Payroll Transformation Lead

Payroll Transformation Lead

Location: Home-based

The Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Oracle Payroll Parallel Run & Transition Lead to support a large-scale payroll transformation programme for a key strategic client.

This is a critical leadership position, responsible for planning, governing and delivering Payroll Parallel Run (PPR) activities to ensure a safe and successful transition to Oracle Fusion Payroll. You will play a key role in assessing payroll accuracy, operational readiness and service acceptance ahead of the transfer into live operations.

Working closely with technology delivery partners, client stakeholders, incumbent providers and operational teams, you will act as the senior payroll subject matter expert, providing assurance, challenging testing outcomes and ensuring potential risks are identified and resolved before service commencement.

You will also oversee the work of Parallel Run Analysts and supporting resources, ensuring robust reconciliation processes, clear governance and evidence-based decisions throughout the transition.

Please note: The successful candidate will be required to obtain and maintain Level 2 Security Clearance for the duration of the role.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, governance, execution and delivery of Payroll Parallel Run activities, including strategies, delivery plans, milestones and reconciliation frameworks.
• Own parallel run readiness measures, entry and exit criteria, and ensure activities align with payroll calendars and programme milestones.
• Identify, investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies, variances, defects and operational risks.
• Act as the senior stakeholder and assurance lead for Payroll Comparison Testing, reviewing and constructively challenging outcomes delivered by the System Integrator.
• Translate testing findings into actionable plans to support successful parallel running and operational readiness.
• Assess readiness for Day One service delivery, ensuring payroll processes, controls, procedures and working practices are fit for purpose.
• Validate Oracle Fusion Payroll outputs against operational, legislative and contractual requirements.
• Provide evidence-based recommendations to senior leadership to support service acceptance and go/no-go decisions.
• Maintain robust governance, including RAID management, risk mitigation, quality gates, reporting and audit-ready documentation.
• Build effective relationships with senior stakeholders, technology partners, incumbent providers and operational teams.
• Lead and coordinate Parallel Run Analysts, setting clear priorities and maintaining high standards of delivery and assurance.

Essential Skills & Experience

• Significant experience leading Payroll Parallel Run activities within large-scale HR and payroll transformation programmes.
• Proven experience supporting Oracle Fusion Payroll implementations, migrations or payroll service transitions.
• Strong technical understanding of payroll operations, processing cycles, controls and statutory requirements.
• Experience working with System Integrators and technology delivery partners in complex programme environments.
• A track record of reviewing, interpreting and constructively challenging payroll testing results and readiness assessments.
• Strong experience managing payroll reconciliation, discrepancy investigation and defect resolution.
• Experience operating within multi-supplier delivery environments.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills, including engagement with senior leadership.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret payroll data, identify risks and make evidence-based recommendations.
• Experience contributing to programme governance, operational acceptance and go/no-go decisions.

Desirable Experience

• Experience within the public sector or other highly regulated environments.
• Previous involvement in payroll insourcing, outsourcing or managed service transitions.
• Oracle Fusion Payroll certification or equivalent implementation experience.
• Programme or project management qualifications such as PRINCE2, MSP or AgilePM.
• Experience working on government programmes or within security-cleared environments.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to take a senior leadership role in a major payroll transformation, helping ensure a complex Oracle Fusion Payroll implementation is thoroughly tested, operationally ready and successfully transitioned into live service.

We are looking for someone with the technical payroll expertise, programme delivery experience and confidence to challenge delivery partners, influence senior stakeholders and drive a controlled, evidence-led transition.