Job Description

Payroll Assistant Manager

Department: Outsourced Business Services

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Manchester Office

Description

Menzies is an equal opportunities employer which means that we recruit, employ, train, pay, and promote regardless of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We are building a first-class team and, to do so, we know that we need a diverse mix of talented people doing their best work.

If you’re ready to make an impact, lead with purpose, and work in a place where your voice truly matters, keep reading!

We have a great opportunity for a Payroll Assistant Manager to join our team in the Manchester office.

Take the lead in delivering a high-quality payroll service across a varied portfolio of clients, while supporting and guiding our Payroll Administrators and Payroll Seniors.

You’ll combine your technical payroll expertise with hands-on team leadership, ensuring payrolls are delivered accurately, securely and on time. You’ll also build strong client relationships, resolve queries and challenges, maintain high quality standards and identify opportunities to improve the way we work.

This is a great opportunity for an experienced payroll professional who enjoys developing others, taking ownership and delivering an excellent client experience.

Why Menzies?

At Menzies, our culture is our cornerstone. We blend technical excellence with genuine care for our people and clients. With over 1100 colleagues in the UK, we’ve built a culture based on shared values and mutual respect. Here’s why you’ll love working with us:

🌟 People First: Our work-life balance isn’t just talk. From agile working to generous leave, we create space for what matters to you and this is why we were recognised as one of the Best Places to Work 2024, 2025 and now also 2026

🌟 Work with Inspiring Clients: You’ll be working with a range of clients so no two days will be the same.

🌟 Collaborate Across The Firm: Working with various people across the firm to raise the profile of Menzies Academy

🌟 Innovate with Purpose: We’re always looking for better ways to work—leveraging tech, simplifying complexities, and delivering value.

🌟 Empathy at Our Core: We don’t just serve our clients; we build trusted relationships that stand the test of time.

🌟 Certified B Corp™: Part of a global community of over 10,000 businesses recognised for meeting high standards of social and environmental responsibility, accountability, and governance.

Key Responsibilities

Here’s what you’ll be doing:

As a Payroll Assistant Manager, you’ll take ownership of a varied client portfolio while playing a key role in supporting, developing and coordinating the wider payroll team.

Building strong client relationships

• Build trusted, professional relationships with clients and colleagues, acting as a key point of contact for payroll matters.
• Provide clear, timely advice and keep clients informed of progress, queries and resolutions.
• Deliver a consistently high level of service, understanding individual client needs and expectations.

Delivering accurate, high-quality payrolls

• Manage a portfolio of payroll clients, ensuring payrolls are delivered accurately, securely and on time.
• Review payrolls and oversee quality checks in line with Menzies procedures and standards.
• Keep on top of key deadlines, including BACS payments, pension schedules and risk assessments.

Taking ownership and solving problems

• Take the lead on more complex or escalated payroll queries, working with the team to reach timely and effective solutions.
• Ensure any errors are identified, recorded, resolved and communicated appropriately.
• Escalate significant issues when required and support contingency planning to minimise disruption to clients.

Leading and developing the team

• Provide day-to-day guidance, coaching and support to Payroll Seniors and Administrators.
• Allocate workloads effectively, balancing deadlines, team capacity and individual development.
• Support onboarding, training and knowledge sharing, helping colleagues build their confidence and technical expertise.

Managing capacity and maintaining excellent service

• Monitor workloads and team capacity, ensuring appropriate cover is in place during periods of absence or increased demand.
• Work collaboratively with other Assistant Managers to balance resources and maintain excellent client service.
• Help ensure shared inboxes, queries and priorities are managed effectively across the team.

Welcoming new clients

• Oversee new payroll set-ups, ensuring the right processes and controls are in place from the outset.
• Support PAYE scheme set-up, payroll data transfers and wider client onboarding.
• Help new clients transition smoothly into accurate, well-controlled payroll processes.

Bringing a commercial mindset

• Ensure payroll fees and additional work are billed accurately and promptly.
• Monitor recoveries and investigate any losses or billing issues.
• Balance client requirements with available resources to support an efficient and commercially focused service.

Making things better

• Look for opportunities to improve payroll processes, systems and ways of working.
• Share knowledge and encourage consistent, high-quality standards across the team.
• Champion the effective use of payroll systems, tools and controls to improve efficiency and the client experience.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

What We’re Looking For:

We’re looking for an experienced payroll professional who’s ready to take the next step in their career. You’ll bring strong technical knowledge alongside the confidence to manage client relationships, support others and take ownership in a busy payroll environment.

You’ll ideally have:

• Strong payroll experience, including at least 2 years within a payroll bureau environment, and a solid understanding of end-to-end payroll.
• Confidence managing your own portfolio of clients across different payroll frequencies, with a focus on accuracy, deadlines and excellent service.
• Good technical knowledge across areas such as auto-enrolment pensions, BACS, PAYE and HMRC requirements.
• Experience supporting, coaching or supervising others, with the ability to delegate effectively and help colleagues develop.
• A natural ability to build trusted relationships with clients and colleagues at all levels.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the confidence to take ownership of more complex payroll queries and find practical solutions.
• Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Confidence using payroll systems and supporting activities such as new client set-ups, onboarding and data transfers.
• A commercial mindset, with an understanding of how client requirements, fees, resources and recoveries contribute to a successful payroll service.
• A proactive and collaborative approach, always looking for opportunities to improve processes and ways of working.

A CIPP qualification would be advantageous but isn’t essential – we’re equally interested in the practical payroll experience and expertise you can bring.

Your experience

We’re ideally looking for someone with 4–5 years’ overall payroll experience, including a minimum of 2 years within a payroll bureau. If you’re already supporting others, managing client relationships and looking for an opportunity to step up and take on greater responsibility, we’d love to hear from you.

Agile working

We support agile working, with the opportunity to work from home 1–2 days per week. There may also be occasional travel to our other offices, primarily Woking.

Job Benefits

Why Join Us?

At Menzies, we know that success starts with our people. That’s why we offer:

🌍 Career Development: From learning opportunities to career coaching, we’ll help you achieve your goals.

🌍 Competitive Benefits: Private medical cover, pension matching, and enhanced parental leave, to name a few.

🌍 Flexibility That Works for You: Agile working is embedded in our culture.

🌍 Perks That Go Beyond: From volunteering days to wellbeing initiatives, we care about your whole self.

To find out more about our benefits please read here