Avtar Raju

WORK HISTORY

SKILLS

ABOUT AVTAR RAJU

Commercial and operational director with over 12 years’ experience leading large-scale payroll and managed account services within regulated professional services environments.Former Managing Director of DD Payroll Services, where I was responsible for the commercial and operational delivery of a national service supporting over individuals and more than 26 local authority contracts, overseeing the accurate and timely processing of millions of pounds in weekly transactions.My role encompassed end-to-end responsibility for service delivery, operational governance, pricing oversight, contractual performance, and compliance. I established and maintained the structures required to deliver consistent, high-volume services while meeting HMRC, FCA, GDPR, and safeguarding obligations.I led and developed multi-disciplinary operational teams, including payroll managers and service delivery staff, and acted as the senior escalation point for complex operational, payroll, and account-related matters. I also worked closely with commissioners, NHS partners, banks, insurers, and technology providers to design, mobilise, and operate integrated service models.Alongside day-to-day delivery, I led operational improvement and digital change initiatives, introducing automation, system integration, and enhanced management reporting to support service quality, oversight, and scalability.My background combines hands-on operational leadership with strong commercial awareness, developed across payroll, managed accounts, and earlier roles in regulated financial services.