Payroll Bureau Manager

Summary

Join Sona, a rapidly growing AI-native frontline workforce management company, as an experienced Payroll Bureau Manager. In this player-coach role, you will manage a portfolio of enterprise clients, mentor a team, and refine daily operations. You will collaborate with various teams to deliver exceptional service, improve processes, and stay ahead of industry changes. This position offers a significant impact on company growth and a chance to shape the future of payroll for frontline industries. The role requires deep UK payroll experience, strong leadership skills, and a hands-on approach. Sona provides a competitive salary, remote work options, and excellent benefits.

Requirements

• Deep experience in UK payroll processing, including HMRC, PAYE, and pensions. Irish payroll experience is a huge plus
• Proven track record managing payrolls in a bureau or outsourced service setting. With high-volume or complex structures (e.g. shift-based, weekly/fortnightly pay cycles)
• Hands-on mindset, you're just as comfortable processing payrolls as you are leading a team
• Strong commercial and customer-facing instincts, you think like an operator, not just a processor
• Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills, with a keen eye for detail
• Confident navigating startup environments; fast-moving, collaborative, and ever-evolving
• Ownership mentality; proactive, accountable, and always looking for ways to improve

Responsibilities

• Deliver the end-to-end payroll service for a portfolio of enterprise clients, ensuring timely and accurate processing
• Act as a trusted advisor for your customers, owning the relationship and driving satisfaction
• Lead and mentor the payroll team, sharing knowledge and embedding best practices
• Partner with the sales team to support late-stage conversations with prospective clients
• Identify, suggest, and implement operational improvements that enhance scalability and efficiency
• Champion our evolving WFM and HR platform, ensuring smooth integration into payroll processes
• Set and track team KPIs and SLAs. Ensuring we meet and exceed service expectations
• Stay ahead of regulatory changes and industry innovations to keep our offering cutting-edge

Benefits

• Salary £45,000 - £50,000
• Remote-first, UK based role. Occasional travel to UK customers or the London office
• Share options
• 35 days annual leave (25 days standard plus 10 flexible public holiday days)
• Extra day of leave for every year of service
• Pension contributions matched up to 5%
• Comprehensive health insurance
• Enhanced parental leave & pay
• Co-working space stipend for those based outside London
• Bi-annual all expenses paid team retreats
• The latest Macbook and equipment budget for your home office
• Professional development budget
• Unlimited free books