People Services & Payroll Operations Lead

Job overview

We are looking for an experienced and forward‑thinking People Services & Payroll Operations Lead to lead and modernise our people services and payroll function. This senior role provides strategic and operational leadership to our People Services team, ensuring the delivery of a high‑quality, compliant and efficient payroll service for all SCAS employees.

You will act as the Trust’s internal payroll expert, overseeing our outsourced payroll and pensions provider while strengthening internal processes, controls, customer service and data integrity. This is a key opportunity to rebuild capability, stabilise services, and drive improvement across the employee lifecycle.

Working closely with Finance, HR, Workforce Information and senior operational leaders, you will play a critical role in ensuring staff are paid correctly and on time, that statutory and NHS terms and conditions are applied accurately, and that our systems, reporting and governance are robust and future‑proof.

This is an excellent role for a motivated leader with deep payroll expertise, strong people management skills, and a passion for service excellence and continuous improvement.

Please note: If we receive high volumes of applications, we may close this advert earlier than the current closing date.

Main duties of the job

As the People Services & Payroll Operations Lead your focus points will be:

Operational Leadership Lead a timely, accurate and customer‑focused payroll & people services function. Manage the Trust’s outsourced payroll contract, monitoring KPIs, SLAs, service reviews and escalation, and ensure accurate monthly payment of salaries, expenses and pay elements.

People Services & Team Management Lead the People Service Partner in managing and developing the People Services team, ensuring high performance, resilience and service quality. Oversee team recruitment, performance management, resourcing and training, lead team meetings, support change initiatives and promote SCAS values.

Payroll, Pensions & Compliance Oversee payroll and pension activity including starters, leavers, contractual changes, absence and family leave. Approve salary corrections and advances and ensure compliance with statutory requirements, NHS terms and local agreements.

Systems, Data & Assurance Act as organisational owner for HR/People systems (e.g. ESR, e‑Expenses, e‑Payslips), ensuring data integrity through audits, reconciliations and exception management. Lead system improvements, training and releases. Produce payroll reporting, support audits, manage financial risk and work closely with Finance and counter‑fraud.

Advisory & Stakeholder Management Provide expert advice on pay, tax, NI, pensions and employment legislation. Support organisational change through accurate costings and maintain strong relationships with managers, unions, external providers and stakeholders.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification.