Pensions / Payroll Officer

Pensions, Benefits and Payroll Officer (0.5 FTE / 18.7 hours per week)

Location: Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham or Coventry

Working pattern: Flexible / hybrid working

Salary: Band 4, £29,883 - £31,678 Pro-rata

Reports to: Payroll and Benefits Manager

Make a difference at Cafcass

At Cafcass, our work supports children and families at some of the most important and difficult moments in their lives, and the experience and support we provide for colleagues is central to how well we deliver that purpose.

This is an exciting time to join a HR department which is on a positive journey of change and development, with supporting children and families at the heart of everything it does.

We are looking for an organised and detail-focused Pensions, Benefits and Payroll Officer to join our Payroll and Benefits team. This role will support the smooth administration of employee pensions, benefits and payroll activity across Cafcass, helping colleagues receive accurate, timely and helpful support.

About The Role

As Pensions, Benefits and Payroll Officer, you will work closely with colleagues in Payroll and the wider HR team to support the efficient administration of Cafcass’ employee reward and benefits offer.

Reporting to the Payroll and Benefits Manager and working closely with the Senior Pensions and Benefits Officer, you will help ensure monthly pension, benefit and payroll processes are completed accurately and on time. You will also liaise with HR Transactions and Resourcing colleagues on new starters, leavers and contractual changes that affect colleagues’ total reward package.

Please note office locations - Applicants not within reasonable commuting distance of each stated location will not be shortlisted. Please make it clear in your application if you are relocating.

What You Will Be Doing

• Input routine pension changes and notifications to the West Yorkshire Pension Fund online portal, including accurate pay information, monthly membership data and ad hoc requests for pension benefit estimates.
• Support monthly pension processing, including auto-enrolment activity, and help resolve routine pension queries.
• Support the administration of employee benefits, including health cash plan arrangements, Additional Voluntary Contributions and other salary sacrificed or payrolled benefits.
• Respond to routine pensions, payroll and benefits queries from colleagues and HR teams, escalating more technical matters when required.
• Provide cover and assistance with routine payroll inputting where needed.
• Maintain accurate records, databases and electronic filing systems, streamlining processes where possible.
• Assist with reporting, year-end activity, statistical requirements, audit information and process reviews.
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with external providers, including the West Yorkshire Pension Fund.
• Handle sensitive employee, personal and financial information in line with data protection requirements and Cafcass information assurance policy.

About You

• You will be accurate, organised and confident working with sensitive information. You will enjoy being part of a team and will be motivated by providing a reliable, helpful and professional service to colleagues.
• Experience of staff benefits administration in a large organisation, including use of computerised HR or payroll systems.
• Experience of pensions administration, ideally involving Local Government Pension Schemes or similar public sector pension funds.
• Working knowledge of payroll and pensions processes and related legislation, with the ability to apply this appropriately to work tasks.
• High attention to detail and the ability to input information accurately into databases and systems.
• Good numerical ability, including the ability to complete manual payroll calculations if required.
• Good Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel and Outlook, and confidence working with IT systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to deal tactfully and sensitively with colleagues.
• The ability to prioritise conflicting tasks, plan work to agreed timescales and use your own initiative within agreed limits.
• A commitment to confidentiality, inclusion, personal development and high standards of professional service.

Why join Cafcass?

This is a great opportunity to develop your experience in pensions, benefits and payroll administration within an organisation with a clear and important purpose. You will be part of a team that helps colleagues feel supported, informed and confident in the employment benefits available to them.

• A purposeful role supporting colleagues who help deliver better experiences for children and families.
• Role location options in Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham or Coventry.
• Flexible / hybrid working.
• Access to the West Yorkshire Pension Fund, a Local Government Pension Scheme.
• 28 days’ annual leave, rising to 33 days after five years’ reckonable service, inclusive of three statutory / privilege days between Christmas and New Year.

The opportunity to build your payroll, pensions and employee benefits administration expertise in a supportive HR environment.

Safeguarding and inclusion

Cafcass is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment.

We are also committed to creating an inclusive and diverse working environment where colleagues feel valued, respected and able to do their best work. We welcome applications from people with a range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.