Payroll & Pensions Consultant (LGR) (9896) in Norwich

Norfolk is preparing for one of the largest local government reorganisations in England, with significant structural changes due to the Local Government Review (LGR). This creates unique challenges across our internal Payroll and Pensions team, far beyond business‑as‑usual. We’re looking for an expert Payroll & Pensions Consultant to provide high‑level professional advice, leadership and oversight across all Payroll and Pension matters arising from LGR. This includes service realignment, TUPE, pension transfers, statutory risk management, and ensuring business continuity for more than 21,000 job roles across the Council and traded‑service customers.

You Will

• Lead on specialist professional advice relating to Payroll & Pensions statutory, legislative and operational issues.
• Provide expert subject‑matter knowledge on LGPS, TPS, NEST and interfund transfers.
• Develop proposals and resource plans to deliver LGR‑related priorities efficiently and cost‑effectively.
• Work collaboratively with HR, Legal, HMRC and third‑party partners to define and implement effective solutions.
• Analyse and interpret data, identify trends and recommend actions supporting strategic change.
• Challenge existing processes, driving compliance, quality improvements and risk reduction.
• Share knowledge and mentor the wider Payroll & Pensions team to build capability.
• Support LGR governance, reviewing decisions, risks and policies throughout the transition period.

You’ll play a vital role in reviewing current practice, resolving legacy issues, embedding good‑practice processes, and ensuring the Council enters LGR with a compliant, resilient and auditable Payroll & Pensions function.

Contact

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Tom Pratt - Head of Payroll at tom.pratt@norfolk.gov.uk

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Health and Wellbeing services including fast-track physiotherapy and a free counselling service
• Flexible working opportunities including flexi-time, part time, remote and hybrid working – dependant on your job role and business need.
• Financial benefits such as: Norfolk Rewards discounts programme for groceries, clothes, holidays, technology, gym membership, trips to the cinema and days out.
• A Blue Light card for Fire Service and Social Care Workers
• Relocation expenses (where applicable)
• An advance of your expenses if you travel for work
• Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution, life assurance, death in service payments and dependants’ pensions
• Tax efficient ways of getting extra pension and new bikes
• Access to our tax efficient car lease scheme for greener travel enabling you to lease a brand new, ultra‑low emission vehicle (subject to eligibility)
• A payment if you refer someone you know to a hard to fill job

Additional information

Before you apply, we recommend reading the full Job Description and Person Specification to help you demonstrate you meet the criteria. We want our people to be inspired and motivated to work well together, make the most of our workspaces, enjoy a healthy work‑life balance, and deliver excellent services to Norfolk and its people. Flexibility is built into the way we work, with hybrid working a key feature for many roles. Our technology platform and equipment are first class, enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We ask that you have in place good Broadband connectivity.

Already a Norfolk County Council employee? See and apply for internal and external vacancies in myOracle using your @norfolk.gov.uk or @nccal.ac.uk email. We would like to make you aware that priority consideration for this post may be given to current employees who are at risk due to restructure within the organisation or are in a redeployment position.