Senior Operations Manager – Payroll & Pensions

Overview

As Senior Operations Manager for Payroll & Pensions, you will oversee the day-to-day payroll and pensions delivery for a central government client base and over 40,000 users. You will build a high-performing team, optimise end-to-end payroll workflows, and ensure compliant, timely processing. You will work with cross-functional and external partners to drive service improvements, manage risks, and align operations with UKSBS objectives. This is a chance to shape payroll maturity and leverage technology at scale within the public sector.

Pay / Benefits

• flexible and hybrid working options
• salary band F (£53,151 – £57,000)
• inclusive and Disability Confident employer
• opportunities to impact public sector payroll transformation

Responsibilities

• Build and align payroll and pensions operations with UKSBS objectives
• Lead and develop a high-performing team of payroll and pensions administrators and coordinators
• Identify inefficiencies and implement controls, automation, and best practices to streamline workflows
• Ensure compliance with statutory requirements, HMRC regulations, and internal policies; oversee audits
• Analyse complex queries and resolve issues promptly
• Partner with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders to resolve escalations and drive service enhancements
• Monitor KPIs and SLAs; generate management reports for senior leadership
• Lead payroll/pensions input into system changes, legislative updates, efficiency drives, and client-requested changes
• Identify operational risks and establish escalation protocols with mitigation plans
• Oversee third-party providers, manage contracts, and monitor performance for service alignment

Key requirements

• Exceptional leadership in payroll management across the public sector
• Strategic decision-making in payroll or pensions operations, implementation, and compliance
• Extensive experience with SaaS solutions and regulatory compliance
• Ability to analyse operational data to drive improvements and monitor trends
• Senior stakeholder engagement, influencing and leading multi-functional teams
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced shared services environment
• Confidence to challenge assumptions and proactively flag risks with practical solutions
• Strong commercial awareness and budget management experience

• leadership
• stakeholder engagement
• influence and negotiation
• payroll management
• pensions operations
• SaaS solutions

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