Payroll Trainee

**Opportunity**

School Leaver

**Location**

Peterborough

**Opportunity details**

**Your future starts here**

Are you looking to start your career in Payroll? We’re seeking ambitious individuals from all backgrounds to join our team as a trainee, studying towards the CIPP qualification.

**Who we welcome**

**About the programme**

Our training contract takes 18 months to complete with full support and access to first-class tuition centres.

**Key dates to apply**:
Window 1: 15 September 2025 - 3 October 2025

Window 2: 3 November 2025 - 21 November 2025

**Your role and development**

Your growth**doesn't just come from exams,**and**it comes from valuable work experience and real-world learning.
- Process all payrolls from start to finish
- Starters, Leavers and Permanent data changes
- Process variable data from clients
- Manage multiple deadlines for variable data and managing clients throughout their pay cycle
- Report processing and sending to clients
- Liaise with client and dealing with salary queries
- Completing monthly pension returns
- Dealing with queries from the client and HM Revenue & Customs
- Processing and calculating statutory payments such as SMP, SSP etc
- Manually calculating pro-rata payments such as holiday pay, hourly/daily rates of pay etc
- Keeping abreast of new legislation, supporting the team implement new procedures
- Ad hoc tasks as required

You will have the chance to grow, as well as receive managerial support, and you can expect your responsibilities to increase throughout your time with us. You will work in a friendly and progressive environment, building up your knowledge on all the intricacies of payroll including tax, national insurance, auto enrolment, holiday pay, maternity/paternity/adoption, sick pay and more.

You will also learn the different ways that someone can be paid through salary, hourly pay, overtime, commission, benefits, shares and salary sacrifice.

We’ll support you every step of the way through mentorship, structured training, and our off-site trainee programmes as well as regular social events to build friendships with colleagues.

**What you'll need**
- A minimum of 120 UCAS points from your top 3 A Levels (or equivalent), excluding General Studies and AS Levels.
- A minimum of 6 (or B) in GCSE Maths and English Language (or equivalent).

**Where potential meets personal meets you**

At Saffery, we look for people who share our values - those who are **collaborative, enthusiastic**, and act with **integrity** while always striving for **excellence**.

You’ll be approachable and committed, ready to take ownership and go the extra mile to deliver our signature service. You won’t hesitate to speak up when something could be better and you’ll help to make it happen. We value drive, focus, and a positive attitude.

Here, you’re never just a number. You’re valued for who you are. We want your personality and style to shine, because we believe in caring more and letting egos take a back seat. We work hard, we support each other, and we enjoy the journey together. You’ll thrive in a close-knit team that takes pride in delivering high quality work.

There’s real mutual respect here and a two-way relationship where we bring out the best in each other.

We’ll help you get to know our clients, but it’s even better if you’re already curious about the broader economic landscape they operate in. Do your research. Ask questions. Be inquisitive.

We know the CIPP exams are demanding, and we’ll be right there to support you every step of the way. Your commitment will play a big part in our continued success.

You’ll be surrounded by people who value you, your contributions, and your potential.

**What we’ll offer you**

We believe that**supporting our people leads to success, so we provide both core and flexible benefits tailored to your needs:
**Financial support & flexibility**
- Competitive salary & paid overtime or time off in lieu
- Profit-sharing scheme (approx. £1,000 per year)
- Generous annual leave & flexible work arrangements
- Contributory pension plan (5% salary match)

**Work life balance & wellbeing**
- Buddy scheme and/or line manager support
- Agile working policy (up to three days working from home, however in your first few months we do encourage up to 4 days in the office to reap the benefits of training around your managers and colleagues)
- Health assessments, GP access, & cancer screenings
- Access to mental health & wellbeing resources

**Personal development and belonging**
- Mentorship & career progression opportunities
- Participation in our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) programme
- Volunteer to join one of our People networks for example Accessibility, Cultural Heritage, Faith, LGBTQ+, Social Mobility and Women

**Who we are**

Saffery is a partner-led and people-focused firm of chartered accountants, tax and business advisers. Since 1855, we’ve built long-term relationships with our diverse, high-profile clients, across var