Operations Manager (Education)

Company Overview:

IRIS is a leading outsourced payroll services provider specialising in delivering comprehensive best practice payroll solutions to educational institutions across the UK. We pride ourselves on our commitment to accuracy, compliance, timeliness and exceptional customer service. Our team is dedicated to supporting schools, colleges, MATS and universities in managing their payroll efficiently and effectively.

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Regional Operations Manager to manage and build out our payroll operations within the education sector. The ideal candidate will possess extensive knowledge of payroll and pension legislation management, education sector requirements, and team management and leadership. This role requires a creative thinker with strong operational and team management skills, a passion for customer service, and a commitment to excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Contribute towards and implement strategic plans for the education payroll division in alignment with company goals.
• Provide leadership and direction to the education payroll team, ensuring high performance and professional development.
• Stay informed about industry trends and regulatory changes to keep the company at the forefront of payroll services.

Operational Management:

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the education payroll service, ensuring timely, accurate and compliant payroll processing.
• Implement and maintain best practices for payroll processes, compliance, and reporting.
• Collaborate with other departments to streamline operations and enhance service delivery.
• Collaborate with the L&D department to ensure team colleagues have access to the tools and resources required to deliver a premium payroll service
• Identify innovative solutions that deliver process efficiencies and present quantitative/qualitative ROI justifications.
• Key stakeholder with the migration to new software solutions.

Client Relations:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with educational clients, understanding their unique needs and providing tailored solutions.
• Escalation points for unresolved payroll/pension-related issues to ensure that they are resolved promptly and effectively.
• Collaborative working with Customer Success team and account managers to report client KPI’s and identify route cause of any issues and resolution.

Compliance and Risk Management:

• Ensure compliance with all relevant financial and payroll regulations, HMRC guidelines, and education sector requirements.
• Develop and implement risk management strategies to mitigate potential payroll-related issues.
• Oversee internal audits and quality control processes to maintain high standards of accuracy and compliance.

Pensions Management:

• Collaborate with the Pensions Team to manage the administration of education pensions and local government pensions, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and guidelines.
• Stay updated on changes to pension schemes and advise clients accordingly.
• Ensure accurate and timely pension contributions, deductions, and reporting.

Business Development:

• Support commercial where applicable with the pursuit of new business opportunities within the education sector.
• Work closely with the sales and marketing teams to promote the company's services and expand the client base.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience in payroll management, preferably within the education sector.
• Strong understanding of UK payroll regulations and HMRC guidelines.
• Knowledge of education teachers and local government pensions.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills, including the ability to interact effectively with people with diverse styles; make informed decisions, find solutions, encourage and support change; and, to constructively deal with conflicts and leverage different perspectives.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to perform and delegate in fast-paced, high-pressure situations.
• Takes initiative and uses good judgment, excellent follow-up skills.
• A proven track record of driving significant process improvements and organisational redesign projects.
• Passionate about customer service.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Proficiency in payroll software and Microsoft Office Suite.

Education:

• Degree in Business Administration, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field.
• Professional payroll qualification (e.g., CIPP) is highly desirable.