Payroll Business Partner

Join a payroll team that makes a real difference! At Cornerstone, we're committed to ensuring the people we support can live the life they choose. Behind every great support service is a dedicated team of professionals who help our organisation to operate effectively and efficiently. We're looking for two new Payroll Business Partners to join our finance team. This is an opportunity for a senior payroll professional who enjoys solving complex challenges, using data to drive improvement and helping others build their knowledge and capability.

Working with our Payroll Lead, you'll play a key role in delivering an accurate, compliant and person-centred payroll service for approximately 1,800 colleagues. These roles can be based in our Glasgow, Dundee or Aberdeen office, or part of our hybrid working model where a minimum of 2 days per week would be spent in one of these office locations.

About the role

As one of our Payroll Business Partners, you'll be a senior point of contact for payroll queries and escalations. You'll help ensure that colleagues are paid accurately and on time, while maintaining compliance with relevant legislation and internal deadlines. You’ll work across Finance, HR and Operations to improve payroll processes, strengthen controls and provide useful insight through payroll and workforce data analysis. You’ll have the opportunity to analyse data, spot trends and risks, improve processes, strengthen controls and share your knowledge with others. You’ll also play an important role in coaching and developing colleagues, helping to build confidence and payroll knowledge across the organisation.

What you'll do

• Support the end-to-end delivery of the monthly payroll cycle, including deductions, statutory obligations and submissions
• Review, validate and manipulate payroll data from multiple sources, ensuring information is complete, accurate and appropriately authorised
• Investigate and resolve complex payroll queries, applying technical knowledge and sound judgement
• Analyse payroll and workforce data to identify discrepancies, trends, risks and opportunities for improvement
• Coach and train payroll colleagues and operational stakeholders, building capacity and consistency
• Review and improve payroll procedures, controls and working practices to increase efficiency and reduce risk
• Support system testing, upgrades and change initiatives
• Complete payroll and pension reconciliations, period-end activities, month-end reporting and statutory submissions
• Work with HMRC, pension providers and other authorised bodies when required

What you'll bring

You'll be a highly skilled payroll professional who combines technical expertise with a practical, person-centred and continuous improvement mindset.

Essential skills and experience

• Extensive experience of delivering a comprehensive and compliant payroll and pension service in a large or complex organisation
• Detailed, up-to-date knowledge of UK payroll legislation, including PAYE, RTI, NIC, IR35, pensions and auto-enrolment
• Experience of complex payroll calculations, including retrospective adjustments
• Experience of payroll reconciliations, month-end reporting and payroll controls
• Advanced Excel skills and confidence manipulating, validating and interpreting payroll data
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with meticulous attention to detail and the ability to see the bigger picture
• Excellent organisation, communication and relationship-building skills
• Confidence delivering training to colleagues and stakeholders with different levels of payroll knowledge
• A degree, CIPP/IPPM equivalent qualification or extensive experience in a comparable role

It would be great if you also have

• Experience in social care, the charity sector or wider third sector
• Experience of integrated HR and payroll systems, including system implementation, upgrades or remediation
• Experience of ongoing professional development

Why Cornerstone

Cornerstone is one of Scotland's largest charities with over 45 years' experience providing great care and support for adults with various support needs across Scotland. You’ll join an organisation that values its people and is passionate about delivering high-quality support. Our values of being caring, person-centred, professional and pioneering guide how we work. This role offers the opportunity to shape and improve essential organisational service, share your expertise and contribute to a collaborative, solution focused culture.

What we offer

• A meaningful role with one of Scotland's leading charities
• Flexible working opportunities
• Ongoing professional development and training
• A supportive and collaborative working environment
• The opportunity to help shape and improve key organisational processes
• A comprehensive employee benefits package

Please note that we are looking to fill these positions as soon as possible and will be reviewing and shortlisting applications on an ongoing basis. We therefore encourage you to apply early to avoid disappointment.

Have any questions? Please contact Lynn Wallace, our Director of Finance at lynn.wallace@cornerstone.org.uk

The successful candidates will be subject to a Level 2 Disclosure check through Disclosure Scotland. There will be occasional travel across our branches (travel expenses would be reimbursed as set out in Cornerstone's expense policy with travel reimbursed by HMRC legislation).