Payroll Implementation Manager (FTC)

Helping others improve and turn their lives around – there’s no better feeling. It’s what we do for thousands of people at more than 150 sites across the UK. Be a part of it.

Cygnet Health Care is one of the UK’s largest independent providers of mental health care. Cygnet is seeking and experienced Payroll Implementation Manager to join our Payroll Team at our Kings Hill Office in West Malling, Kent, ME19 4AE.

Please note this a FTC for up to 12 months.

Job Purpose

The Payroll Implementation Manager will lead the operational delivery of the organisation's payroll transformation programme, migrating payroll operations from IRIS Payrite to Workday Payroll.

The role is responsible for coordinating all payroll implementation activities, ensuring payroll processes, controls, integrations, reporting and statutory requirements are successfully transitioned to Workday Payroll. Working closely with Payroll, HR, Finance, IT, Workday consultants and implementation partners, the Payroll Implementation Manager will ensure the solution is delivered on time, within scope and ready for a successful go-live.

The role ensures payroll continuity, data integrity, testing governance, operational readiness and successful adoption of Workday Payroll across all payroll frequencies.

Key Responsibilities

Programme Delivery

• Lead day-to-day delivery of the Payroll workstream within the Workday implementation programme.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, milestone schedules and critical paths.
• Monitor progress against agreed timelines and escalate risks where necessary.
• Coordinate payroll workshops, design sessions and stakeholder meetings.
• Ensure all payroll deliverables are completed to agreed quality standards.
• Support governance forums and provide regular project status reporting.

Payroll Process Design

• Review existing IRIS Payrite payroll processes and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Translate business requirements into Workday Payroll configurations.
• Challenge existing processes and drive standardisation where appropriate.
• Ensure all payroll procedures are documented and approved.
• Support development of future-state payroll operating models.

Data Migration & Validation

• Lead payroll data cleansing activities.
• Ensure employee, payroll, statutory and historical data is accurate prior to migration.
• Coordinate extraction, transformation and loading activities.
• Oversee payroll reconciliation activities between source and target systems.
• Manage data validation exercises and issue resolution.

Testing Leadership

• Own the end-to-end payroll testing strategy.
• Develop and coordinate testing plans and scripts.
• Ensure defects are documented, prioritised and resolved.
• Provide payroll sign-off recommendations.
• Drive achievement of payroll accuracy targets prior to go-live.

Stakeholder Management

• Act as the key point of contact for payroll implementation activities.
• Build strong relationships with Payroll teams, HR teams, Finance, IT, Operational leaders, Workday consultants, Kainos implementation teams
• Manage expectations and communicate project updates effectively.
• Facilitate decision-making and issue resolution.

Readiness & Change Management

• Support development of payroll training materials.
• Coordinate payroll training and knowledge transfer activities.
• Ensure operational teams are prepared for new processes and technology.
• Support change impact assessments and communication plans.
• Drive user adoption and confidence.

Go-Live & Hypercare

• Lead payroll readiness assessments.
• Support Go/No-Go decision-making processes.
• Coordinate payroll activities during cutover.
• Manage issues during go-live and hypercare periods.
• Ensure successful transition into business-as-usual operations.
• Parallel payroll validation and go-live readiness are critical success measures of the role.

Key Accountabilities

• Successful migration from IRIS Payrite to Workday Payroll.
• Delivery of payroll milestones to agreed timelines.
• Payroll data accuracy.
• Completion of testing and parallel payroll activities.
• Stakeholder engagement and communication.
• Payroll operational readiness.
• Go-live success and payroll continuity.
• Regulatory and statutory compliance.

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Proven payroll implementation or payroll transformation experience.
• Experience delivering payroll system implementations.
• Strong end-to-end payroll knowledge.
• Knowledge of UK statutory payroll legislation.
• Experience of payroll testing, reconciliation and data migration.
• Experience managing complex projects and stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience producing project documentation, RAID logs and status reporting.
• Advanced Excel and data analysis skills.

Desirable

• Workday Payroll implementation experience.
• Experience migrating from IRIS Payrite or similar payroll systems.
• Prince2, Agile or project management qualification.
• Experience working with payroll integrations and third-party interfaces.
• Healthcare or multi-site organisation experience.

Key Skills & Competencies

Skilled in project delivery, payroll operations, stakeholder management, and continuous improvement. Proven ability to manage priorities, mitigate risks, ensure payroll compliance and accuracy, lead change initiatives, and drive process and service improvements through effective communication, problem-solving, and decision-making.

Why Cygnet? We’ll offer you…

• Salary up to £100,000 per year
• Hybrid working with 2 days in the office and 3 days WFH
• Strong career progression opportunities
• Expert supervision & support
• Contributory pension scheme
• “Cycle to work” scheme & employee discount savings
• Blue Light discount card
• 25 days annual leave plus an additional paid birthday & anniversary day leave.

Please note, successful candidates will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check.

What next?

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