Payroll Controls and Compliance Associate Director

Job Title: Payroll Controls and Compliance Associate Director
Location: Manchester / Stockport (Hybrid Working)
Salary: -50,000 - -55,000 per annum
Job Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Client Details

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Payroll Controls and Compliance Associate Director to join a growing team. This is a fantastic opportunity for a payroll professional with a strong background in governance, risk and compliance to take ownership of payroll controls across a dynamic organisation.

Based in either Manchester or Stockport with flexible hybrid working, you will play a key role in ensuring payroll processes are accurate, compliant and aligned with internal policies and external regulations.

Description

The key responsibilities of a Payroll Controls and Compliance Associate Director will include:

• Support the Payroll National Service Line in establishing and maintaining robust payroll controls and compliance frameworks for effective client service delivery
• Play a key role in supporting payroll compliance and minimising risk exposure across the service line
• Continuously review and enhance ways of working by evaluating and analysing proposed process and system changes.
• Proactively identify, assess and mitigate risks to service delivery using risk registers and incident reporting frameworks.
• Oversee legislative updates and procedural changes, ensuring all payroll teams remain compliant with current regulations and internal policies.
• Monitor, review, and report on compliance and non-compliance across the Payroll National Service Line, identifying trends and areas for improvement.
• Identify, analyse, and document control weaknesses, providing clear, value-added recommendations to strengthen processes
• Recommend, implement, and support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, accuracy and compliance.
• Work collaboratively with payroll colleagues at all levels across the organisation to drive best practice.
• Liaise closely with the Director of Payroll Controls and Compliance, while providing line management and support to Payroll Controls & Compliance team members.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders across multiple locations.
• Contribute to the development and execution of strategies relating to risk management, controls, and governance.

Profile

The successful Payroll Controls and Compliance Associate Director will have:

• Experienced payroll professional ideally at manager level

• Proven practice in designing and implementing controls to mitigate risk

• Confident understanding key risks of non-compliance based on your experience and knowledge of best practice

• Experience of payroll incident investigation, providing recommendations and managing implementation of recommendations.

• Strong analytical skills with high attention to detail
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Ability to lead projects and influence process improvements
• Relevant payroll or finance qualifications (e.g., CIPP) are desirable

Job Offer

• Competitive salary of up to -55,000
• Hybrid working model offering flexibility between home and office
• Generous holiday allowance
• Pension scheme
• Professional development opportunities
• Supportive and collaborative working environment