Payroll Team Leader

Payroll Team Leader

Location: Uxbridge, UK (Hybrid working with a minimum of 3 days per week in the office)
Contract: 12-Month Fixed-Term Contract

Salary and Benefits: Up to £45,000 p.a, plus a competitive benefits package including a DC pension with up to 12% employer contributions, private medical cover through BUPA, a share match scheme, a subsidised restaurant and free parking.

We're looking for an experienced Payroll Team Leader to join our People Services team on a 12-month fixed-term contract. This is a great opportunity to bring your payroll expertise to a well-known global business, lead and support a small team, and help shape how we continue to deliver a reliable, high-quality payroll service.

This is a hands-on leadership role, ideal for an experienced payroll professional who enjoys staying close to the detail while creating a positive and supportive environment for their team. You'll take ownership of the end-to-end payroll process for approximately 4,000 UK employees, helping to ensure colleagues are paid accurately and on time while improving the way we work.

This 12-month contract offers the chance to build valuable experience in a large, fast-paced payroll environment, with real scope to influence service delivery, support a great employee experience and contribute to practical improvements.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the end-to-end processing of UK payrolls, ensuring activity is delivered accurately, in line with compliance requirements and to monthly deadlines.
• Manage, support and develop a small team of Payroll Administrators, providing coaching that supports performance, development and wellbeing.
• Act as an escalation point for complex payroll queries, providing clear and professional guidance to employees, managers and internal stakeholders.
• Complete payroll validation checks, reconciliations, audits and controls to support accurate and well-managed payroll delivery.
• Work closely with our payroll provider, ADP, and colleagues across People & Culture, Finance, Legal and Business Technology to deliver a seamless employee experience.
• Use payroll data, performance metrics and insight to identify issues, improve processes and support effective decision-making.
• Lead practical improvement initiatives, including the responsible and ethical use of automation to improve accuracy, efficiency and service delivery.
• Support payroll-related reward administration, fleet-related payroll activities and other payroll projects as required.
• Deputise for the Payroll Manager in their absence when needed.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who combines strong payroll expertise with a proactive, collaborative and customer-focused approach and a growth mindset.

Essential Experience

• Typically 3+ years' experience managing end-to-end UK payroll processes, with strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, statutory requirements and payroll compliance.
• Experience managing large and complex payrolls, ideally supporting payrolls of 1,200+ employees.
• Experience working with payrolls that support seasonal or fluctuating workforce populations.
• Strong working knowledge of payroll systems and external payroll providers.
• Confidence using payroll data to identify issues, improve processes and support informed decision-making.
• Proven track record of implementing continuous improvement initiatives and leveraging technology and automation safely and effectively.
• Strong understanding of payroll accounting principles, reconciliations and controls.
• Intermediate Excel skills, with confidence working with payroll data, reporting and analysis.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to build relationships across a variety of stakeholders and explain complex payroll matters clearly.

What Will Help You Succeed in This Role

You'll thrive in this role if you are:

• A hands-on payroll professional who enjoys being actively involved in payroll delivery.
• Naturally curious, with a mindset focused on continuous improvement.
• Able to spot potential issues before they become problems and take ownership of finding solutions.
• Comfortable balancing detailed payroll administration with leadership responsibilities.
• Flexible and adaptable, willing to support the wider team where needed.
• Confident working independently while collaborating effectively with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Committed to delivering an excellent employee experience and outstanding customer service.
• Confident completing payroll validation, reconciliations, exception handling and manual calculations as needed.
• Passionate about supporting and developing others while creating a positive, inclusive team environment.

Why Join Us?

At Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, you'll join a collaborative People Services team focused on delivering a reliable, high-quality service and a positive employee experience. This is an opportunity to take ownership, contribute to meaningful improvements and help support approximately 4,000 employees across the UK.