Payroll Lead

A career at Hitachi Rail will help create a legacy. With operations in every corner of the world, our work goes to the cutting-edge of digital transformation and technology. From the multi-cultural strength of our global organisation to the sustainable and innovative ways we work to bring people together, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into. And that’s where you come in.

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Payroll Lead to take ownership of the effective end-to-end delivery, governance and technical oversight of payroll and pensions administration across our UK business.

This is a senior payroll leadership role with a strong focus on governance, controls, service delivery and transformation. Our payroll processing, employee payments and third-party payments are delivered through an external payroll provider, with the Payroll Lead retaining accountability within HR for ensuring the overall service is accurate, timely, compliant and operating to the required standards.

A key focus will be bringing payroll activities currently delivered across different teams together into a single, integrated payroll and pensions capability. You will establish consistent processes, controls and accountabilities across our monthly and four-weekly payroll populations, while strengthening how Payroll works with HR Shared Services, HR Systems, Finance and external providers.

You will also oversee the effective administration and governance of UK pension arrangements within the team's remit, including defined contribution and defined benefit arrangements.

• →Lead the UK technical payroll and pensions administration team, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time.
• →Own payroll governance, controls, validation and reconciliation across the end-to-end payroll lifecycle.
• →Lead the consolidation and standardisation of payroll activities, processes and ways of working across the UK business.
• →Manage the operational relationship and performance of our external payroll provider, driving service quality and continuous improvement.
• →Provide technical leadership and act as the senior HR escalation point for complex payroll and pension matters.
• →Establish clear hand-offs and accountabilities between Payroll, HR Shared Services, HR Systems, Finance and external partners.
• →Oversee pension administration activities, including defined contribution and defined benefit arrangements.
• →Identify opportunities to simplify, automate and improve payroll processes while maintaining strong governance and control.
• →Lead and develop the payroll and pensions team, building technical capability and resilience.

We’re looking for an experienced payroll professional who can combine strong UK payroll technical knowledge with leadership, governance and continuous improvement experience.

You will ideally bring:

• Significant payroll leadership experience within a large or complex UK organisation, ideally covering multiple payrolls, pay frequencies or employee populations.
• Strong technical understanding of UK payroll legislation, PAYE, National Insurance, statutory payments, deductions, reconciliation and year-end requirements.
• Experience establishing robust payroll controls, governance and quality assurance processes.
• Experience managing complex payroll data flows across HR systems, shared services, payroll providers and Finance.
• Demonstrable experience improving, transforming or consolidating payroll processes and operating models.
• Strong people leadership, stakeholder management and problem-solving skills.
• The ability to operate effectively in a high-volume, business-critical environment where accuracy and deadlines are essential.

Experience overseeing an outsourced payroll service, pensions administration including DB and DC arrangements, payroll transformation or shared services integration would be particularly advantageous. A CIPP qualification, or equivalent demonstrable senior payroll experience, would also be beneficial.