Payroll Implementation Manager (FTC)
Cygnet Health Care
West Malling, ME19 4AEView on map(opens Google Maps in a new tab)
Salary
£100,000
Contract
Fixed-Term
Hours
Not specified
Closing date
7 November 2026
19 days leftJob description
Cygnet Health Care is one of the UKs largest independent providers of mental health care. Cygnet is seeking and experienced Payroll Implementation Man...
- Lead the payroll workstream for the IRIS Payrite to Workday
- Payroll implementation, ensuring delivery to scope, timeline and quality standards.
- Manage payroll process design, standardisation and documentation.
- Oversee payroll data migration, validation and reconciliations to ensure data accuracy.
- Lead payroll testing activities, defect resolution and go-live readiness.
- Act as the key contact for Payroll, HR, Finance, IT and implementation partners.
- Drive change management, user training and operational readiness.
- Support cutover, go-live and hypercare activities to ensure a smooth transition to business-as-usual.
- Successful migration from IRIS Payrite to Workday Payroll.
- Delivery of project milestones on time and within scope.
- Payroll data accuracy and compliance.
- Completion of testing and parallel payroll activities.
- Effective stakeholder engagement and communication.
- Payroll operational readiness and successful go-live.
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Helping others improve and turn their lives around theres no better feeling. Its 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 UKs 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.
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.
- Lead day-to-day delivery of the Payroll workstream within the Workday implementation programme.
- Develop and maintain detailed project plans, milestone sc hedules 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Workday Payroll implementation experience.
- E xperience 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.
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.
- 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?
If you care about making a difference we want to talk to you.
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Cygnet was established in 1988. Since then we have developed a wide range of services for individuals with mental health needs, autism and learning disabilities within the UK.
We have built a reputation for delivering pioneering services and outstanding outcomes for the people in our care.
Our expert and highly dedicated care team of 10 000 employees empower 2864 individuals across 160 services to consistently make a positive difference to their lives, through service-user focused care and rehabilitation.
General Requirements
Essential: - Please refer to job description above
Desirable: - Please refer to job description above
How to apply
Applications are handled entirely by the employer on the original advert. We do not collect CVs, supporting statements or application data.
Provenance
Source
NHS Jobs
First seen
9 October 2026
Last checked
9 October 2026
Salary, closing date and description are taken from the employer's advert. The original advert always takes precedence.
About the employer
NHS organisation
This listing was structured from NHS Jobs. Vacancy details and the application process remain the responsibility of the original source.
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