ID 3939
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The Welsh Government operates name-free recruitment. The recruiting panel will not see personal information such as a candidate’s name and address during the sifting process. This policy is in line with our commitment to end bias and promote equality and diversity.
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Vacancy details
Vacancy title
Senior Payroll and Pensions Manager
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Closing date
15/07/2026, 16:00
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Advertising basis
Permanent
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Actual starting salary
A starting salary between £47,675 and £56,445 will be offered to the successful candidate based on their skills, knowledge and experience and performance at interview. This range is not negotiable
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Salary range or pay band
SEO £47,675 to £56,445
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Allowances
No
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Work pattern
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
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Group
Operational Effectiveness Group
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Directorate
Planning and Delivery
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Branch
Payroll and Pensions
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Location (s)
Pan Wales
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‘Pan Wales’ means the post holder can be based in any Welsh Government office, subject to business needs. Roles based outside Wales, including London, are not available unless explicitly stated in the advert.
A list of the Welsh Government’s offices can be found on www.gov.wales/welsh-government-offices. Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location.
The post holder’s travel from their home to their assigned Welsh Government office is considered their ‘ordinary commute’ and must be done in their own time and at their own cost.
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Purpose of post
The Senior Payroll and Pensions Manager has day to day operational responsibility for the accurate and timely delivery of payroll services for 6,500 staff in the Welsh Government, the Welsh Revenue Authority and our arms’ length bodies Estyn and Qualifications Wales. They ensure compliance with UK legislation, HMRC requirements, pension regulations, and tax law while managing and mitigating risks and ensuring continuous improvements to our process and the service we deliver.
The role-holder will report to the Head of Payroll and Pensions and support and deputise for them as needed. As a qualified and experienced payroll specialist, they will line manage two HEO Payroll Managers and two HEO Payroll Data Analysts and quality assure the work of the teams managed by those four HEOs. They will also work closely with the SEO Payroll Contract Improvement Manager to ensure effective use of our existing systems and be a key part of work to transition to new payroll and HR information systems.
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Key tasks
Manage all payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely monthly payroll delivery for Welsh Government and the Welsh Revenue Authority and our arms’ length bodies Estyn and Qualifications Wales – 6,500 staff across four payrolls and two pension schemes.
Ensure compliance with UK legislation, HMRC rules, pension regulations, and internal HR policies.
Fully reconcile the four payrolls on a regular basis.
Quality assure the work of the team, e.g. checking calculations, providing training on new processes or legislation, being the escalation point and arbiter in discussions with customers.
Resolve or (where needed) escalate complex payroll incidents and casework, address legacy errors and work with partners e.g. other teams within WG, internal and external auditors, Cabinet Office, HMRC and our pension providers to ensure resolution for customers.
Maintain and manage the WG’s Operating Level Agreement with the organisations we provide a payroll and pensions service to – Estyn, Qualifications Wales and the Welsh Revenue Authority. Regularly review and amend the OLA with the organisations.
Develop and maintain payroll business continuity plans, working closely with colleagues across the organisation to identify anything e.g. changes to IT infrastructure, upgrades etc that could impact payroll delivery and work with them to ensure continuity of service.
Maintain robust compliance and control measures to manage payroll-related risks, including fraud prevention. Lead on compliance with data protection regulations and fraud prevention e.g. maintaining working knowledge of current legislation and best practice, completing regular corporate returns on data and fraud risks, escalating and mitigating risks as appropriate.
Provide payroll-related evidence to support annual financial accounts, including IR35 compliance and scrutiny of higher earners.
Work with the payroll data analysts and wider to team to identify and put in place process and service improvements and train the team as needed.
Work with the Payroll Contract Improvement Manager to identify any issues with systems or service delivery by our payroll provider and collaborate with them on resolving issues.
Support and develop a skilled payroll team, ensuring professional development, technical upskilling as well as ensuring the wellbeing of the team in a high-pressure environment.
Lead payroll information sessions, run payroll surgeries, contribute to staff induction as required with a view to increasing staff understanding and awareness of pay and contributing to wider objectives around improving the financial wellbeing of our workforce.
Support and (as needed) deputise for the Head of Payroll and Pensions.
Ad-hoc support to the Head of Payroll and Pensions on payroll elements of TUPE and COSOP transfer in / out of the organisation and other organisation-wide schemes e.g. VES as required.
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Development opportunities
The Senior Payroll and Pensions Manager is a new role for the organisation. It provides the opportunity to shape and develop our service to respond to customer needs and to work with a committed, experienced and enthusiastic team. There is an exciting period of change ahead as we consider our future system requirements and future service offering and the Senior Payroll and Pensions Manager will be an important part of this work.
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Other vacancy related information
The post holder must have a (or working towards) Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) qualification at degree level or above, complemented by active continuous professional development and ongoing professional accreditation. They should have substantial payroll expertise in managing large-scale and complex payroll services.
In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion: Experience 2: Experience of working in or supervising a large-scale and complex payroll service, ensuring adherence to legal, regulatory and security requirements. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift.
In the event of two or more candidates having the same total score at interview the panel will consider:
Experience 1 - Fully Qualified CIPP at degree level or above.
Experience 1 - Part qualified (working towards) CIPP at degree level or above.
Experience 2 - Assessment score
Experience 2 - Experience of working in or supervising a large-scale and complex payroll service, ensuring adherence to legal, regulatory and security requirements.
A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.
A 60-minute in person assessment on Experience 2: ‘Complex Payroll Scenarios’ will be required at ‘Stage 2 – 'pre-interview’ prior to interview. More information will be provided in the invitations to that stage.
Assessments and interviews will be undertaken in person at the Cardiff Office (Cathays Park 2). Further details will be provided to successful candidates.
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Vetting level
Basic
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Number of posts
1
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Contact point for further information regarding the post
[email protected]
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