Payroll and Pensions Specialist in Uxbridge

We have an exciting opportunity to work within our higher education client based in Uxbridge.

Pay rate: £24.73

Duration: 12 months

Location: Uxbridge

Hours / days: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. First few weeks training will be fully onsite and after this 2 days from home and 3 days in the office.

Main accountabilities:

As a member of HR's Employment Services Team, the Payroll and Pensions Specialist is responsible for supporting the full range of payroll and pension arrangements, activities and policies; ensuring that the University's financial regulations, payroll procedures and statutory regulations are adhered to. This includes:

• the reconciliation of payroll control accounts in relation to all payroll allowances, pension schemes and payroll deductions;
• assisting the Senior Payroll and Pensions Manager and the Payroll and Pensions manager in a range of payroll and pensions issues.

Key duties and responsibilities:

• Be the first point of contact for queries relating to complex Payroll and Pensions issues.
• Supporting the Payroll Team with standard queries.
• Ensure all University staff are paid in accordance with the terms and conditions of their employment, University Financial Regulations and relevant legislation and that payroll processing is accurate, timely, efficient and effectively controlled.
• Ensure all monthly payroll processes and reviews are completed in a timely fashion and an audit trail is established and recorded through to the monthly payroll sign off.
• Ensure monthly bac's files are created and submitted to the Finance Department in a timely fashion ensuring staff are paid in accordance with each month's scheduled pay date.
• Assist with the implementation of revised rates of pay, variable allowances, and any Payment & Deductions to staff in accordance with nationally negotiated and agreed rates.
• Assist with annual internal and external audits of Payroll processes and procedure and assist with statutory year end and monthly payroll activities, ensuring compliance with new tax year changes and updates.
• Be responsible for the recovery of salary overpayments, communications to employees and ongoing monthly monitoring; escalating any areas of concern to the Senior Payroll and Pensions Manager.
• Be responsible for the delivery of an effective and timely Pension's administration and activities for all pensions schemes offered by the University (USS, LGPS, TPS, Nest and PS).
• Provision of appropriate information and assistance to employees regarding their pension options across all pension schemes including ill health retirement, flexible retirement and additional pension contributions.
• Data collection and reconciliation of monthly (e.g., USS & Teachers Pensions) and Annual (e.g., LGPS and Teachers Pensions End of Year Certificate) returns and any audited requirements.
• Support the ERP system implementation and complete any project related tasks assigned by the Payroll Workstream lead.
• Act as a support and escalation point for the Payroll & Pensions Advisors when needed and in the absence of the Payroll & Pensions Manager.

Education, qualifications & training:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification/professional experience
• CIPP Payroll Management qualification or equivalent experience/professional qualification
• IPPM Qualification or working towards

Experience:

• Experience of leading, motivating and managing a payroll team.
• Experience of managing Payroll(s) with volume exceeding 2000 employees.
• Experience in managing pension schemes especially final salary pension schemes.
• Experience of working with and responding to internal and external auditors.
• Strong track record of providing professional advice and guidance to senior managers and other stakeholders on payroll and pension matters.
• Experience of managing payroll/pension related projects.
• Experience of working in the Higher Education sector or similar complex and regulated organisation.