?WORKING WITH USThe founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.
We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.
As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.
Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.
To discover more about our culture, ethos and what it is like to work here, visit the page.
?ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITYWe're seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to lead the delivery and continuous improvement of payroll and pensions services for more than 5,000 employees across the Harris Federation. This pivotal role will ensure payroll is delivered accurately, compliantly and on time, while working closely with HR, Finance and our outsourced payroll provider to provide an exceptional service to colleagues across the organisation.
This is an exciting opportunity to join Harris at a time of significant organisational and systems transformation. We are looking for a proactive and adaptable payroll professional who is motivated by change and eager to play a key role in modernising and future-proofing our payroll and pensions operations. You will be confident in leveraging technology, driving process improvements and supporting stakeholders across a large and diverse organisation to deliver efficient, effective and customer-focused services.
While experience of Oracle Fusion would be beneficial, it is not essential. More important is your ability to combine strong technical payroll expertise with excellent stakeholder management skills, a customer-centric mindset and a commitment to continuous improvement. You will be equally comfortable contributing to strategic initiatives and taking a hands-on approach to ensuring high-quality operational delivery.
As part of a collaborative, supportive and highly committed team, you will have the opportunity to make a significant impact by enhancing payroll and pensions processes, improving service delivery and supporting colleagues across our academies and central services. This is an excellent opportunity to help shape the future of payroll and pensions services within one of the country's leading education trusts.
If you are an accomplished payroll professional who enjoys leading change, driving operational excellence and delivering meaningful improvements, we would be delighted to hear from you.
?MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITYYour responsbilities will include:
Payroll Delivery and Provider Management
- Manage the relationship with our outsourced payroll provider, ensuring an effective, accurate and timely payroll process month on month.
- Manage the interface between the payroll system and the main accounting system, ensuring financial integrity — including monitoring, reconciling and reporting information to relevant bodies.
Compliance and Statutory Reporting
- Ensure full compliance with statutory requirements for PAYE and pension schemes, including accurate and timely reporting via Real Time Information and pension scheme returns.
- Stay ahead of complex and changing regulations, anticipating the implications of new legislation and determining the best way to implement changes, so colleagues always receive correct, up-to-date advice.
Systems and Continuous Improvement
- Lead the development and enhancement of payroll and pensions system processes to drive an efficient, effective service.
- Manage projects and continuous improvement activity across the function, keeping stakeholders informed throughout.
Team Leadership
- Support and develop team members, building knowledge and skills across the team to continuously improve the service provided.
Communication and Stakeholder Management
- Proactively communicate payroll and pensions information across Harris, so colleagues are informed, up to date and empowered to make decisions about their pay and pensions.
For a full list of responsbilities, please download the Job Pack.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FORWe would like to hear from you if you have:
- A CIPP qualification and are a current active member of the CIPP
- Experience with Oracle Fusion payroll software
- A proven track record of managing a highly effective Payroll and/or Pension function to include a working knowledge of statutory requirements affecting PAYE, Defined Benefits Pension schemes and benefit structure
- TPS and/or LGPS pension scheme knowledge
- Sound knowledge of ERP system software
- A strong understanding of manual and computerised payroll systems and principles
- The ability to prioritise workloads effectively, balancing conflicting deadlines and achieving results and deliverables within fixed timescales
For a full job specification, please download the Job Pack.
?APPLYING FOR THIS POSITIONIf you w...
