London · Positions we recruit
Payroll Manager in London
A business critical position within any organisation.
Day to day in London
What a payroll manager
does in London.
A business critical position within any organisation which requires a team of Payroll Clerks and/or a payroll process to be managed from start to finish. Here's what the role covers day to day for the London businesses we recruit for.
- Creating new payroll processes to maximise efficiency
- Strong leadership to drive productivity whilst maintaining good team morale
- Staying up to date with legislation
- Implementing new software packages
- Overseeing weekly & monthly payrolls
- Year end
- Adding starters & leavers
- Amendments to employee records including tax codes
- Calculating NI and holiday entitlement
- Calculating SSP, SMP & SPP
- Generating P45s & P60s
- Auditing payroll data
- Working to strict deadlines
- Query resolution
What it pays in London
Real London market rates, not a national average.
Medior Payroll Manager · London
£59,667 – £66,833
Typical: £63,500 per year
High confidence — direct city benchmark
Recruiting in London
Why London needs
a specialist.
A London business hiring for a payroll manager role — or a candidate looking for one — deserves more than a database match. Day to day, that often means generating p45s & p60s — one of several things a payroll manager in London is trusted to get right. Locally, that includes shared service centres running payroll and ledgers for multiple sites or brands. In a market like London, that focus is what actually gets the right person into the right role.
Hiring or looking?
Either way, we can help.
Hiring
Need a payroll manager in London?
Permanent or temporary, we'll shortlist from a network we actually know — with working interviews to de-risk the hire.
Submit a vacancyJob seeking
Ready to be one?
Send us your CV or browse live Payroll Manager roles in London and beyond.
Common questions
Payroll Manager in London FAQs.
Do you help with interview preparation and salary negotiation for Payroll Manager roles in London?+
Yes — briefing you properly on the role, the employer and realistic London salary expectations before an interview is a standard part of how we work with every candidate.
What happens if a Payroll Manager hire in London doesn't work out?+
Our rebate periods and money-back guarantees mean you're covered if a placement doesn't work out as expected — ask your Market Expert for the specifics for your vacancy.
What does a Payroll Manager do day to day in London?+
A business critical position within any organisation which requires a team of Payroll Clerks and/or a payroll process to be managed from start to finish.
What makes Transaction Recruitment different from a generalist agency for Payroll Manager roles in London?+
We recruit transactional finance and payroll specifically, not as one line among fifty sectors — that focus means genuinely knowing the London market for Payroll Manager roles, the going rate, and who's actually looking.
What does it cost an employer in London to recruit a Payroll Manager through you?+
There's no retainer and no ongoing contract — our fee is only payable on a successful placement, whether that's a one-off hire or an ongoing relationship.
Will I get a shortlist of CVs, or do you actually vet candidates for Payroll Manager roles in London?+
Every candidate we put forward has been spoken to and assessed against your specific requirement — not just keyword-matched from a database. That's the difference a Market Expert model makes.
Do you place Payroll Manager candidates in London?+
Yes — Payroll Manager is one of the positions we place in London, on both a permanent and temporary basis.
Do you charge candidates for Payroll Manager roles in London?+
No — there's never a cost to candidates. For employers, our fee is only payable on a successful placement.
Do you place candidates studying towards a qualification into Payroll Manager roles in London?+
Yes — part-qualified and studying candidates (AAT, ACCA or CIMA depending on the role) are a genuine part of the Payroll Manager talent pool in London, not just an afterthought.
How does the process work if I want to become a Payroll Manager in London?+
Submit your CV and a Market Expert will be in touch to talk through your experience, what you're looking for, and any live Payroll Manager opportunities in London that genuinely fit — free, confidential, and no obligation.
How much does a Payroll Manager earn in London?+
Payroll Manager salaries in London typically sit at £38.5k – £54.5k. £38.5k–£42k suits a standalone payroll role in an SME, running a smaller payroll end to end. £46k–£50k is average for an experienced manager with team support, rising to £54.5k in larger, more complex environments.
Do you offer working interviews for Payroll Manager vacancies in London?+
Yes — a working interview means the candidate spends a real day in the role, on your systems, with your actual workload, before either side commits. It's one of the ways we take the risk out of a new hire in London.
What areas around London do you cover for Payroll Manager roles?+
We recruit Payroll Manager positions across London itself and the surrounding commuter towns and business parks — if you're just outside the immediate area, get in touch and we'll be straight with you about whether it's somewhere we can genuinely help.
Do you recruit Payroll Manager roles for SMEs as well as large employers in London?+
Yes — we work with everyone from internationally recognised brands through to owner-managed SMEs in London needing a single, sole-charge Payroll Manager hire.
Other roles in London
Explore related roles.
- 01Purchase Ledger ManagerEnsuring the purchasing function runs efficiently.
- 02Credit Control ManagerA strong Credit Control Manager is invaluable.
- 03Sales Ledger ManagerOften responsible for managing millions of pounds.
- 04Credit ControllerTenacity personified.
- 05Sales Ledger ClerkEnsures every penny owed is accurately invoiced and allocated.
- 06Purchase Ledger ClerkHolds the purse strings and oversees the company purchases.
No waffle. Just the right person.