Practice - Head Of Payroll

Location Farnham
Discipline: Accounting
Contact name: Carly Dunn

Contact email: carly@supreme-ss.com
Job ref: 4166

Head of Payroll – Farnham | £42,000 - £50,000 | Full-Time

Lead and develop a high-performing payroll team within a top 50 growing accountancy practice, delivering expert payroll solutions for entrepreneurial businesses and private clients across Central and Southern England.

Salary: £42,000 - £50,000
Location: Farnham, Surrey
Hours: Full-Time

Why Join This Firm?

  • Competitive salary with leadership and development opportunities

  • Lead a team of 20+ payroll specialists and manage full operational ownership of the payroll function

  • Work with best-in-class technology to deliver high-quality client services

  • Influence strategy and process improvement across multi-cycle payrolls

  • Opportunity to develop and mentor a high-performing team while shaping the payroll service offering

  • Be part of a dynamic, growing top 50 accountancy practice

Key Responsibilities

As Head of Payroll, you will:

  • Take full operational ownership of the payroll function across the Group

  • Set strategy and manage multi-cycle payrolls, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timeliness

  • Manage a separate Profit & Loss account, driving incremental margin improvement year-on-year

  • Recommend and implement improvements to workflow, scheduling, and process automation

  • Ensure confidential payroll information is safeguarded and well-controlled

  • Build and maintain effective working relationships across departments and management levels

  • Coach, mentor, and develop the payroll team for professional growth

  • Stay up-to-date with legislation and industry best practices, shaping future payroll services

  • Work closely with Compliance and Operations to ensure adherence to legal, regulatory, and ethical standards

Requirements

  • CIPP Qualified with 5+ years of leadership or senior management experience in a large payroll bureau environment

  • Strong attention to detail, analytical skills, and judgment

  • Well-organized with a proven track record of managing and motivating teams

  • Advanced proficiency in Excel and data analysis tools (e.g., VLOOKUPs)

  • Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills, able to work at all organizational levels

  • Willingness to travel regularly between sites as required

  • Desirable: prior experience in developing a global payroll proposition or HR services

About the Firm

A top 50 growing accountancy practice serving entrepreneurial businesses and private clients in Central and Southern England. The firm invests in high-quality specialists, innovative technology, and continuous professional development, providing a collaborative and dynamic working environment.

How to Apply

For more information or to submit your application, please contact:

Carly Dunn – Divisional Talent Manager
T: 07706 309 606
E: carly@supreme-ss.com