pool of suitable candidates. The format of the interview will be - questions based on your experience and the requirements of the role. If you require any adjustments or special arrangements to be made to our application process on account of disability please let us know in advance.
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