University of Bristol - IT Director

Ballards was appointed by the University of Bristol to manage and transform the performance of the Payroll & Pensions team.

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Key challenge

The internal Payroll and Pensions team are responsible for the payroll and pensions execution and management for over 10K University of Bristol staff along with several affiliated 3rd party payrolls. The incumbent Head of Payroll & Pensions was leaving the University, and they were keen to secure interim leadership and consultancy to deliver:

• successful and compliant delivery of core operations across all payrolls and pensions;

• management of the teams delivering these functions;

• challenge to the existing Payroll & Pensions Operating Model and support in developing an improvement plan.

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Work completed

Ballards IT and Digital A CIPP (Chartered Institute of of Payroll Professionals) qualified Ballards Consultant, with over 15 years of payroll experience, was appointed as an interim Head of Payroll and Pensions to oversee the daily running of the team and to ensure payroll and pensions operations were delivered successfully in a compliant way.

Ballards Digital Transformation Team alongside the interim Head of Payroll and Pensions conducted an in-depth review of current operations, and produced a new target operating model alongside a detailed action plan.

The current state review and target model included:

• Team Structure

• Team Skillset

• Roles and Responsibilities

• Compliance and Control

• 3rd Party Payroll Support

• Payroll & Pensions Systems

• Best practice methods

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Results

Our current state findings and new target operating model were presented to the client in a comprehensive report, along with a detailed action plan. During the 12 month placement, The Ballards Consultant, in the role of interim Head of Payroll and Pensions provided leadership to the Payroll and pensions team ensuring payroll and pensions operations were delivered effectively in a complain way while driving forward and delivering the target model action plan.

• New team structure implemented

• Team skillset review completed with training plan implemented

• Review of payroll processes to improve efficiency and reduce waste

• Assistance was provided to the recruitment of a permanent Head of Payroll & Pensions and delivery of a full handover