We have a fantastic opportunity for a Head of Payroll and Benefits to join our people team, this will be a remote role with national travel including Surrey & Leeds.

The Head of Payroll and Benefits will be responsible for the delivery of the Pay and Benefits strategy for the Group. Providing leadership and support to the Payroll team to ensure all related processes are efficiently and effectively delivered.

Collaboration is essential in this role as you will work closely with various counter parts across the business to support business needs with a hands-on approach, and particularly as we implement a new time and attendance system (Timegate), which will require leading the payroll transition to enhance operational capabilities through effective payroll and reporting.

Benefits for the role include

• £65,000 per annum.
• Car Allowance.
• 33 days holiday.
• Pension Scheme.
• Income protection.
• Life Assurance.
• 24/7 online/telephone GP Consultation and access to prescriptions.
• 2nd opinion medical support following diagnosis or where a colleague is on a treatment pathway.
• Cash-plan benefits, providing colleagues the option of protecting themselves in case of illness and recuperation, including dental, optical, chiropody.
• Access to mental health consultations.
• Access to physiotherapy consultations.
• Access to legal advice on domestic issues e.g. motoring offences, wills and probate, and personal injury.
• Financial guidance re retirement planning, tax savings and state benefits.
• Long Service Recognition Scheme - recognising colleagues for their continued service after 5- and 20-years’ service.
• Values-based Internal Recognition Scheme with financial reward, which will lead to an annual recognition event.
• Refer a Friend recruitment incentive scheme with financial rewards.
• The EMED foundation, to provide support to colleagues and our local communities.
• Blue Light Card access
• EAP (Employee Assistance Programme) to support a range of health and wellbeing requirements.
• Flu vaccination (through an internal campaign in Autumn/Winter).

Role Responsibilities

• Payroll Management: a practical ‘hands on approach’ to managing end-to-end payroll operations to ensure accuracy, compliance and timely payments for circa 3500 with ambitious growth and expansion expected.
• Provide Strategic Direction: Lead the development of reward and benefit strategies to ensure best practices and alignment with the group strategic objectives.
• Improvement and Efficiencies: Identify opportunities to streamline existing payroll processes to improve efficiency and the management of day-to-day payroll operations.
• Payroll Processing: Ensure the timely and accurate processing of all employee payments/salaries, benefits, and deductions, maintaining rigorous confidentiality of financial information.
• Outsourced Payroll Partnership: work in collaboration with our partner provider to ensure detailed employee records, payroll preparation reports and updated data is provided timely.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure payroll practices are in full compliance with local laws and regulations, including those regarding working hours and minimum wages.
• Error Resolution: Identify and resolve any payroll discrepancies promptly.
• Pension Administration: in collaboration with HR and Finance, management of all pension related queries including NHS Pensions and TUPE transfer schemes.
• Benefits Administration: in collaboration with HR and Finance, be the first point of contact for all people related benefit providers.
• Manage all HMRC submissions and payroll reconciliations, ensuring strict adherence to legislative timelines.
• Lead and contribute to payroll-related projects, focusing on process improvements and operational efficiency.
• Collaborate closely with Finance, HR, and Operational Management teams to streamline procedures and enhance data integrity.
• To contribute and support the annual pay award and other benefit related processes i.e. bonuses.

Do you have what it takes?

• A leadership role model with proven experience in all areas of pay and benefits.
• High volume hourly payroll experience.
• Previous line management experience.
• Strong payroll systems experience.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and up-to-date technical payroll knowledge.
• Exceptional attention to detail, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills.
• Strong data analysis and presentation abilities, with a talent for translating findings into actionable insights for stakeholders.
• A natural flair for drawing out and communicating insights from data and analysis.
• Previous experience of implementing processes to maximise time and attendance efficiencies.
• Previous pensions experience desirable and particularly within an NHS environment.
• The ability to work at pace with strong attention to detail operating within a fast-moving environment.
• Proven experience with outsourced payroll processing and familiarity with in-house payroll management.
• Proficiency with payroll systems, numerical tasks, and time management skills to meet deadlines.

Knowledge and qualifications

• Degree in Payroll Management Preferable
• CIPP Membership advantageous
• IR35 familiarisation

Please note that this role will be subject to several regulatory pre-employment checks, and you will be asked to provide details of your full employment history should you be invited to an interview. Your HMRC record, available to download from the Government Gateway may help you in preparing this information when required.

Our Values

Collaborative - we work as one team with a shared purpose to meet the needs of our patients, passengers, colleagues, customers, communities, and the planet.

Agile - We listen, learn and adapt to improve the business, each other, and ourselves.

Reliable - We do what we say we will do, we take responsibility and we behave with integrity.

Empowered - We are confident and committed to taking responsibility to deliver the highest quality service.

About Us

The exciting merger of ERS Medical and E-Zec Medical has enabled us to rebrand, therefore as a combined business we are now known as EMED Group. We are the largest Patient Transport and Care Partner to the NHS with more than 3000 colleagues across 60 depots. Our ambition is to continue developing transport services that improve the health and wellbeing for people across our local communities by providing transport that supports patient care, community support, secure mental health and medical courier services.

EMED Group are committed to providing equal opportunities and we endeavour to provide an inclusive and safe working culture for all.