Payroll and Pensions Manager

Are you an experienced payroll professional or someone looking to develop those skills? Learn Academies Trust is looking for an enthusiastic and organised Payroll and Pensions Manager to join our People & Culture team. This is a great opportunity for someone with payroll experience who enjoys getting the detail right, solving problems and providing a really good service to colleagues. You don't need to come to us knowing everything about education payroll or school pensions. If you have a good grounding in payroll administration, strong numerical skills and an eye for detail, we are interested in hearing from you. We can support the successful candidate to develop their knowledge of education-specific arrangements, including Teachers' Pensions and the Local Government Pension Scheme.

What will you be doing? Working as part of our friendly People & Culture team, you will play a key role in making sure our colleagues across the Trust are paid accurately and on time. Your responsibilities will include:

• coordinating and checking the monthly payroll process;
• working closely with our managed payroll provider to resolve payroll queries and discrepancies;
• checking payroll changes, deductions, statutory payments and other payroll transactions;
• administering and supporting pension processes;
• helping colleagues with payroll and pension queries;
• maintaining accurate payroll information within our HR/payroll systems;
• supporting processes relating to Teachers' Pensions and the Local Government Pension Scheme;
• completing routine reconciliations and checks;
• maintaining clear records and audit trails;
• helping us continually improve our payroll and pension processes.

Who are we looking for? We are looking for someone who:

• has practical payroll experience, or strong experience in a closely related finance/HR administration role;
• is comfortable working with numbers and checking detailed information;
• understands the importance of accuracy and confidentiality;
• is organised and able to work to regular monthly deadlines;
• enjoys investigating discrepancies and resolving queries;
• communicates clearly and provides a helpful, professional service;
• is confident using digital systems and spreadsheets.

Experience of Teachers' Pensions, the Local Government Pension Scheme, education payroll or iTrent would be an advantage, but it is not essential. Similarly, a payroll, pensions, finance, HR or business administration qualification would be welcomed, but we are equally interested in applicants who can demonstrate relevant practical experience and an enthusiasm to learn and develop.

We are particularly interested in hearing from people who may currently be working as a:

• Payroll Officer;
• Senior Payroll Administrator;
• Payroll Coordinator;
• Pensions Administrator;
• HR/Payroll Administrator;
• Finance Officer with payroll responsibilities;
• or Payroll professional looking for the opportunity to take the next step.

If you have the core payroll skills but don't meet every desirable criterion, please don't let that put you off applying. We would still really like to hear from you.

Why join Learn Academies Trust? You'll be joining a supportive Trust where People & Culture, Finance, our schools and our external payroll provider work closely together. For the right person, this role offers an opportunity to take greater ownership of payroll and pensions while continuing to develop specialist knowledge and experience. At Learn Academies Trust, our people are our greatest asset. We are committed to creating a supportive, collaborative and ambitious environment where colleagues can thrive professionally and personally.

Benefits Include:

• Excellent Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Access to wellbeing services and support.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Ongoing professional development opportunities.
• Career progression within a growing and ambitious Trust.
• A welcoming and inclusive workplace culture.
• Generous annual holiday entitlement of at least 27 days plus bank holidays.

Safeguarding and Recruitment: Learn Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to:

• An enhanced DBS check including a children's barred list check.
• Two satisfactory references (requested prior to interview for shortlisted candidates).
• Online and social media checks.
• Medical clearance.
• Right to work in the UK checks.
• Verification of qualifications and professional status where applicable.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Learn Academies Trust is committed to promoting equality, valuing diversity and creating a genuinely inclusive organisation where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive. Our vision is simple: Everyone has a seat at the table. Everyone has a voice. Everyone belongs. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, and candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria will be offered the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at interview.