REWARD
Title
Stage
Description
Skills to develop
Most payroll careers begin here in the engine room, processing timesheets, calculating pay, managing deductions and ensuring compliance with tax and employment law. This role demands accuracy, attention to detail and a strong grasp of systems and processes. It’s a great place to build foundational knowledge, and to learn how payroll connects to HR, finance and the wider business.
1. Payroll software proficiency. 2. Understanding of pay as you earn, National Insurance, pensions and statutory payments. 3. Communication and customer service.
Payroll administrator
The starting point
Many administrators move into more senior roles. Here, your focus shifts from processing to problem-solving, handling complex queries, supporting audits and ownership of specific areas like benefits, pensions or international payroll.
1. Advanced Excel and reporting skills. 2. Legislative updates and compliance. 3. Stakeholder management.
Payroll officer or specialist
Deepening your expertise
Technical knowledge is critical. Stay current with legislation, understand the nuances of different pay structures and become the go-to person for any payroll queries.
If you enjoy coaching others, a team leader role could be your next step.
1. Leadership and delegation. 2. Process improvement. 3. Conflict resolution.
You’ll oversee a team of administrators or officers, managing their workloads and ensuring deadlines are met, while maintaining accuracy and compliance.
Payroll team leader
Leading the line
It’s a balancing act between people and process. You’ll need to motivate your team, resolve issues and act as the bridge between payroll and other departments.
Responsible for the end-to-end payroll process, overseeing systems, managing a team, ensuring compliance and reporting to senior stakeholders.
1. Strategic thinking. 2. Budgeting and forecasting. 3 . Cross-functional collaboration.
You’ll be involved in strategic decisions, from choosing payroll software to shaping reward strategies.
Payroll manager
Owning the function
This role demands technical expertise, leadership skills, commercial awareness and the ability to run a payroll team and shape how it supports your business.
Responsible for payroll strategy, governance, risk management and transformation projects.
1. Executive communication. 2. Change management. 3 . Data-driven decision-making.
Head of payroll or payroll director
Setting the vision
You’ll play a key role in shaping employee experience, because how people are paid and how they feel about it, matters. An opportunity to influence culture, drive change and make an impact.
Enjoy variety and problem-solving? Consultancy could be for you.
1. Project management. 2. Client relationship building. 3 . Specialist knowledge (e.g., global mobility or IR35).
Working with clients to improve processes, implement systems or ensure compliance. You might specialise in a particular sector, software or areas of legislation.
Payroll consultant
The external expert
The role demands confidence, adaptability and deep technical knowledge. But it also offers flexibility, autonomy and the opportunity to make an impact.
Roles like payroll systems analyst, implementation consultant or product owner are becoming more common, especially in ‘software as a service’ and HR tech companies. You’ll configure systems, support integrations and help clients get the most from their payroll platforms. If you’re tech-savvy and love solving problems, this could be a great fit.
1. System configuration and testing. 2. Data migration and validation. 3. Agile methodologies.
Systems and implementation roles
Where tech meets payroll
Global payroll offers a fascinating challenge. Managing payrolls across multiple countries means you’ll need to navigate different tax systems, employment laws and cultural expectations – often in multiple languages and time zones.
1. Global mobility and expatriate pay. 2. Vendor management. 3 . Multi-national compliance.
Global payroll
Going international
You might work in-house for a large multinational firm or for a global payroll provider.
The role requires precision, diplomacy and a strong understanding of international compliance and culture.
1. Data visualisation tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau). 2. Statistical analysis. 3. Business storytelling.
Payroll generates a wealth of data, and organisations are waking up to its potential.
Payroll and HR analytics
Turning data into insight
Using data to spot trends, forecast costs and support strategic decisions. An opportunity to move beyond processing and into business storytelling.
1. Regulatory frameworks (e.g., General Data Protection Regulation, IR35). 2. Internal controls and audit. 3. Policy development.
Payroll professionals are well-placed to move into risk and governance roles such as compliance officer, internal auditor or even legal / policy work.
Compliance and risk roles
Keeping payroll safe
These roles require a forensic eye for detail and a strong understanding of regulation. But they also offer the chance to shape policy and protect businesses from risk.
1. Familiarity with agile methodologies and software development cycles. 2. Ability to translate complex requirements into software features. 3. Market analysis, user testing and data-driven decision-making. 4. Management of product backlogs and priorities.
This role sits at the intersection of product strategy, compliance, customer experience and technology.
Strategic development and lifecycle management of payroll software
Payroll product manager
Driving the strategy, development and launch of payroll software products. You’ll collaborate with colleagues, conduct market and customer research and translate complex regulations into product requirements and roadmaps.
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| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward |
Issue 115 | November 2025
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