UK Payroll Associate Director

Forvis Mazars is a leading global professional services network providing audit & assurance, tax, and advisory services. Forvis Mazars in the UK spans 14 offices across the nation and has over 3,400 professionals, with 190 partners. We have a clear purpose and a shared commitment to shape a better future.

You’ll join a collaborative and inclusive team where you’re supported to grow your skills, explore new opportunities, and contribute from day one. You’ll work with a diverse client base, develop meaningful connections, and gain experience that extends beyond your local team. Together, we grow, belong and impact.

About The Team

You will play a key leadership role within our UK Payroll Services team, supporting the delivery, growth, quality and strategic development of the payroll service.

About The Role

This role is responsible for managing a small portfolio of key payroll clients, leading and developing team members, ensuring high-quality and compliant payroll delivery, and contributing to the commercial success of the business. As part of the Payroll Services leadership team, the Associate Director will help shape operational processes, drive continuous improvement, develop and engage their team and maintain strong client relationships.

The role requires a technically strong payroll professional with excellent people leadership skills and the ability to operate confidently with clients, internal stakeholders and senior leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as client relationship leader on a small portfolio of key payroll clients, ensuring services are delivered accurately, on time and in line with agreed service levels, and actively maintaining a long‑term relationship with key client stakeholders.
• Act as a senior point of contact for key client relationships, providing proactive advice, issue resolution and high‑quality client service.
• Oversee complex payroll escalations and technical queries, ensuring appropriate advice is provided and escalations are quickly resolved.
• Build trusted relationships with clients by understanding their business, payroll requirements, risk areas and future needs.
• Identify opportunities to improve the client experience through stronger communication, improved processes and proactive insight.
• Ensure client onboarding, transitions and service changes are managed effectively and professionally.
• Identify opportunities to expand services with existing clients, including HR advisory, global payroll support, accounting, tax or wider firm services.

What we're looking for

• Significant experience managing UK payroll team/s, within an accountancy firm, bureau, or outsourced payroll provider.
• Strong technical knowledge of UK payroll legislation, HMRC requirements, pensions and statutory payments.
• Proven people management experience, including coaching, performance management and team development.
• Strong client relationship management skills, with the ability to communicate confidently and professionally with senior stakeholders.
• Experience improving payroll processes, controls and service delivery standards.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines and competing priorities.
• CIPP qualification or equivalent payroll qualification would be desirable.

Ready to grow, belong, and impact? Apply now and join us at Forvis Mazars!

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Forvis Mazars diversity, equity and inclusion are central to our values. We value our people’s unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experience, and know this diversity create better outcomes for our clients. We seek to attract, develop, and retain the best talent, inclusive of sex, ethnicity, disability, socio‑economic background, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, and faith. We select candidates based on skills, knowledge, qualifications, and experience and aim to support all our team members to reach their potential. At Forvis Mazars, we promote an environment in which you cangrowyour skills,belongto a team that values your ideas, and make animpactthat matters.