Head of Payroll | Corporate Finance | Preston

| £77,834 - £85,120 Per Annum | Permanent, Full Time - 37 Hours Per Week | Preston |

International Sponsorship – this role is not open to international sponsorship 

Are you ready to lead one of the largest and most complex payroll operations in local government?

Lancashire County Council is seeking an experienced and visionary Head of Service – Payroll to lead our payroll function, delivering high-quality services to the council, schools, and external clients. This is a strategic leadership role with responsibility for service transformation, compliance, and innovation across a diverse and dynamic organisation.

About the Role

As Head of Service, you will:

• Provide strategic direction and leadership to a high-performing payroll team.
• Oversee the delivery of accurate, timely, and compliant payroll services.
• Drive service improvement and transformation through system development and process re-engineering.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, promoting customer-focused service delivery.
• Represent the council in external forums and lead on benchmarking and innovation.
• Ensure robust governance, data integrity, and adherence to statutory requirements.

About You

We’re looking for someone with:

• Significant senior management experience in a large and complex payroll function. 
• Expert knowledge of payroll legislation and ideally public sector payroll regulations.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Haley Flowers (Haley.Flowers@lancashire.gov.uk) to arrange this. 

Interviews will take place w/c 6th October 2025

Why Join Us?

At Lancashire County Council, we are proud to support our communities and our workforce. We offer:

• A competitive salary and generous pension scheme.
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression.
• A supportive, collaborative, and values-driven working environment.

Apply now to make a lasting impact in a role that combines strategic leadership, operational excellence, and public service.

Please ensure you have uploaded and attached your supporting statement to evidence how you meet the criteria for the role. The panel may be unable to shortlist you for interview without this evidence.

We reserve the right to close down a vacancy early, before the closing date, if we receive sufficient applications.

Job Description & Person Specification