The Role

Grade: Global Grade 7

Location:  Bristol / Hybrid

This role is offered as a 12 month secondment opportunity 

Are you ready to take the lead in a dynamic, global business? Imperial Brands, a truly inclusive and innovative FMCG company, is looking for a talented Payroll Manager to join our Bristol team. With over 25,000 colleagues worldwide, you’ll play a key role in ensuring our people are paid accurately and on time.

As our Payroll Manager, you’ll be at the heart of our operations- overseeing payroll for more than 1,000 employees across multiple payrolls, including international assignments. You’ll thrive in a fast-paced environment, managing complex payroll processes, reconciling data, and ensuring compliance with all statutory requirements. Your expertise will help us drive continuous improvement, and your customer-first approach will ensure every query is handled with professionalism and care.

If you’re passionate about delivering exceptional service, enjoy problem-solving, and want to make a real impact in a supportive, forward-thinking business, we’d love to hear from you.

Principle Accountabilities

• Lead end-to-end monthly payroll processing for over 1,000 employees, ensuring accuracy across multiple payrolls and timely submission of returns and payments.
• Manage payroll amendments and international assignments, including International Mobile Employees (IMEs), tax-equalised payments, and compliance with EMEA tax regulations.
• Reconcile payroll data and maintain robust controls, ensuring alignment with SAP, accurate cost allocation, and adherence to Group and internal policies.
• Deliver comprehensive payroll reporting, including forecasting, pension and gender pay gap analysis, HMRC submissions, and audit support.
• Act as the primary contact for payroll projects, supporting employees with complex queries, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of payroll legislation, and training payroll team members.
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders, collaborating with internal teams and external partners such as SD Worx, HMRC, KPMG, and auditors to drive continuous improvement and mitigate risks.

Skills and Experience Required

• Extensive experience managing large and complex payrolls, with strong leadership and team management skills.
• In-depth knowledge of UK and IME tax, National Insurance, and all relevant payroll legislation, including maternity and salary sacrifice.
• Advanced Excel and analytical abilities, with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Effective communicator at all levels, adaptable and collaborative within a team environment.
• Proven ability to work under pressure, meet tight deadlines, and drive continuous improvement.
• Formal payroll qualification (CIPP/CIPD) preferred, with a proactive and resilient approach to managing change.

Everyone Belongs

Everyone belongs in Imperial. We are proud of being a truly inclusive organisation. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, nationalities, disabilities, sexual orientation, religions or beliefs and of neuro divergence. We give fair and equal consideration to all our applicants. Please contact us at recruitment@impbrands.com to let us know if we can provide support in helping you complete an application and/or attend an interview.