Payroll & HR Assistant (22 hours per week) in Brentwood

We are excited to be growing our central HR team and we are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Payroll and HR Assistant to join us on a part-time, year-round basis. In this role, you will support the Payroll Manager in the day-to-day administration of payroll services, ensuring processes are accurate, timely, and efficient across our secondary schools, while also providing support to primary school colleagues as needed.

You will play a key role in preparing and checking payroll reports, maintaining strong working relationships with internal stakeholders, and contributing to the smooth delivery of HR and payroll operations. This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to develop their skills, with potential for future progression and access to further training through the Apprenticeship Levy (following a successful probationary period).

Please note that this is a year-round post (not a term-time position). We are flexible on the number of days worked/start and finish times for the right candidate. It would be helpful if you could please state a preferred working pattern in your application.

Information about the School Discovery Educational Trust, formed in 2014, is a successful and established multi-academy trust based in South Essex, comprising just under 4000 pupils and 500 staff, across 5 schools. Our schools are:

• Chase High School (Westcliff-on-Sea)
• St. Martin's School (Brentwood)
• Hogarth Primary School (Brentwood)
• Kelvedon Hatch Community Primary School (Brentwood)
• Larchwood Primary School (Brentwood)

We aim for each of our schools to become the school of choice within the community, offering a broad and exciting range of extracurricular activities to enhance the opportunities within their formal curriculum. Our vision is that strong and effective leadership places our children and young people at the heart of everything we do. We value relationships, which are open and honest, underpinned by kindness, trustworthiness and compassion.

We offer ongoing training and professional development for all staff in a supportive and collaborative environment. We offer the following benefits for employees:

• Pension scheme - also automatically includes Life Assurance
• Generous Referral Bonus for employees who refer quality candidates to join Discovery Educational Trust
• Two-week October half term (term time staff)
• Employee savings and discounts
• Employee Assistance Programme – free confidential wellbeing support for employees and dependants
• Mental Health First Aiders – we have qualified MHFA England trainers within the Trust and continue to add to our pool of trained MHFAs
• Ongoing training and professional development in a supportive and collaborative environment
• Gifted Service Leave for long service
• Health Cash plan to support with everyday healthcare costs – e.g. dental, optical, physiotherapy. Includes Virtual GP service

As an equal opportunities employer, Discovery Educational Trust is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age; disability; gender re-assignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race (which includes ethnic origin, nationality and ethnic or national origins); religion or belief; sex; and sexual orientation. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join Discovery Educational Trust.

Discovery Educational Trust is committed to safeguarding our pupils against radicalisation and extremism and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. In compliance with safer recruitment procedures and guidelines, all applications must be made on an application form, CVs will not be accepted. It is an offence to apply for a role if barred from regulated activity. This appointment will be subject to pre‑employment checks including an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and satisfactory references. Please note that online checks will also be carried out.

We welcome prospective applicants to arrange either a visit to the school/trust, or an informal telephone conversation, prior to submitting an application. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the role and our school community. Please email us to arrange (recruitment@discoveryeducationaltrust.co.uk).

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.