National Payroll Director
North West or London
What Sets Us Apart
At MHA, we’re about people first – our people, our clients, and the communities we serve. As one of the UK’s top 11 accountancy firms and a proud member of Baker Tilly International, the 9th largest network in the world, we are a hub of global knowledge with a strong local commitment.
Our people-focused approach truly sets us apart. Here, you won’t just be another face in the firm; you’ll be part of an ambitious, driven team dedicated to continuous learning and growth. We invest in our people because they are the foundation of our success. With access to unparalleled resources and award-winning development programmes, you’ll have the freedom to shape your career while making a meaningful impact. We take immense pride in being awarded gold for Investors in People. This recognition reflects our deep commitment to nurturing talent and ensuring every individual feels valued and supported.
Here, You’ll Go Beyond Numbers
We’re looking for a talented National Payroll Lead Director who thrives in a dynamic environment and embraces the chance to tackle complex challenges. At MHA, you’ll be surrounded by passionate professionals who are dedicated to making a difference. Your work in Payroll will go beyond the numbers – it’s about building meaningful client relationships, understanding their businesses, navigating risks, and delivering insights that drive real results.
Prior Experience
* Proven experience leading a national or multi regional payroll function, ideally within a professional services environment.
* Significant experience working within or managing a payroll bureau, including oversight of high volume, multi-client processing environments.
* Demonstrable experience managing an offshore payroll delivery centre or global service centre, including setting service levels, overseeing quality, and managing cross border workflows.
* Track record of owning or shaping an end-to-end payroll operating model across onshore and offshore teams, with clear responsibility for scope, hand offs, risk controls and escalation routes.
* Experience leading change and transformation programmes, including digitisation, automation, and adoption of new technologies within payroll.
* Strong background in payroll compliance, including HMRC legislation, pensions, RTI, GDPR, and statutory reporting, with the ability to update processes in line with regulatory change.
* Evidence of managing outsourced and offshore relationships, including third-party providers, with responsibility for SLAs, KPIs and performance management.
* Experience overseeing payroll software platforms and vendor relationships, including system upgrades, integrations, and contract management.
* Proven ability to manage resource planning and workforce allocation across diverse teams, including balancing onshore and offshore capacity during peak periods.
* Experience leading business continuity, risk management, and quality assurance activities within a payroll environment.
* Strong background working with senior stakeholders, including leadership teams, governance committees, boards, or risk panels.
* Experience handling complex payroll matters for high value or high-risk clients, including oversight of exception cases and escalated issues.
* Demonstrated ability to build and maintain a client relationship model, rather than a transactional service approach.
* Experience developing training pathways and uplifting capability across both UK and offshore payroll teams.
* Proven experience in data integrity management, including controls for offshore access, statutory documentation, system alignment, and accurate reporting.
* Experience improving payroll MI, reporting and dashboarding, including utilis
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