HR & Payroll Officer

Ashley Kate HR & Finance; Wigan; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading HR consultancy in the United Kingdom is seeking an experienced HR & Payroll Officer to provide comprehensive HR and payroll support across the full employee lifecycle within a college environment. You will manage HR administration, support recruitment, and oversee payroll processes while ensuring compliance with employment legislation. This temporary ongoing role offers a chance to contribute to a busy HR function while highlighting your expertise in HR and payroll administration.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in HR and payroll administration.
• Strong knowledge of employment legislation, payroll and pensions.
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail and confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Manage HR administration for recruitment, onboarding, and contracts.
• Prepare and process monthly payroll, liaising with the payroll bureau.
• Support safeguarding, staff welfare, and flexible working processes.

Skills

HR administration

Payroll processing

Knowledge of employment legislation

Advising managers

Attention to detail

Job description

HR & Payroll Officer (Temporary - Ongoing)

Our client is seeking an experienced HR & Payroll Officer to provide comprehensive HR and payroll support across the full employee lifecycle within a college environment.

The Role :

You will deliver a professional, compliant and customer‑focused HR and Payroll service, supporting managers and staff with recruitment, employee relations, absence management, safeguarding, payroll, pensions and policy implementation. Working closely with the wider HR team and Finance, you will ensure best practice and legislative compliance at all times.

Key Responsibilities :

• HR :
• Manage HR administration for recruitment, onboarding, contracts, changes and leavers
• Advise managers on recruitment, employee relations, absence, performance, discipline and grievance matters
• Coordinate recruitment campaigns, interviews, offers and pre‑employment checks (DBS, right to work, qualifications, medicals)
• Maintain accurate HR records and databases in line with GDPR
• Support safeguarding, staff welfare, flexible working, maternity / paternity and occupational health processes
• Contribute to HR policy development, service improvements and HR projects, including restructures where required
• Payroll & Pensions :
• Prepare and process monthly payroll, liaising with the payroll bureau and Finance Director
• Manage payroll changes, starters, leavers, HMRC documentation and payroll queries
• Administer pensions (Teachers' Pension Scheme and LGPS), acting as main point of contact with pension providers
• Produce payroll, pension and workforce reports, including statutory returns and the FE Workforce Census

About You :

• Proven experience in HR and payroll administration
• Strong knowledge of employment legislation, payroll and pensions
• Confident advising managers and handling sensitive employee relations matters
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail and confidentiality

This is a temporary ongoing opportunity offering a varied and hands‑on role within a busy HR function.

About Us

We are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive community. In line with our Diversity and Inclusion policy, we welcome applications from all qualified individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. As a Disability Confident Employer, and part of the Nicholas Associates Group, we are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities, and we're happy to discuss flexible working options.

We are committed to protecting the privacy of all our candidates and clients. If you choose to apply, your information will be processed in accordance with the Nicholas Associates Group of companies.