Payroll Advisory Officer in Basildon

The CIPP’s Advisory Service is the number one benefit of being with the CIPP, as polled by our members. The Advisory Service team support our members by providing essential advice, support and guidance through the technical helpline. You will be the first point of contact for our members when they have queries around technical elements of payroll, pensions and reward. As part of the Advisory team, this role works closely with the Policy and Research team, who ensure themes of queries the Advisory Service receive are covered in News Online articles published on the CIPP website.

Person Specification

We are looking for a person who has a comprehensive knowledge of end-to-end payroll processes. Training will be provided in areas where upskilling is required. Our members rely on the Advisory Service to solidify their understanding, to ensure compliance is met. Attention to detail and an enquiring mind is required for this role, alongside having the self-motivation to research and seek out answers. This role requires extensive reading and absorption of information which can then be relayed authoritatively in both written and oral communication. Therefore, an excellent telephone manner and writing skills is required, as the technical helpline responds to email and telephone enquiries. You will be able to demonstrate team working, with a positive attitude.

Specific responsibilities

• Operating and maintaining the CIPP’s technical advisory service (primary responsibility)
• Undertaking research and/or supporting research as requested on current operational issues within the payroll and pensions profession
• Supporting the Policy & Research Officers with statistical evidence obtained from the technical helpline
• Provide information as necessary to the Policy & Research Officer for inclusion on the CIPP website, in News Online and Professional
• Provide assistance to the Learning & Development team by proofing all technical material content when required
• Preparing articles and Q&As based on these responses for inclusion in the Institute’s member magazine, Professional
• Prepare a statistical report, to include recommendations to support the Policy and Advisory Lead’s manager report.

Candidates for this post will need to demonstrate:

• Confidence in their ability to work with members
• Enjoyment of detail involved in payroll and pensions administration, with reference to proof reading
• Resilience
• Sense of humour
• Initiative
• Flexibility
• Good levels of IT literacy.

Our Values and Mission Statement

Our values of:

• Teamwork: We work together to achieve our goals and objectives to the benefit of the payroll and pensions communities
• Communication: Clear, open and transparent communication with all. To communicate payroll and pensions knowledge with authority
• Trust and honesty: We trust our colleagues and provide a safe environment for honesty within the working environment
• The continuous pursuit of excellence: We actively seek feedback and, on a continuous basis review our ways of working to ensure that we deliver an excellent service to the payroll and pension communities, and to our colleagues
• Professionalism: We will always act ethically, with courtesy and respect, listen to views other than our own and put forward ideas in a positive and constructive manner

and our Mission Statement: “Empowering and advancing the pay professions and communities through research, lifelong learning and recognition” form part of the fabric of our organisation. The job-holder will ensure they are understood and used in their day-to-day business.

Terms and Conditions:

• Salary: TBC (depending on experience)
• Working week: 37 hour working week (full-time)
• Annual leave: 26 days annual leave per annum (plus bank holidays)
• Location: Remote working

Some of our People Perks

• Hybrid working
• Pension enrolment from first day of service
• Private Medical Insurance and Cash Plan Schemes provided
• Option to buy or sell annual leave days
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Mental Health Hub
• Benefits hub, discounts across a broad range of partners
• Early Fridays, finish half an hour early every Friday
• Close-down over the annual festive period
• 1 paid volunteer day per year to give something back to the community
• Plus many more

Recruitment Process:

Those who wish to be considered should submit a CV, along with a covering letter explaining why they are interested in the post and what they will bring to it and email to by no later than Tuesday 26 May 2026. The CIPP is an equal opportunity employer who seeks to recruit and appoint the best available person for a job regardless of marital/civil partnership status, sex (including pregnancy), age, religion, belief, race, nationality and ethnic or national origin, colour, sexual orientation or disability.