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- Tasks: Ensure accurate payroll and pensions administration while meeting strict deadlines.
- Company: Join Halton Borough Council, a supportive and dynamic workplace.
- Benefits: Part-time hours, competitive pay, and potential for contract extension.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives by ensuring timely payments.
- Qualifications: BTEC Level 3 in Payroll Techniques or equivalent experience required.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with opportunities for professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 29600 - 29600 £ per year.
Location: Hybrid working (Halton Borough Council)
Hours: 20 hours per week
Pay Rate: £14.82 per hour
Contract: Initial 3-month contract (with potential for extension)
About the Role
Halton Borough Council is seeking a knowledgeable and detail-oriented Pay and Pensions Officer to join our team on a part-time, hybrid basis. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with payroll and pensions experience to contribute to a busy and supportive environment, ensuring employees and external payees are paid accurately and on time.
You will play a key role in delivering payroll services within strict deadlines, maintaining compliance with statutory regulations, and supporting pension administration across multiple schemes.
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver accurate and timely payroll processes for internal and external payees, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, audit controls, and Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
- Assist in the reconciliation of gross to net payroll calculations, identifying and resolving discrepancies.
- Provide technical support across pension schemes including LGPS, TPS, and NHS.
Duties Include
- Offering expert advice and guidance to employees, managers, schools, and SLA clients on payroll policies, procedures, and pension schemes.
- Ensuring accurate calculation and payment of salaries, including handling pay variations, deductions, statutory payments (sick pay, maternity/paternity), overpayments, and recoveries.
- Processing contractual changes such as starters, leavers, and amendments in line with legislation, HMRC guidance, and Council policy.
- Advising on terms and conditions across various employment frameworks (e.g., NJC, JNC, NHS, School Teachers).
- Preparing and maintaining payroll records, including payslips, P45s, and payments to external payees.
- Analysing payroll reports and reconciling discrepancies prior to final processing.
- Supporting monthly payroll and pension reconciliations, ensuring accuracy for statutory and financial reporting.
- Assisting with statutory returns and pension reporting using relevant systems and tools.
- Supporting pension estimates and redundancy calculations to aid decision-making.
- Investigating and resolving pension data issues for schools using external providers.
- Contributing to projects such as TUPE transfers by providing payroll and pensions expertise.
- Supporting system testing and producing user guidance for HR/Payroll systems.
- Undertaking additional duties appropriate to the role as required.
About You
Essential:
- Recognised BTEC Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Payroll Techniques / Payroll Procedures qualification, or equivalent evidence of an appropriate level of skills, HR/payroll knowledge, and ability.
- Experience in payroll and/or pensions administration.
- Strong understanding of statutory payroll requirements and pension schemes.
- Excellent attention to detail and analytical skills.
- Ability to manage multiple deadlines and prioritise workload effectively.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to provide clear advice and guidance.
- Experience working with HR/Payroll systems and reporting tools is desirable.
Pay & Pensions Officer in Widnes employer: Connect2Halton
Contact Detail:
Connect2Halton Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Pay & Pensions Officer in Widnes
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the payroll and pensions field. Attend industry events or webinars, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Halton Borough Council and understand their values and mission. We want you to show how your skills align with their needs, especially in payroll accuracy and compliance. Practice common interview questions related to payroll and pensions to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after your interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds. We recommend mentioning something specific from your conversation to make it personal.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we’re always looking for passionate individuals like you to join our team. Let’s make it happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Pay & Pensions Officer in Widnes
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Pay and Pensions Officer role. Highlight your payroll and pensions experience, and don’t forget to mention any relevant qualifications like the BTEC Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Payroll Techniques.
Showcase Your Skills: In your application, emphasise your attention to detail and analytical skills. We want to see how you manage multiple deadlines and prioritise your workload effectively, so give us examples!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your cover letter, keep it clear and concise. Use straightforward language to explain why you’re a great fit for the role and how your experience aligns with our needs at Halton Borough Council.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Connect2Halton
✨Know Your Payroll Basics
Brush up on your payroll knowledge before the interview. Make sure you understand key concepts like gross to net calculations, statutory payments, and the different pension schemes mentioned in the job description. This will show that you're not just familiar with the role but also genuinely interested in it.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you would handle specific payroll or pensions scenarios. Think of examples from your past experience where you resolved discrepancies or provided guidance on payroll policies. Having these examples ready will help you demonstrate your problem-solving skills.
✨Showcase Your Attention to Detail
Since this role requires a keen eye for detail, be prepared to discuss how you ensure accuracy in your work. You might want to mention any tools or methods you use to double-check your calculations or maintain records. This will highlight your suitability for the position.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t forget to ask questions! Inquire about the team dynamics, the systems they use for payroll processing, or how they handle compliance with statutory regulations. This shows your enthusiasm for the role and helps you gauge if it's the right fit for you.