Senior Payroll Administrator

 £30,975 to £33,784 per annum DOE

ASAP

Role Summary:

Deliver payroll, pension, audit, and administrative support as part of the Human Resources Department, ensuring all services comply with Audit and Financial Regulations, Employment Law, Fire Service policies, and guidance from line management. Contribute to month-end payroll processes and generate payroll and statistical reports for both internal and external stakeholders. As a collaborative member of a close-knit team, carry out tasks aligned with departmental priorities and objectives.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Manage a designated portfolio of staff records, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing in line with organisational policy and employment terms.
• Input and update payroll data on internal HR and payroll systems, adhering to strict deadlines and confidentiality standards.
• Investigate payroll and pension queries received via post, phone, or email; resolve routine issues and escalate complex cases to the Payroll Manager when necessary.
• Liaise with external agencies (e.g. HMRC, DWP, local authorities, pension providers) to supply salary information and coordinate pension contribution estimates and reconciliations.
• Support monthly payroll audits, reconciliation, and reporting processes, including statutory outputs and National Statistics returns.
• Generate payroll-related reports, maintain accurate records, and ensure secure document handling and archiving.
• Provide guidance on payroll, pension, and system-related matters to employees and managers within scope of role.
• Supervise and support the Payroll Assistant in training and processing duties; step in to run payroll in the Payroll Manager’s absence when needed.
• Draft correspondence, process employment references, respond to Freedom of Information requests, and contribute to maintaining department documentation.
• Collaborate with HR colleagues to ensure smooth operations, assist during team absences, and participate actively in departmental briefings

Experience:

• Understanding of UK payroll legislation and statutory obligations
• Proficient Microsoft Excel skills with the ability to work confidently with formulas, nested logic, data matching and large spreadsheets.
• Experience using SAP payroll systems or similar ERP platforms
• Proven experience working in payroll, ideally within a large or complex organisation