Application support lead

Application Support Lead – HR & UK Payroll - EBS

About Us

Balfour Beatty is a leading international infrastructure group delivering complex, high‐impact projects across the globe. Our Business Systems and IT teams enable reliable, compliant, and efficient operations by supporting critical enterprise applications. We provide a collaborative and structured environment with opportunities to lead, innovate, and support systems that underpin core business functions.

About the Role

The Application Support Lead – HR & Payroll is responsible for leading the support, stability, and continuous improvement of critical HR and Payroll applications across the organisation. The role provides technical leadership, subject‐matter expertise, and hands‐on support, while line‐managing and mentoring a team of application analysts. This position works closely with HR, Payroll, IT, and third‐party partners to ensure applications operate reliably, compliantly, and in line with service expectations.

Qualifications and Experience

Strong experience leading or acting as senior escalation point within an application support function Proven background supporting Oracle HR & Payroll systems (Oracle E‐Business Suite, ideally R12) Demonstrated line management experience, including coaching, workload management, and performance oversight Experience coordinating payroll cycles, statutory updates, patches, and time‐critical deliveries Ability to work closely with business stakeholders and translate operational needs into system solutions

Technical Knowledge and Expertise

Strong understanding of HR & Payroll business processes and system dependencies Hands‐on experience supporting Oracle HR, Payroll, OTL, SSHR, and related modules Proven experience with: Oracle Forms customisation Oracle Reports (debugging parameters, triggers, layouts) PL/SQL‐based logic, concurrent programs, fast formulas, flexfields, and workflows Ability to perform data investigation and troubleshooting using SQL Understanding of statutory, audit, data protection, and compliance requirements Knowledge of how patches, customisations, and CEMLIs impact HR/Payroll applications

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of HR/Payroll Application Analysts Manage workload allocation, prioritisation, and performance of the support team Provide technical direction and act as escalation point for complex or critical issues

Application Support & Service Delivery

Ensure effective second‐line application support in line with SLAs and operational priorities Oversee incident management, root‐cause analysis, and trend identification Maintain clear and proactive communication with HR and Payroll stakeholders

System Management & Compliance

Own the operational stability of HR/Payroll applications, ensuring compliance with legal and statutory obligations Coordinate patches, upgrades, and annual statutory updates Ensure documentation and operational processes remain accurate and up to date

Continuous Improvement & Enhancement Delivery

Identify opportunities to optimise system functionality and improve ways of working Support enhancement requests, change requests, and testing activities Act as subject‐matter expert for projects impacting HR and Payroll systems

Stakeholder & Vendor Engagement

Act as a trusted advisor to HR, Payroll, and wider business stakeholders Liaise with third‐party support providers and vendors on fixes, enhancements, and roadmaps Represent HR/Payroll applications in cross‐functional and operational governance forums

Behavioural and Interpersonal Skills

Strong leadership presence with ability to coach and influence Calm, structured, and methodical approach to problem solving Excellent written and verbal communication skills Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively under pressure Proactive, accountable, and service‐focused mindset Collaborative approach with strong stakeholder management skills

Opportunities & Career Impact

Lead and shape the support function for critical HR and Payroll systems Exposure to enterprise‐scale applications and complex stakeholder environments Opportunity to influence system improvements and operational excellence Supportive culture focused on ownership, stability, and continuous improvement

Location: Bengaluru / Hybrid (as applicable)