Associate Payroll Administrator

AQA; Greater Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

AQA is seeking a detail-oriented Payroll Administrator to join their Manchester team in a hybrid role. The position involves processing payroll for a large number of associates, ensuring compliance with PAYE and NIC regulations, and providing exceptional customer service in payroll matters. The role offers opportunities for professional growth, a generous pension scheme, and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Pension scheme with contributions up to 18.5%

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Access to a gym, games room, and yoga studio

Qualifications

• Experience with payroll systems and spreadsheets is essential.
• Client-facing experience with strong communication skills is required.

Responsibilities

• Deliver timely and accurate payroll services to Associates.
• Handle payroll queries and assist with compliance regulations.
• Manage starter and leaver processes along with Associate expenses.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Customer service

Numeracy

Education

Demonstrable experience in end-to-end payroll processing

Good understanding of PAYE, NIC, pensions, and payroll legislation

Tools

Excel

Payroll systems (e.g. SAGE)

Job description

Payroll Administrator

Permanent

Manchester: £23,530 - £26,670

Hybrid Working

Think your attention to detail could help pay up to 40,000 Exam Board Associates on time?

Imagine being the go-to expert for payroll accuracy and compliance.

Ready to make a measurable impact in a high-trust environment?

At AQA, we know that accurate payroll is more than just numbers-it's about trust, precision, and service. If you're confident with payroll systems and spreadsheets and thrive on getting things right first time, this could be your next step.

As a Payroll Administrator, you'll be part of a team responsible for delivering timely and accurate payroll services to our Associates (Examiner, Moderators) on a weekly basis. You'll handle everything from processing starters and leavers to managing Associate expenses and ensuring compliance with PAYE, NIC, pensions, and auto-enrolment regulations. You'll also be the first point of contact for payroll queries, working closely with internal teams and external partners like MHR Global.

You'll gain exposure to a wide range of payroll processes, contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, and play a key role in safeguarding data and financial accuracy - while also handling enquiries and providing clear, timely support to stakeholders.

What's in it for me?

• Opportunities for personal and professional growth

• A generous pension scheme with combined contributions up to 18.5% from day one

• 25 days annual leave (rising with service), plus Bank Holidays and Christmas closure

• Hybrid working at least two office days per week (Manchester-based role)

• A newly refurbished office with a gym, games room, and yoga studio

What do I need to be successful?

• Demonstrable experience in end-to-end payroll processing

• A good understanding of PAYE, NIC, pensions, and payroll legislation

• Proficiency in Excel and payroll systems (e.g. SAGE)

• Excellent communication and customer service skills

• High level of accuracy and numeracy

Ready to apply?
Whether you're looking to grow your expertise or bring your payroll skills to a new setting, we'd love to hear from you. Read the full job description, then upload your most recent CV along with a cover letter explaining why your skills and experience make you the perfect fit for this role.

You could wait until applications close at 23:59 on Sunday 13th July to apply, but we will be interviewing as applications come in and reserve the right to close the advert early should we find the right person, so apply today.

Interviews will be held face to face in the Manchester office from week beginning 21st July.

All applications will receive a response.

AQA is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone-regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background-is valued, respected, and supported to thrive.

#CRE23

In Short

• Industry Education & Training
• Founded 1903
• Location Manchester / Guildford / Milton Keynes / London
• Company size 1000 - 4999

Who we are and what we do

AQA is the largest provider of academic qualifications taught in schools and colleges in England. With a team of circa 1200 employees, we help young people realise their potential, empowering them to realise life opportunities. Our UK qualifications are highly valued by employers and universities around the world. They are taught mainly in schools and colleges and include GCSEs, AS and A-levels, the Extended Project Qualification, the AQA Baccalaureate, Tech-levels and Technical Awards.

We set and mark over half of all GCSEs and A-levels taken in the UK every year. As an independent education charity, our income is reinvested back into AQA’s charitable activities. It also funds our cutting-edge research, which sits at the heart of our assessments and supports our initiatives to help young people facing challenges in life realise their potential.

Our charitable purpose

We have over a century of qualifications expertisedating back to 1903when our predecessor boards were founded by five leading universities. These public exam boards came into existence to provide an opportunity for young people from a range of backgrounds to access education and make the most of their potential.

This commitment to social mobility remains at the heart of AQA’s charitable purpose, which is to advance education by enabling teachers and students to realise their potential.

Why join AQA?

At AQA we pride ourselves on encouraging personal and professional development. As part of the team, you’ll have access to thousands of impactful courses on our learning management system, Learning Space.

Join AQA and further your professional development.

AQA Values and behaviours

At AQA we work in an open, supportive and collaborative way to achieve great things.

Our culture is built on a set of values and behaviours, the foundations of which enable us to bring out the best of ourselves and the great work that we do. Together, we:

• Put our customers front and centre
• Work and learn together
• Step up
• Deliver results
• Shape tomorrow

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We believe that everyone benefits when we put equality, diversity and inclusion at the core of what we do.

We realise the unique influence and position we have in education and assessment and that we need to continue to use that responsibly. At AQA, we:

• Want to make meaningful change
• Listen to you
• Work for everyone to be represented
• Improve our culture as well as our curriculums
• Do all we can to make sure no learner is left behind

We know we don’thave all the answers, but we’re committed to keeping you informed and involved with the work we’ve done, we’re doing and the work we want to do in the future.