Job Description
Deputy Head of Payroll & Reward
Birmingham (Hybrid – 2–3 days office)
£75,000
Contract: Permanent
The Role
A senior leadership role responsible for overseeing payroll, pensions, and benefits across a complex, multi-entity organisation during a period of transformation.
You will combine hands-on leadership with strategic oversight, stabilising current payroll operations while driving automation, process improvement, and the development of a scalable, modern reward function.
Key Responsibilities
* Oversee end-to-end payroll operations across multiple entities (weekly & monthly)
* Ensure full compliance with HMRC, PAYE, NI, statutory payments and year-end processes
* Act as escalation point for complex payroll issues
* Lead pensions, auto-enrolment, and benefits administration
* Manage and improve reward structures and benefits offerings
* Drive payroll transformation, automation, and process improvements
* Lead and develop a payroll, pensions, and benefits team
* Build strong relationships with HR, Finance, and external providers
* Balance operational delivery with long-term strategic improvements
The Ideal Candidate
* Extensive payroll leadership experience in a complex, multi-entity environment
* Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, compliance, and pensions
* Experience managing benefits and reward frameworks
* Proven track record in payroll transformation and process improvement
* Strong people leadership and stakeholder management skills
* Strategic thinker with a hands-on, solutions-focused approach
* Relevant qualification (e.g. CIPP or equivalent) desirable
Interested? Apply today!
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.