Payroll and People Services Manager

Job Description Summary

The People Services team delivers efficient, accurate, and compliant people operations across the full employee lifecycle. Acting as the first point of contact for HR, employees and managers, the role ensures consistent execution of core HR processes, high‑quality service delivery, and accurate people data, while supporting the wider HR function through strong process discipline, system ownership, and continuous improvement.

Job Description

Payroll and People Services Manager

Permanent

Location: Edinburgh (We believe in the power of in-person collaboration, and our hybrid model requires colleagues to be in the office a minimum of 3 days per week)

Closing date: 25th of May 2026

Aegon Asset Management is a leading global investor, our employees work from 13 locations across Europe, the Americas and Asia. We advise on assets for a global client base of pension plans, public funds, insurance companies, banks, wealth managers, family offices and foundations. We share a common belief in fundamental, research-driven active management, underpinned by effective risk management and a commitment to responsible investment.

Our people are our greatest asset, and we want Aegon Asset Management to be a place where they can bring their authentic self to work and do all they can to deliver on our strategic promises to our customers. 

We help people live their best lives. We help them with the big stuff, for the moments that matter. Alongside this, Enterprise Technology (ET) acts as Aegon’s global IT partner, delivering the technology, infrastructure and innovation that underpin the organisation’s operations worldwide.

The Payroll and People Services Manager role sits within the AAM HR team and supports a combined employee group across AAM and ET. It offers a unique opportunity to work across both the investment and technology areas of the business, delivering payroll and people services that enable the organisation to operate effectively and support its clients.

In this role, you will be responsible for the overall management of the Payroll and People Services function, initially leading a team of two, with planned growth to support the Netherlands business from Q3 2027. You will deliver a high level of customer service while providing expert advice and guidance on payroll processes, HMRC legislation, statutory compliance and company policy (and equivalent requirements for the Netherlands).

Key to your success, you will effectively allocate and deploy team resources to ensure the right expertise is applied where needed, while also supporting the ongoing development of your team’s knowledge and capabilities. You will also play a key role in implementing legislative, compliance and company policy changes.

Key Responsibilities for the role include:

• Leading the end-to-end delivery of payroll and benefits across AAM and ET, ensuring accuracy, compliance and timely processing (including reporting, SOX controls and BACS payments).

• The management of the interface with the business and the external payroll provider.

• Overseeing efficient, high-quality people operations across the employee lifecycle, ensuring strong service delivery, data integrity and SLA management.

• Managing and developing the Payroll and People Services team, building capability and ensuring resources are effectively deployed.

• Acting as a subject matter expert, providing technical payroll guidance and supporting key projects and business initiatives.

• Overseeing international payroll elements relating to UK employees, including tax implications and stakeholder coordination.

• Managing payroll systems and change processes, ensuring compliance with legislation and driving continuous improvement and automation.

• Embedding a culture of continuous improvement, reviewing and enhancing processes for efficiency and effectiveness.

• Leading audit, reporting and risk management activities, ensuring a robust control environment and compliance with internal and external requirements.

We’d love to hear from you if you have:

• Strong payroll expertise, with in-depth knowledge of UK legislation (PAYE, NI, pensions) and experience working across multiple jurisdictions (Netherlands experience would be beneficial).

• Experience managing payroll and people services within a high-volume, fast-paced environment, ideally with outsourced providers.

• Proven ability to lead teams and support delivery of projects and system or process improvements.

• A strong understanding of payroll related taxation (e.g. P11D, PSA) and HMRC reporting requirements (RTI, international mobility, short-term business visitors).

• Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and translate it into practical solutions.

• High attention to detail, with the ability to deliver accurate work to tight deadlines.

• Commercial awareness and a customer focused mindset.

• Experience working with HR systems (Workday, Oracle E-Business Suite) is advantageous.

• Confidence working across international mobility and payroll complexities.

What’s in it for you? 

• A competitive salary, depending on the experience you can bring

• A non-contributory pension between 9%-13%

• A discretionary bonus, depending on personal and company performance

• 27 days leave per year (plus bank holidays, pro-rated for part-time)

We also offer private medical cover, life assurance, critical illness cover, enhanced parental leave and a variety of lifestyle benefits to help our staff live their best lives, including retail discount vouchers, cycle2work scheme, subsidised restaurant and online GP appointments. 

At Aegon Asset Management, we are committed to fostering a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We are more than a global Asset Management firm – we are a people business, and we recognise that delivering excellent client outcomes, comes from embracing diverse perspectives. We value diversity in the full range of human uniqueness without limitation including race, gender, ability, language, culture, beliefs, age, origin, background, perspectives and experiences.

We are open to considering flexible working practices. Please talk to us about what this means for you.

  

We serve a diverse, ever-changing world. It's tough, but we work tirelessly to leave things better than we find them. If that sounds like the sort of place you'd like to work, hit the "Apply" button.

  

The legal bits 

We’ll need you to confirm you have the right to work in the UK. If we offer you a job and you accept, there are some checks we need to complete before you can start with us. This will include a credit and criminal record check, as well as providing satisfactory references. 

 

Additional Job Description

Equal Opportunity Employer:

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age