Job Purpose

To lead and manage a customer-focused Payroll & Pensions service that ensures compliance with all legislative requirements and obligations to staff, pension schemes, and external agencies.

Provide strategic leadership, advice, and guidance on pay and pensions across the University, embedding continuous improvement and robust governance while developing team capability in line with university values.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. To ensure all payroll, pension and expense reimbursement payments are made accurately, on time and in accordance with the current legislative requirements and University procedures.

2. To ensure that proper procedures and controls are in place throughout the pay and pension processing cycle to ensure the integrity of the payroll data and production of accurate and error free payroll information.

3. To ensure that all periodic statutory and non-statutory returns are accurate and completed on time to meet monthly and annual obligations; specifically, payments to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) in respect of income tax and National Insurance deducted, and payments to other bodies such as pension agencies, courts and trade unions. To develop systems and procedures to enable identification, control, and the proper reporting of taxable benefits-in-kind.

4. To provide financial information to all levels of University Management for decision making and control purposes and promoting good payroll practices by regular and ongoing meetings with user departments to keep them appraised of current payroll legislation and procedures and maintaining elevated levels of customer care.

5. Responsibility to ensure that required developments are identified and implemented promptly and correctly, including development of a pay and pensions strategic plan, covering staff, systems, and process development to ensure continued service excellence.

6. To ensure that all expenditure generated out with the payroll run cycle is minimised but where necessary, is properly accounted for, reconciled and subsequently the financial ledger.

7. Recruit, coach, and develop team members to build capability, resilience, and a culture of continuous improvement.

8. Foster collaborative working relationships with People & OD colleagues and other stakeholders to ensure seamless integration of processes.

9. Manage University overseas payroll process ensuring all overseas staff are paid correctly, on time, that deductions and legislative return requirements are met and that the University has properly met all its pay and pension related obligations in respect of the overseas employments.

10. Manage year-end processes, including P11Ds, PAYE Settlement Agreements, and EP Appendix 5 submissions.

11. Monitor and report on KPIs and SLAs to ensure service delivery meets customer expectations.

12. Manage pay and pensions-related activities in respect of the University year-end process including audit requests and provision of information to internal stakeholders.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential:

A1 Educated to degree level.

A2 Relevant Professional qualification (CIPP or AAT, ACCA, CIMA).

A3 Up to date and comprehensive knowledge of employment law, where this relates to payroll, pensions, and benefits in kind activity.

A4 In-depth knowledge of pension schemes, including auto-enrolment, re-enrolment, and reporting to pension agencies.

Desirable:

B1 Working knowledge of Agresso / Core Payroll.

B2 Understanding of risk management frameworks and mitigation strategies.

Skills

Essential:

C1 Full understanding of the rules and regulations governing the operation of PAYE tax and National Insurance contributions as well as the consequences of noncompliance.

C2 Full understanding of the rules, regulations and legislation governing pension schemes.

C3 Solid understanding of accounting principles associated with pay and pension schemes.

C4 Solid understanding of the basis on which DB and DC pension schemes operate.

C5 Full windows suite expertise.

Desirable:

D1 Ability to influence and negotiate across departments and external bodies.

Experience

Essential:

E1 Significant payroll management experience at senior level gained within a medium to large organization circa 10,000 FTE payroll.

E2 Experience supporting year-end processes, including audit preparation and internal reporting.

E3 Experience in recruiting, training, and coaching staff in payroll and pensions functions.

E4 Strong understanding of HMRC requirements, including:

- P11D

- PAYE Settlement Agreement (PSA)

- Net of foreign tax credit (EP Appendix 5)

E5 Proven experience with expense reimbursement processes and financial ledger reconciliation.

Desirable:

F1 Experience leading or contributing to projects such as:

- Process automation

- Policy development

- Organisational change initiatives

F2 Experience managing international payrolls, including tax equalisation.

F3 Experience in system implementation or upgrades.

F4 Experience contributing to or leading strategic planning for payroll and pensions services.

F5 Experience presenting to senior leadership or governance boards.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 8, £50,253 - £58,225 per annum.

This post is full time (35 hours per week) and open ended (permanent).

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University  https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under-represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.

Closing Date:  4 January 2026 at 23:45