---

Job description

To provide strategic and operational leadership for Inspires payroll service across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, ensuring accurate, timely and compliant weekly and monthly payrolls for a complex workforce. The post holder will also lead the payroll system transformation, including the implementation of a modern integrated HR and payroll platform, consolidation of legacy arrangements, improved integration between HR, payroll, finance, pensions, time and attendance and expenses, and the delivery of simpler, controlled and insight-led ways of working. The role combines hands-on payroll expertise, strong people leadership and end-to-end ownership of business change programmes.

Responsibilities

• Payroll leadership and service delivery: Take end-to-end accountability for accurate, timely and secure weekly and monthly payroll delivery for 850 colleagues across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, maintaining effective cover.
• Lead the payroll team, setting clear standards, developing capability, allocating work effectively and creating a resilient service with appropriate segregation of duties and succession cover.
• Own the payroll calendar, cut-off arrangements, checking and approval processes, reconciliations, exception management, payment files and period- and year-end activities.
• Compliance and technical expertise: Ensure compliance with HMRC and Irish Revenue requirements, including PAYE, National Insurance, PRSI, USC, RTI, payroll submissions, statutory payments, benefits reporting and relevant year-end obligations.
• Oversee the correct treatment of pensions and auto-enrolment obligations in both jurisdictions, including readiness for changes in ROI pension requirements, and maintain effective relationships with pension providers and advisers.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• To be flexible as the role may involve working at various locations.
• A recognised payroll qualification, such as CIPP or IPASS, or an equivalent relevant professional qualification.
• At least three years’ experience in a senior payroll or payroll management role, including responsibility for supervising or managing staff.
• Experience of managing complex, high-volume payroll operations involving multiple payrolls and weekly and monthly pay frequencies (for 500 plus employees).
• Experience of leading or playing a key role in a payroll system implementation, major upgrade or migration, including data cleansing, testing, parallel running and implementation support.
• Demonstrable experience of delivering accurate and compliant payroll services across both UK (HMRC) and Republic of Ireland (Revenue) jurisdictions, including PAYE, National Insurance, PRSI and relevant statutory obligations.
• Demonstrable experience of administering pension arrangements and automatic-enrolment requirements across the UK and Republic of Ireland, including the accurate processing of employee and employer contributions and liaison with pension providers.
• Leadership, stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to support and motivate a team through organisational and systems change.