Payroll Analyst in City of London

About us:

King's College London is one of the world's leading universities, delivering excellence in education, research, and service to society. With a diverse community of staff and students across multiple faculties, King's is committed to innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement in all areas of its operations.

The Payroll & Pensions team plays a key role in supporting this mission, providing accurate and timely payroll services to over 11,000 colleagues across the university. Operating within a complex and highly regulated environment, the team is responsible for delivering multiple payrolls each month(Global and UK), alongside the administration of pension schemes and compliance with statutory and internal governance requirements.

Within this context, the Payroll & Pension function is continuing to develop its systems, processes, and reporting capability, with a strong focus on data-driven decision making and service improvement. This role sits within the Payroll Management team and supports the ongoing transformation of payroll operations, including the development of a dedicated analytics capability to enhance insight, efficiency, and control.

About the role:

King's College London is seeking a Payroll Analyst to join the Payroll & Pensions team on a permanent, full-time contract (35 hours per week). The Payroll & Pensions function supports payroll activity across the University in a regulated and deadline-driven environment. Reporting to the Lead Analyst, the postholder will support the delivery of the Payroll Analytics service by producing and maintaining regular payroll reports, completing data checks and reconciliations, and responding to reporting and data requests. The postholder will work independently within agreed procedures, reporting requirements and priorities.

The role will also support payroll system testing, process documentation, compliance monitoring and agreed improvement projects. The postholder will work collaboratively with colleagues across Payroll, Pensions, HR, Finance and Digital Services to provide accurate information and a professional, customer-focused service.

Payroll Reporting and Data Analysis

• Produce and maintain regular payroll reports, dashboards and management information using agreed requirements, templates and reporting tools.
• Collect, analyse and present payroll, pension and workforce data within established procedures and reporting parameters.
• Complete routine data validation, reconciliation and control checks to support payroll accuracy and data integrity.
• Identify data discrepancies, exceptions and potential issues, investigating these using documented processes and escalating complex or significant findings to the Lead Analyst.
• Respond to approved requests for payroll information and analysis, ensuring outputs are accurate, clear and delivered within agreed timescales.

Systems and Process Support

• Support the testing of PeopleXD and associated payroll systems by completing agreed test scripts, recording results and escalating defects or unexpected outcomes.
• Maintain reports, process maps, working instructions, test evidence and other documentation in line with agreed standards.
• Contribute to process reviews by providing information about current activities and highlighting potential issues or improvements.
• Support agreed automation, system enhancement and service improvement activities, working within defined objectives and instructions.
• Maintain proficiency in the systems and reporting tools required for the role.

Payroll Compliance and Governance

• Apply relevant payroll procedures, University policies and data protection requirements when handling payroll data and producing reports.
• Complete agreed monitoring reports and control checks that support payroll compliance, identifying exceptions for review.
• Provide data, reports and supporting evidence for audit and assurance activities when requested.
• Handle personal and confidential information securely and maintain clear records of completed work.

Project and Change Support

• Contribute to payroll-related projects and change activities by completing assigned actions within agreed timescales.
• Support planning, data preparation, testing, implementation and post-implementation checks.
• Record progress, risks and issues relating to assigned work and elevate concerns promptly.
• Support the introduction of approved reporting tools, system changes and revised processes.

Stakeholder and Customer Support

• Build effective working relationships with colleagues across Payroll, Pensions, HR, Finance and Digital Services.
• Communicate payroll reporting and data information clearly and professionally, adapting explanations to the audience where required.
• Provide routine information and guidance on established payroll reports and processes, referring complex, sensitive or non-standard matters to the Lead Analyst.
• Respond to queries and requests received through BMC Helix ticketing tool and the Payroll Analytics Request Form in line with agreed service standards.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, sharing relevant information and supporting team priorities.

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the postholder may be required to undertake other duties that are reasonably consistent with the scope and Grade 4 level of the role.

About you:

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. Experience of producing accurate reports or analysing data using established processes and requirements.
2. Experience of working in payroll, HR, finance or another data-intensive environment.
3. Knowledge of payroll processes, statutory requirements or payroll controls.
4. Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, lookups, filters and data validation.
5. Ability to identify data discrepancies and investigate issues using documented processes.
6. Strong attention to detail when working with high-volume or confidential data.
7. Ability to organise and prioritise work to meet competing deadlines.
8. Ability to communicate information clearly and professionally to technical and non-technical colleagues.
9. Ability to work independently and/or collaboratively within established procedures and escalate complex issues appropriately.

Desirable criteria

1. Experience of PeopleXD or a comparable HR or payroll system.
2. Experience of Power BI or another reporting and visualisation tool.
3. Experience of supporting projects or system implementations.
4. CIPP qualification or working towards a relevant professional qualification.

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

At King's, we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative, are great strengths of the university.

The Equality Act of 2010 protects the rights of our students and staff and provides a framework to fulfil our duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and in addition, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. At times, this will include balancing rights and beliefs that can feel in tension.

We are committed to free speech and to academic freedom, believing that our foundational purpose as a university, is to create spaces where a wide range of ideas, including ideas that are controversial, can be discussed and debated, and where members of our community can express lawful views without fear of intimidation, harassment or discrimination.

When engaging in the robust exchange of ideas, we ask that our community is mindful of our Dignity at King's guidance.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is evolving rapidly, and we recognise its growing role in professional work. Applicants may use AI tools to support preparation of their application, for example to research the role or structure written responses. However, applications must reflect the applicant's own work and experience. AI tools should not be used during interviews or assessment activities unless this has been agreed in advance as a reasonable adjustment. Further guidance on the use of AI in recruitment can be found here.

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