Payroll Manager

Johnston of Carmichael LLP; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - GBP 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading accounting firm in Scotland is seeking a Payroll Manager to oversee payroll service delivery for a diverse client base. This role involves managing the payroll team, ensuring compliance with UK payroll legislation, and enhancing service quality. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in payroll management, excellent communication skills, and be adept at building client relationships. This position offers a hybrid working model and opportunities for professional growth and development.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

Professional development opportunities

Comprehensive benefits package

Qualifications

• Proven track record of managing and developing teams.
• Strong subject matter expertise in UK payroll legislation and compliance.
• Excellent communication skills with clients and stakeholders.
• Detail-oriented and highly organized.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the payroll team.
• Ensure compliance with payroll legislation.
• Build client relationships and provide insights.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement.

Skills

Team management

UK payroll legislation expertise

Excellent communication

Workflow oversight

Dispute resolution

Attention to detail

Education

CIPP qualification (preferred)

Relevant experience in payroll

Tools

IRIS Payroll Professional/Pay Circle

Job description

Overview

As a Payroll Manager, you will be a key member of our Management team, leading our payroll service delivery function to ensure accurate, timely and fully compliant payroll services for a broad and diverse client portfolio. You will play a central role in driving quality, enhancing efficiency, and shaping the future of our payroll offering.

Location: Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Elgin or Glasgow.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the payroll team, including performance management and mentoring to support continuous growth
• Build a high‑performance culture focused on quality, accountability, and professional excellence
• Stay up to date with payroll and taxation legislation and emerging industry trends to ensure best‑in‑class service delivery
• Contribute to strategic growth opportunities with both new and existing clients, helping shape the evolving direction of our payroll service
• Identify opportunities to improve accuracy, efficiency, and workflow within the payroll delivery process
• Conduct regular quality reviews to ensure governance standards are consistently met and exceeded
• Build and maintain strong client relationships, offering proactive insights and leading regular service meetings to collaborate, resolve issues, and celebrate success

Skills & Experience

• Proven track record of managing and developing teams
• Strong subject matter expertise in UK payroll legislation and compliance
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with clients and key stakeholders at all levels
• Confident in overseeing team workflow to ensure strict deadlines are met
• Skilled in supporting effective dispute resolution
• Highly organised, with excellent attention to detail
• CIPP qualification (or working towards) desirable but not essential
• A leader of your work and your professional learning
• Relevant experience in this or a similar role is preferred
• Previous experience of working with IRIS Payroll Professional/Pay Circle payroll software would be advantageous, although not essential

Why JC?

Johnston Carmichael helps to build success stories that change lives - whether it’s our clients, our communities, or most importantly, our people, who now number over 900 across the UK.

We work with individuals and businesses all over the country and our expertise covers almost every industry sector. We’re also an independent member firm of Moore Global Network Limited, a global accounting and advisory network of over 37,000 advisers across more than 114 countries.

Everything we do at Johnston Carmichael is underpinned by our four core values – Doing The Right Thing, Standing In Other People’s Shoes, Leading Our Future and Remaining Relevant. We’ve created a range of ways to support our people to make sure every voice is heard, including our People and Culture Forum, and we encourage each of our sharp minds to be leaders of their work and learning. You can read more about our culture and values here.

In the last 10 years we’ve raised more than £450,000 for charity and continuously evolved our commitment to sustainable business practices. We are Gold sponsors of the Kiltwalk and also partner with Netball Scotland and England Netball, creating an enduring impact on the ground in our communities.

Why Payroll?

Payroll is one of the quiet heroes of business functions – every month, employees trust their employers to pay them on time and accurately. That’s where we come in.

For organisations of all shapes and sizes across the UK, we provide peace of mind that employees will be paid so the leaders of the business can focus on other important work.

We work with employers to keep them abreast of the many changes in legislation across PAYE and other areas which could affect their business. As well as PAYE services, we also provide outsourced payroll, auto enrolment support, BACs payments, e-payslips and more.

Our comprehensive disaster recovery process also means our clients’ staff will always be paid, even in the face of unforeseen circumstances; and we can offer international employment tax advice through our Moore Global network for clients operating overseas.

Plus, with expertise across a range of industry sectors, there’s no shortage of variety when it comes to the work we do.

What you can expect

As well as working with a great team of colleagues and enjoying the balance of hybrid and flexible working, we offer a range of benefits to make your time at JC even more fulfilling. Click here to see what’s on offer.

Different backgrounds and different opinions make for more interesting work and better outcomes. We welcome people from all backgrounds, regardless of heritage, ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual identity or gender identity. We also actively encourage applications from anyone who’s had an extended time away from paid employment.

Our team is made up of people who’ve taken varied routes through their careers. We’re here to give you the tools, support, and materials to develop your expertise so you can pursue your ambitions. Our JC Aspire learning programme helps everyone reach their personal goals, and we’ve also created our own Leadership Development Programme, which is accredited by the University of Strathclyde Business School at Masters degree level.

We look forward to hearing from you

If you’re ready to write your success story with us, apply today.

Note: At Johnston Carmichael we are committed to diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace. A copy of this policy will be made available on request. We also welcome applications from individuals who have had time away from paid employment.