Head of Payroll & Pensions - AR

Head of Payroll & Pensions
Lewisham Council Finance Directorate
Grade: SMG3
Salary offered: £79,629.00

About the Role

We are looking for an experienced and strategic Head of Payroll & Pensions to lead Lewisham Council's payroll and pension administration services. This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for delivering a modern, customer focused service for:

• 3,000 Council employees
• 3,000 School employees
• 28,000 pension members (active, deferred and pensioners)
• An annual payroll of £170m+
• An LGPS Pension Fund valued at £1.85bn

You will shape the long term direction of our payroll and pension services, ensuring excellent service delivery, compliance with all statutory requirements, continuous improvement, and the effective management of a high performing team. This is a fantastic opportunity for a senior leader who thrives in a complex, high profile environment and is passionate about service excellence, innovation and strong governance.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the Council's payroll and pension administration services, setting vision, standards and performance expectations.
• Contribute to the Finance Leadership Team and support organisation wide strategic objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement, innovation and best practice.

Operational Excellence

• Ensure accurate and timely payment of salaries, wages and pensions.
• Oversee payroll and pensions systems including Oracle Cloud and Altair, ensuring data integrity, system updates and effective controls.
• Manage legacy and archived data in line with LGPS regulations.

Compliance & Governance

• Act as the Council's subject matter expert on payroll and pension legislation, including LGPS Regulations, Pensions Acts, the Public Services Pensions Act and data protection.
• Ensure full compliance with statutory deadlines, HMRC requirements, audit standards and pension scheme regulations.
• Lead the Council's response to HMRC audits, investigations and pension disputes.

Stakeholder & Relationship Management

• Build strong working relationships with HR, Finance, IT, schools, external partners and suppliers.
• Lead the development and management of the schools payroll SLA and pensions administration for admitted/scheduled bodies.
• Represent Lewisham at Pension Board meetings, the Pension Investment Committee and regional forums.

Pension Fund & Actuarial Work

• Act as the strategic lead for the external actuary relationship, overseeing contract management and re procurement.
• Lead all administration aspects of the triennial valuation, ensuring high quality data and robust governance.
• Manage employer admissions, risk assessments and adherence to LGPS policies.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop a team of 26 through two direct reports (Payroll Manager and Pensions Manager).
• Promote a culture of accountability, professional growth, inclusion and high performance.
• Ensure ongoing training, technical development and succession planning.

Financial & Strategic Reporting

• Oversee payroll and pensions financial controls, ensuring value for money and strong stewardship.
• Provide accurate data for pension fund accounts, valuation exercises and statutory submissions.
• Advise on early retirements, compensation matters and pension discretions.

What We're Looking For

Experience

• Extensive senior level leadership experience in payroll and pensions.
• Strong background in managing services within a large, complex organisation (local government preferred).
• Experience with systems such as Oracle Payroll and Altair.
• Proven track record of delivering performance improvements and high quality operational service.

Knowledge & Technical Skills

• Deep understanding of LGPS regulations and the legislative framework for pensions.
• Strong financial and analytical skills with experience in complex payroll and pension calculations.
• Knowledge of local government policies, audit requirements and statutory reporting.
• Understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing public sector organisations.

Leadership & Personal Qualities

• Inspiring and resilient leader with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Highly organised, strategic and able to balance competing priorities.
• Committed to equality, diversity and excellent customer service.
• Strong integrity, professionalism and a collaborative mindset.

Additional Information

• Ability to attend occasional evening meetings or work flexibly when required.
• Commitment to Lewisham's values and behaviours, including equality, dignity at work and environmental responsibility.
• DBS check may be required depending on final duties.