Payroll Lead in Bath

Permanent contract, 37 hours per week, 52 weeks per year. Interview date: 31 March, Bath City Centre Campus.

Application Deadline: 24 March 2026

Department: HRD – People & Culture Team

Location: Bath, England

Compensation: £36,807 – £41,224 / year

About the Role

We are seeking a skilled Payroll Lead to take ownership of our payroll operations within a values‑driven further education environment. You will play a pivotal role in ensuring our staff are paid accurately and on time, providing an exceptional service that supports colleagues across the organisation.

What You’ll Do

• Lead and deliver the payroll cycle, ensuring compliance with UK legislation and sector requirements
• Maintain high standards of data accuracy, safeguarding the integrity of our staff data
• Provide a professional, customer‑focused service to employees and managers
• Drive process improvements to enhance quality, streamline workflows and support organisational objectives
• Build strong relationships with managers, as well as our Finance and wider teams, contributing to a culture of collaboration and excellence

Why Join Us?

You’ll join a supportive team that values professionalism, integrity and continuous development, with opportunities to grow and shape how payroll supports our people and culture.

Bath College is an inclusive education and training community, providing learning for people with a wide range of abilities from a far-reaching area, from entry level to Level 5 programmes. We are committed to meeting the needs of all our students. This is a very exciting time to join the College.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll & staff processes support

• Prepare and process the monthly payroll and all payroll matters such as variable hours claims, advances, probation increments, deductions, pay point changes in a timely manner in conjunction with the payroll provider, in line with payroll cut off dates.
• Make appropriate arrangements for the operation of processes such as student loan payments, salary sacrifice schemes, deductions of earnings, jury service payments, union payments and pension scheme payments
• Process new starters, including bank details, ensuring uploading to the payroll bureau
• Process leavers, including calculating any holiday pay to be paid out, ensuring that the leaver is closed down on systems, personal file is updated, and information is uploaded to pay log and payroll bureau

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Level 2 (e.g. GCSE C or equivalent) English and Maths
• Level 3 CIPP qualified or equivalent experience
• Excellent working knowledge of payroll systems
• Up to date knowledge of UK payroll legislation, pension schemes and best practice
• High levels of IT competence to maximise effective use of systems

Staff Benefits

• Generous paid holiday entitlement of 30 days, exclusive of College closure days and public holidays. Pro rata for part time roles.
• One Selfie Day per year
• Contributory salary pension scheme (Local Government)
• Continuing Professional Development for all staff
• Laptop Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Private Healthcare Scheme
• £500 Refer a friend and earn a reward
• Subsidised cafes – at both campuses
• Employee Assistance Programme – Staff have access to this programme. It is a free and strictly confidential short-term counselling and support service (up to six meetings after an initial assessment session with a qualified counselor)
• The College offers an eye sight test for anyone who meets the criteria as described within the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations.
• Progressive family friendly policies (exceeding statutory requirements) that supports a health work/life balance, all staff are entitled to request flexible working.
• Discounted treatments at the Academy, Bath Campus
• Free parking at the Somer Valley Campus in Radstock

If you feel you can make a positive contribution, please complete the application form, making sure you detailing how your qualifications, skills and experience meet the requirements of the role.

Please email victoria.dix@bathcollege.ac.uk with any questions that you may have about the role.

The job posting can close as soon as sufficient applications have been received.