HR Payroll & Employee Benefits Assistant, 2 High Street - PKC12957

Working within Perth & Kinross Council is more than a job, it's about being part of something meaningful. It's about being part of an organisation that puts people at the heart of all we do and provides opportunities to make a real difference by enhancing every life we touch.

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We currently have the following opportunity:

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HR Payroll & Employee Benefits Assistant – PKC12957
£30,689 – £32,866
2 High Street, Perth PH1 5PH

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Are you someone who thrives on working with numbers, has exceptional attention to detail, and can confidently juggle competing priorities in a fast-paced environment?

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If so, an excellent opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, flexible, and highly organised individual to join our Payroll & Reward Team within People & Culture.

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As a Payroll & Employee Benefits Assistant, you will assist and support the HR Officer in delivering a proactive and professional payroll and reward service across the Council.

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Please note: Short-listed candidates will be required to complete a practical assessment to demonstrate their ability to follow instructions accurately and showcase their numeracy skills. A calculator or other appropriate tools will be provided for this task.

Skills & Experience Required

You will be responsible for a broad range of duties including:

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Employee Benefits Responsibilities

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• Promote and advise on all employee benefits, including the Employee Assistance Programme.

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• Manage daily employee benefit-related tasks, including processing salary sacrifice joiners, changes, and terminations in line with HMRC legislation.

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• Respond to benefit queries and resolve issues efficiently.

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• Support P11d and Class 1A NI calculations.

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• Validate and process benefit provider invoices promptly.

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• Maintenance of the Employee Benefit Platform.

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• Monitor benefit uptake and provide statistical information to the Payroll & Reward Team Leader.

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Payroll Responsibilities

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• Advise managers and employees on pay-related terms, including tax, NI, and pensions, referring to ERIC and the Council’s website when needed.

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• Input and maintain HR data in the integrated HR & Payroll system for starters, leavers, transfers, secondments, and changes (e.g. fixed-term contracts, temporary duties, flexible working). Issue documents as required.

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• Prepare and process payroll payments, deductions, and benefits accurately and on time, ensuring compliance with legislation and terms and conditions for all employee groups and partners.

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• Perform complex pay calculations (e.g. overtime, shift/night pay, sickness, temporary higher duty payments), considering changing work patterns and ensuring policy compliance.

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• Use problem-solving skills to prepare payroll corrections, assess arrears, and manage voluntary deductions and recovery actions.

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• Complete pension paperwork (Local Government and Scottish Teachers Pension Schemes) for admissions, service changes, and leavers factoring in post changes and pensionable elements, meeting monthly deadlines.

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• Administer retirements (Teaching and Non-Teaching), including early, voluntary, and flexible retirement.

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• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of Tax, NI, and statutory payments (SSP, SMP, SPP, SNLP, Shared Parental Leave).

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• Support policy work when required.

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• Carry out any other payroll related duties as required.

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Skills & Experience Required

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The successful candidate will join a dedicated team that takes pride in delivering a high quality, customer-focused, and professional payroll and reward service to the Council.

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This role calls for a strong commitment to putting people first, ensuring every detail is accurate and every employee is supported through timely and precise pay and benefit administration.

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To thrive in this role, you will need to:

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• Perform confidently in a fast-paced environment and remain calm under pressure, particularly around payroll deadlines.

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• Demonstrate excellent organisational skills and the ability to re-prioritise tasks effectively.

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• Work independently, using initiative, with minimal support and guidance.

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• Adapt to ongoing changes, including legislative updates and evolving working practices.

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• Possess strong numeracy skills and exceptional attention to detail.

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• Be enthusiastic about your work and understand the positive impact it has on others.

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• Communicate clearly and professionally, handling confidential information with discretion.

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To be able to undertake this role, you are required to possess a SVQ Level 6 in Payroll/HR or Business Administration or equivalent including the ability to demonstrate considerable relevant experience.

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Working at Perth & Kinross Council

Our values and behaviours influence our work and support us in the delivery of our key priorities. In your application, and should you be invited to interview, you will be asked to describe situations that support the criteria required in the role and which also demonstrate our values and behaviours. Find out more about Perth & Kinross Council and you could soon be joining our team!

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Here's what we can offer you:

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• A generous annual leave package

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• 6 days public holiday and an additional discretionary day

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• Eligibility to join our pension scheme

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• Family friendly and positive work/life balance policies such as Flexible Working, Maternity, Paternity & Adoption leave, time off for volunteering and our Wellbeing Framework

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• Flexi time 

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• Access to a range of benefits

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We recognise there can be benefits to flexible working and where individual jobs allow, we seek to support this. You are encouraged to discuss potential options with the recruiting manager, if this is of interest to you. A healthy work life balance is important to us and we provide supportive management and, where possible, flexible working arrangements to help you achieve that balance. You will have access to training and support for continued professional development.

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For purposes of connection and collaboration with colleagues and with the community we serve, our full-time employees work on site for a minimum of 2 days per week with the arrangements for part time employees being agreed on a basis which will ensure that they benefit to an equivalent degree. Our FAQs on hybrid working can be found here Hybrid working FAQs. We are committed to being a more inclusive employer – to ensure we can consider any reasonable adjustments, please either contact the recruiting manager to discuss any individual circumstances, discuss at interview or, if you prefer, after any conditional offer is made.

Next Steps

We would love to hear from you and would encourage you to get in touch with Leighanne Byrne, HR Team Leader on her email address: lbyrne@pkc.gov.uk to find out more.

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Click “APPLY NOW”

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External candidates are required to provide contact details for 2 references, including email addresses. One of these must be your current or most recent employer.

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We welcome applications from everyone and as a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee to interview applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential requirements of the post. Please contact the hiring manager above or the Recruitment Team on (01738) 475555 or recruitment@pkc.gov.uk to discuss any reasonable adjustments. Appointments are based on evidence supplied during the selection process.

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Diversity is important to us and although some of our jobs may be perceived to be traditionally gender specific, we welcome applications from everyone and would encourage you to apply if you meet the job requirements. That includes welcoming applications from former armed forces personnel/reservists. Many of the skills picked up during your military career could be transferred directly into a role with local government.

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To comply with Baseline Personnel Security Standard, you will be required to complete a Disclosure Scotland check.

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If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more (continuous or total) within the last 5 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check.

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A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of the above mentioned mandatory pre-employment checks (including references) and will also include eligibility to work in the UK, qualifications and fitness to undertake the post.