Payroll Administrator

Business Area: HR

Place of Work: Liverpool

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

When you join USS, the size and scale of our pension scheme means you will have numerous opportunities to learn and develop your career. Given our size you'll have real autonomy and influence as you collaborate closely with a wide-ranging team of experts. Our office is a vibrant place to work, and we offer flexibility of office/homeworking due to our hybrid model.

About the role

In your role as Payroll Administrator you will make a meaningful and valued contribution from the outset. This role will provide a great opportunity to provide accurate, timely and efficient payroll administration across the Group, ensuring employee pay and associated payroll activities are processed in accordance with company policies, statutory requirements and agreed payroll timetables. The Payroll Administrator will be responsible for maintaining accurate payroll records, processing routine payroll transactions, responding to employee queries and supporting the wider Payroll team to deliver a high-quality service. The role sits within the HR Operations function, reporting to the Payroll Lead, and contributes to the delivery of both day-to-day payroll operations and wider continuous improvement activity. The HR Operations team has a strong focus on maintaining excellent business-as-usual service delivery whilst driving process simplification, standardisation, automation and systems improvement initiatives to support the HR transformation agenda.

What you will be doing

• Payroll processing
• Process monthly payroll transactions accurately and within agreed deadlines.
• Input and maintain employee payroll information, including starters, leavers and changes.
• Process changes to salary, hours, allowances, deductions and other payroll-related payments.
• Process sickness, absence, statutory payments and other routine payroll adjustments.
• Process overtime, wellbeing claims and other variable pay elements where applicable.
• Maintain accurate payroll records and supporting documentation.
• Assist with payroll reconciliations and validation checks.
• Identify and escalate discrepancies or unusual payroll movements to the Payroll Lead.
• Complete post payroll tasks, including account reconciliations.
• Process employee related tax returns (PSA).
• Starters and Leavers
• Process new starters in line with payroll deadlines.
• Ensure required payroll information is complete and accurate.
• Process leavers, including final salary payments and deductions.
• Ensure holiday pay and other final payments are processed correctly.
• Benefits Pensions and deductions
• Process salary sacrifice and other payroll deductions in accordance with instructions.
• Assist with payroll-related benefit changes and reconciliation activity.
• Escalate complex or unusual pension, benefit or deduction queries.
• Team Support
• Work collaboratively with Payroll Lead, HR colleagues and other internal teams.
• Where necessary, provide administrative support to the wider HR Operations function.

About you

We know that sometimes people can be put off applying for a job if they don't tick every box, if you're excited about working for us and have most of the skills or experience we're looking for, then please apply, regardless of whether you meet all the requirements outlined in this profile.

To be successful in the role you will have:

• Experience within a Payroll environment.
• Technical knowledge of UK Payroll legislation.
• Highly motivated with excellent organisational and planning skills.
• Excellent communication skills both verbally and in writing.
• Knowledge of iTrent is desirable but not essential.

Why join us?

At USS, every individual contributes to building a secure financial future for our members and their families. We strive to create a work environment where everyone can thrive professionally while making a meaningful impact on the lives of others. We're also committed to helping you build your career by providing opportunities for development. We put a focus on recognising and supporting each individual's unique career path, driving this forward with the support of an engaged and proactive management team. Here at USS, we want you to thrive in and out of work with a friendly team, flexible culture and excellent range of benefits!

How we will reward you

• Great starting salary
• Generous annual leave package
• Access to a high quality pension scheme provided through Universities Superannuation Scheme
• Supportive people policies (including enhanced occupational sickness pay and family friendly pay)
• Financial contributions towards your personal development to help you maintain your physical and mental wellbeing
• Access to a range of health and wellbeing services i.e., private healthcare, discounted gym membership
• Learning and development opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and talent
• Employee Volunteer Days to support the communities where you work and live
• Cycle to Work Scheme

Our culture and values

Our people are what makes us different. We work together to create a diverse and inclusive culture that embraces individuality, where people are welcomed and feel comfortable in the knowledge that they can be themselves. Our purpose firmly states the importance of members, putting them ‘front and centre’ of what we do. This is embedded through our values:

• Integrity
• Collaboration
• Excellence

About us

Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) was established in 1974 as the principal pension scheme for universities and other higher education institutions in the UK. We work with around 330 employers to help build a secure financial future for almost 577,000 members and their families. We are one of the largest private defined benefit pension schemes in the UK, with total assets of around £76.8bn (at 31 March 2025).

USSL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We strive to ensure our recruitment process is as flexible and inclusive as possible so we can attract diverse candidates and recruit the best talent. We want all candidates to perform at their best during the recruitment process, so if you need any reasonable adjustments or if there is anything we can do to help support you through your recruitment journey please let us know by contacting resourcing@uss.co.uk.