Payroll Officer

**Job Title**: Payroll Officer
**Employment Type**: Full-Time
**Hours Per Week**: 37.00
**Work Pattern**: Monday to Friday
**Location City**: Bowburn
- Durham

**The Role**

Are you an experienced payroll professional? Join our clients team at the Head Office in Bowburn as a Payroll Officer. Supported by the Payroll Manager and provided with relevant systems training, you will play a crucial role in delivering an efficient payroll administration service to over 1800 employees.

This dynamic position involves managing high volumes across 2 payrolls, demanding up-to-date knowledge of payroll and pension legislation. As the point of contact for all payroll queries, effective communication skills are essential, including dealing with external agencies such as HMRC.
The role requires a process-driven individual with meticulous attention to detail, capable of both autonomous work and collaborative support within the finance team.

**Key Accountabilities**:

- Ensure the accurate remuneration of all staff members in accordance with their work contracts.
- Process timely and accurate updates to payroll records received from HR source data.
- Ensure strict compliance with all statutory payments, deadlines, and administrative submissions.
- Maintain the payroll system with the latest legislative changes and software updates under the guidance of the line manager.
- Collaborate with the HR department to enhance processes and information flows continually.
- Evaluate existing payroll processes and propose improvements to management.
- Provide salary information to managers and employees upon request, fostering effective communication.
- Deliver an end-to-end payroll service, covering the employee lifecycle, including new employee creation/checking, contract variations, payments, deductions, and terminations.
- Process time sheets, P45s, Attachment of Earnings, and other financial amendments to payroll records.
- Handle changes related to sickness and parental leave.
- Reconcile and verify various reports before finalizing payroll to ensure accurate employee payments.
- Administer and submit contributions for multiple pension providers.
- Address payroll-related queries from staff and management through effective communication and resolution.
- Stay updated on payroll-related policies, procedures, and terms and conditions for the payroll staff.
- Ensure timely completion of year-end and pension year-end processes in line with relevant deadlines.
- Maintain expertise and knowledge in transactional services, including payroll, pensions, and HR processes, providing support and advice while ensuring compliance with statutory obligations and current business processes.
- Prepare and submit salary information to HMRC in the appropriate format.
- Ensure compliance with legislative guidelines from HMRC, Pension Regulators, DWP, etc.
- Populate and maintain pension scheme systems.
- Administer and support multiple staff Terms & Conditions.
- Produce monthly payrolls with different terms and conditions, assisting in obligations to outside agencies.
- Process salary data into the finance system accurately and promptly to meet company-set deadlines for management accounts.
- Review and reconcile payroll balance sheet accounts, resolving any variances.
- Support and assist in providing data for TUPE transfers.
- Participate in the review of the organization's Payroll Policies, Procedures, and Processes.
- Engage in arrangements for further training and professional development.
- Stay current with changes or developments within the payroll profession.

**Person Specifications**

**echnical/ Professional Qualifications**
- **Relevant Payroll qualification(s), or the ability to demonstrate appropriate skills and knowledge** (Essential)
- **Sound knowledge of payroll legislation relating to payroll services; including HMRC requirements with regards to tax, national insurance, apprenticeship levy, RTI, auto enrolment, PAYE, off-payroll working IR35** (Essential)
- **A working knowledge of the Local Government Pension Scheme, Teachers Pensions Scheme, NHS Pension Scheme** (Desirable)

**Experience / knowledge**
- **Sound knowledge of computerised payroll and accounting systems** (Essential)
- **Minimum of 3 years’ experience working in a similar busy payroll environment** (Essential)
- **Experience of payroll and pension year-end processes** (Essential)
- **Sound knowledge of payroll legislation** (Essential)
- **An inquiring and analytical mind with an ability to manage work logically, consistently & accurately** (Essential)

**Skills and abilities**
- **Ability to use CHRIS21 and SUN Accounts (full training will be provided)** (Desirable)
- **Good IT skills, including Microsoft packages (advanced Excel knowledge)** (Essential)
- **Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate payroll issues effectively with a wide range of people and develop effective working relationships at all levels** (Essential)
-