Payroll manager

Location: Hybrid / Colchester, UK
job type: Permanent / Full-time
Sector and subsector: Finance & Legal | Accounting & Payroll
Salary: Competitive salary

Affinia is the UK’s fastest growing purpose‑led, purpose‑built Accountancy firm, focused on building stronger, more valuable relationships. With over 1000 colleagues across the East, Southeast, London and the Midlands, we are dedicated to supporting our clients, colleagues and communities.

We advise businesses, public sector organisations, charities and individuals throughout the UK and internationally across six Service Lines – Accounts Solution, Taxation, Audit & Assurance, Corporate Finance, Payroll and Corporate Recovery, supported by centralised enabling functions spanning People, Finance, Marketing, Business Support, IT, Risk and Corporate Development. Our team also offer in-depth sector expertise across a number of sectors, ensuring our clients receive the best short to medium and long‑term advice, tailored to them.

We are committed to delivering excellence in every aspect of our work, adapting to the evolving technology and regulatory landscape while consistently exceeding client expectations.

Our people are our most valuable asset. We are therefore committed to supporting our colleagues throughout their professional development, providing guidance and training at whatever stage of their career they join us.

Purpose of the role

The Payroll Manager is a senior operational and team leadership position which involves leading, mentoring and developing a team of payroll professionals, ensuring the accurate and timely processing of complex client payrolls. The Manager also plays a crucial role in maintaining strong relationships with key clients, acting as a primary escalation point, and driving continuous process improvements to enhance efficiency and contribute to the service line's profitability.

We operate a hybrid working policy, so you’ll be able to combine working from Affinia’s office, client’s offices when required, and from home when you are able. Affinia provides access to technical training and soft skills training through platforms such as Croner‑i, Mercia, Tolley’s and LinkedIn Learning, which you will be able to access. We are committed to supporting your learning professionally and personally and recognise the value that L&D offers to you and to us as an organisation.

Accountabilities

• Process payrolls (end-to-end) for clients in an accurate and timely manner ensuring all deadlines are adhered to.
• Ensure all payroll actions are compliant and delivered in accordance with relevant legislation and contractual obligations.
• Regular communication with clients concerning gross pay rates, net pay, and HMRC liabilities as well as staff changes and ad hoc deductions/expenses.
• Reconciliations of HMRC liabilities.
• Provide advice to clients and employees to respond to payroll queries.
• Support clients with payroll reporting requirements.
• Set up assistance on new PAYE schemes and any handover payrolls.
• Perform manual calculations as required.

Key skills and attributes required

• An advanced Payroll certification (e.g. CIPP Advanced Diploma).
• Ideally 5+ years’ experience in Practice Payroll, preferably including time in a management role already.
• Expert proficiency in Payroll software, advanced Excel, and mastery of all UK Payroll legislation.
• Proven ability to lead, coach, develop, organise, and manage a team, along with strong problem‑solving and decision‑making capabilities.
• Superior client relationship management, excellent communication, and commercial awareness.
• High attention to detail, proactive, resilient, adaptable, integrity, and a collaborative mindset.

Culture & Core Benefits

At Affinia, our culture is driven by ambition and a commitment to positively impact all the communities we serve. We are dedicated to the success, development, and wellbeing of our colleagues, helping them achieve their goals and seize the opportunities that come with our growth. Alongside a flexible and inclusive work environment, we offer the following core benefits:

• Option to purchase 3 additional days per year
• Professional membership support
• Paycare – claim money back for Dental / Optical / Professional Therapies
• Death in Service
• Agile/Hybrid Working Policy
• Dress for your Diary Policy

Affinia is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is unequivocal: we do not tolerate discrimination based on age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, or sexual orientation. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, valuing the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates, and selection for roles is based solely on individual merit.