Overview of the Role
Role: Payroll Manager
Reporting to: Head of Accounting
Salary: £35,000 to £40,000
Location: Remote - Working from Home (UK)
Reporting to: Head of Accounting
Salary: £35,000 to £40,000
Location: Remote - Working from Home (UK)
The UK tech sector is growing rapidly and becoming an increasingly important part of the economy. At Onside, we’ve built a genuinely differentiated way to support tech-led businesses, combining premium client service with modern systems, automation and commercial thinking.
We believe the strongest professional services firms of the future will be technology-led by design, with automation and data removing low-value work so people can focus on judgement, relationships and impact. Onside is being built deliberately around that belief. We are not just users of technology; we are, in part, a technology company ourselves, backed by Multiplier, a San Francisco–based, AI-native professional services company designed to transform our industry.
As Payroll Manager, you will take full ownership of payroll delivery across a portfolio of high-growth, technology-led clients. Working alongside a Client Director and their team, you will manage monthly payroll end-to-end, ensuring accuracy, compliance and timeliness across salaries, statutory payments, pensions and associated filings. This is a role for someone who is comfortable handling complex payroll scenarios, liaising directly with HMRC where required and acting as a trusted point of contact for clients on all payroll and workplace pension matters.
Beyond processing, this role carries responsibility for oversight and improvement. You will ensure payroll data integrates accurately into wider finance systems, work closely with accounting teams to maintain reporting consistency, and monitor billing to ensure payroll services are commercially aligned with client growth. You will also champion system integration and continuous improvement, including optimising BrightPay Cloud and supporting the evolution of our payroll technology stack as we expand our UK and US capabilities. This role suits someone who combines technical depth with ownership, attention to detail and a proactive, problem-solving mindset.
You must be confident managing priorities, delivering work independently and collaborating effectively in a remote environment, including throughout the initial training and induction period.
This role requires substantial experience of long-term homeworking within a UK accounting practice. Remote working experience gained solely during Covid-19 restrictions will not be considered. Applicants from formal hybrid arrangements may be considered, provided homeworking was a long-term, contracted arrangement involving typically two to three days per week working from home.
We believe the strongest professional services firms of the future will be technology-led by design, with automation and data removing low-value work so people can focus on judgement, relationships and impact. Onside is being built deliberately around that belief. We are not just users of technology; we are, in part, a technology company ourselves, backed by Multiplier, a San Francisco–based, AI-native professional services company designed to transform our industry.
As Payroll Manager, you will take full ownership of payroll delivery across a portfolio of high-growth, technology-led clients. Working alongside a Client Director and their team, you will manage monthly payroll end-to-end, ensuring accuracy, compliance and timeliness across salaries, statutory payments, pensions and associated filings. This is a role for someone who is comfortable handling complex payroll scenarios, liaising directly with HMRC where required and acting as a trusted point of contact for clients on all payroll and workplace pension matters.
Beyond processing, this role carries responsibility for oversight and improvement. You will ensure payroll data integrates accurately into wider finance systems, work closely with accounting teams to maintain reporting consistency, and monitor billing to ensure payroll services are commercially aligned with client growth. You will also champion system integration and continuous improvement, including optimising BrightPay Cloud and supporting the evolution of our payroll technology stack as we expand our UK and US capabilities. This role suits someone who combines technical depth with ownership, attention to detail and a proactive, problem-solving mindset.
You must be confident managing priorities, delivering work independently and collaborating effectively in a remote environment, including throughout the initial training and induction period.
This role requires substantial experience of long-term homeworking within a UK accounting practice. Remote working experience gained solely during Covid-19 restrictions will not be considered. Applicants from formal hybrid arrangements may be considered, provided homeworking was a long-term, contracted arrangement involving typically two to three days per week working from home.
Key Responsibilities
Finance Managers are responsible for:
Working independently to own a defined payroll client portfolio, with full end-to-end responsibility for payroll delivery and all related client communication.
Acting as the primary point of contact for payroll, pensions and benefits queries across their portfolio.
Managing and preparing monthly payroll for clients, primarily using BrightPay Connect.
Owning payroll accuracy end-to-end, including complex manual calculations, statutory payments, cost forecasting, deductions, reconciliations and RTI submissions.
Taking full ownership of payroll payments, ensuring salaries, pensions and associated deductions are processed accurately and on time.
Managing workplace pensions, including auto-enrolment, re-enrolment and compliance with The Pensions Regulator.
Owning P11D compliance, including the preparation and payrolling of benefits and timely filing.
Liaising directly with HMRC to resolve payroll discrepancies and queries.
Working closely with Client Directors, Finance Managers and Finance Associates to ensure payroll data integrates accurately into Xero and aligns with financial reporting.
Monitoring payroll volumes and ensuring client fees reflect business growth.
Championing payroll system improvements and supporting transitions or implementation of new payroll technologies.
Collaborating with other Payroll Managers and accounting teams to develop, refine and implement consistent payroll processes, ways of working and service strategies as the function evolves within Onside.
Essential Criteria
The essential criteria are non-negotiable and reflect the level of autonomy, accountability and remote-working maturity required for this role. Applications that do not clearly demonstrate these will not be progressed.
5+ years’ hands-on, in-depth UK payroll experience, ideally within an accounting practice or payroll bureau environment.
Qualified by extensive experience or working towards / holding a recognised payroll or accounting qualification (e.g. CIPP Level 4+, Diploma or equivalent).
Strong technical knowledge of UK payroll legislation, pensions, P11Ds and general benefits compliance.
High proficiency in BrightPay Cloud and confidence working within a modern, paperless practice environment.
Experience managing payroll independently for multiple clients in a fast-paced setting.
Excellent attention to detail and proven ability to own compliance and data accuracy.
Residency and Visa Status
This is a home-working role with all staff at Onside working from home across in the UK, therefore at the time of application, you must be resident in and have a legal right to work in the UK.
You will be expected and required to undertake and complete any other duties as deemed relevant to position and the business needs of the company.
This job description will be subject to periodic review and amendment in consultation with the post-holder(s).
You will be expected and required to undertake and complete any other duties as deemed relevant to position and the business needs of the company.
This job description will be subject to periodic review and amendment in consultation with the post-holder(s).