Payroll team leader

Band 5 · Payroll officer · 376 job evaluation points

Payroll team leaders manage the payroll team day to day, run the full payroll cycle, and make sure statutory reporting and pension returns are accurate and on time.

Responsibilities

Plan and run the payroll cycle, making sure cut-offs, checks, and payment deadlines are met.
Sign off payroll checks and investigate significant variances.
Manage statutory payroll reporting and pension returns.
Manage the payroll team day to day, including workload, training, and quality checks.
Work with HR and rostering teams to improve the quality and timeliness of pay data.
Answer escalated pay queries and complaints.

Skills

Skill	Expected level	What this level means
PayrollThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: run the full payroll for a group of staff and sign off the payroll checks manage statutory payroll reporting and pension returns resolve complex cases, such as multiple contracts, back pay, or salary sacrifice test changes to the payroll system, such as annual pay awards and rule changes
Finance systemsThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: administer the finance or payroll system, including access, workflows, and reporting design reports and dashboards for budget holders test system changes and upgrades automate repetitive finance tasks
Financial controls and auditThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: test and improve the controls for a financial process manage audit requests for an area and agree actions on findings write and update financial procedures work with counter-fraud specialists to reduce fraud risk
TaxThis reference	Working (2)	You can: prepare tax returns and reconciliations under supervision apply the right tax treatment to common purchases and income check employment status for contractors under guidance
Stakeholder relationship managementUK GDaD PCF	Working (2)	You can: identify important stakeholders and communicate with them clearly and regularly tailor communication to stakeholders' needs and work with them to build relationships while meeting user needs build and reach consensus with stakeholders work to improve stakeholder relationships using evidence to explain decisions
People managementThis reference	Working (2)	You can: supervise day-to-day work and give feedback take part in recruitment and induction hold regular one-to-one conversations
Information governance and data protectionThis reference	Working (2)	You can: apply data protection principles to your work contribute to data protection impact assessments handle information requests and records correctly
Data quality managementThis reference	Working (2)	You can: run data quality checks and correct errors explain data quality reports to colleagues

Typical qualifications and experience

An advanced payroll qualification, or equivalent experience.
Experience of running a full payroll.

Band 5 outline

Knowledge: Professional or technical knowledge, typically from a degree or equivalent experience.
Autonomy: Works to broad objectives within professional standards; plans own work.
Scope: Own professional work within a team or product.
Leadership: May guide and check the work of support staff and apprentices.
Accountability: Quality of own professional work.

Job evaluation (illustrative)

Factor	Level	Level summary	Points
Communication and relationship skills	4	Gives complex, sensitive, or contentious information needing persuasion, negotiation, or training skills, or highly complex information.	32
Knowledge, training, and experience	5	Expertise in a specialism, underpinned by theory or practical experience (degree level or equivalent).	120
Analytical and judgemental skills	3	Judgements on a range of facts or situations needing analysis or comparison of options.	27
Planning and organisational skills	2	Plans straightforward tasks or activities, some ongoing.	15
Physical skills	3	Developed skills needing speed or accuracy, such as advanced keyboard use.	27
Responsibility for patient and client care	1	Helps patients, clients, or relatives during incidental contact.	4
Responsibility for policy and service development	3	Implements policies for own area and proposes changes that affect other areas.	21
Responsibility for financial and physical resources	3	Authorises payments, buys some assets or supplies, monitors or holds a delegated budget, or maintains assets.	21
Responsibility for people	3	Manages a group of staff day to day, teaches core or specialist training, or gives core HR advice.	21
Responsibility for information resources	4	Adapts or designs information systems to others' specifications, or runs information systems for a department as the main duty.	24
Responsibility for research and development	2	Regularly does research, development, trials, or equipment and system testing as part of the job.	12
Freedom to act	3	Follows defined policies and procedures; work is managed rather than supervised.	21
Physical effort	2	Frequent sitting or standing in a restricted position, or occasional light to moderate effort.	7
Mental effort	3	Frequent concentration on unpredictable work, or occasional prolonged concentration.	12
Emotional effort	1	Rare exposure, or occasional indirect exposure, to distressing circumstances.	5
Working conditions	2	Occasional unpleasant conditions, frequent travel or outdoor work, or near-continuous screen use on most days.	7
Total (Band 5: 326 to 395)			376