HR Service and System Improvement Adviser

Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership; Stafford; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Staffordshire County Council is seeking an HR Service and System Improvement Adviser to support the People Services team during the build and implementation of a new Oracle ERP system. The role focuses on HR/payroll systems, data validation, and process design with hybrid working and a minimum two days in the Stafford office.

The ideal candidate will have HR/payroll systems experience, strong data analysis skills, and the ability to advise on pay and HR matters, delivering practical solutions

Qualifications

• Proven experience in HR/payroll IT systems
• Strong data analysis and spreadsheet skills
• Ability to provide clear HR/payroll guidance and advice
• Experience supporting HR processes, system implementations or improvements
• Familiarity with process mapping and re-engineering
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Excellent communication and stakeholder influence skills

Responsibilities

• Support payroll/ERP changes including HR process mapping, system testing, and user guides.
• Extract and validate data in Excel; present findings to stakeholders and support data-driven changes.
• Investigate and resolve HR/payroll queries and system issues using HR knowledge.
• Contribute to improving HR processes to deliver efficient, high-quality service.
• Act as the HR systems expert, assisting employees and managers with ERP functionality and liaising with the provider.
• Collaborate with the external payroll provider and People Services to ensure SLAs are met and changes are implemented.

Skills

HR/payroll systems

Data analysis

Advisory skills

Process mapping

Project management

Analytical thinking

Communication

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Visio

Job description

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - Staffordshire Place 1, Tipping Street, Stafford ST16 2LP

HR Service and System Improvement Adviser

Job Reference staffscc/TP/21/4866

Number of Positions:

1

Contract Type:

Fixed Term Full Time

Fixed term for 8 months

Working Hours:

37

Location:

Closing Date:

08/11/2026

Job Category:

HR/OD/Training

Directorate:

Finance and Resources

Business Unit:

People Services

Job Introduction

This role offers a fantastic opportunity to support our People Services Team to implement and update new and existing HR systems and processes. You’ll be joining us at a pivotal time as we commence the build and implementation of our new Oracle ERP system.

This a fixed term contract for 8 months to provide additional resource to the team during the implementation phase of our new system. With your HR and systems experience, you'll be supporting our employees and managers to use our current payroll system functionality and investigating payroll/HR related queries; as well as supporting on the development of our new system configuration and process design. It will involve lots of data validation, so be prepared for lots of analysis and spreadsheets!

This role is based in Stafford and operates within a hybrid working model. A minimum of two office-based days per week is required, however there may be the requirement for additional office days during peak times.

Main Responsibilities

As a Service and System Improvement Adviser, you will:

• Support digital transformation – Contribute to the implementation of payroll/ERP system changes including HR process mapping, system knowledge, testing, communications, developing user guides and undertaking training.
• Data Analysis – extract and manipulate data within excel for data validations within our current payroll system to ensure it is accurate and ready for transferring into our new ERP system. Analyse and present your data/findings to various stakeholders to identify trends, data gaps, data accuracy or utilising data to support a change in process.
• Solve complex problems – Use your analytical skills to investigate and resolve either a HR terms and conditions query (such as occupational maternity pay), a system issue or a pay related query. This will include using your HR knowledge to review existing data, processes and systems to identify root causes and deliver effective solutions.
• Support on process improvement – Ensure our HR processes are efficient, streamlined, and deliver excellent service to our customers.
• Be our HR systems expert – Act as the go-to person for complex HR system queries. This includes supporting our employees and managers on accessing our HR systems and using its functionality to undertake HR/payroll actions. Where queries cannot be resolved, escalating and working closely with our system provider to resolve issues.
• Collaborate across teams – Work closely with our external payroll provider to ensure our Payroll Transactions are well managed and delivered to agreed Service Level Agreements, escalating resolutions where required. Work closely with our People Services Team with process changes or delivery of services which impact on payroll transactions.

The Ideal Candidate

The minimum criteria that will be used to shortlist for this role will be:

• HR and Payroll Systems Experience – Proven experience working within a HR/payroll environment, with hands-on experience of using HR and payroll IT systems.
• Digital Confidence & Data Analysis Skills – Strong computer literacy skills, knowledge of HR/payroll systems and ability to manipulate data effectively using Microsoft excel.
• Advisory Skills – Ability to provide clear, informed advice on pay and HR matters (including HR system queries), identifying potential risks and offering practical solutions.
• Project and Process Expertise – Experience supporting HR processes, system implementations, or improvement projects, including system testing.
• Process Mapping Skills – Proficiency in process mapping (e.g., using Visio) and re-engineering to drive efficiency and improvement.
• Analytical Thinking – Experience conducting research, reviewing local government terms and conditions/HR legislation, identifying opportunities for improvement, and implementing new or revised HR processes.
• Communication and Influence – Skilled in engaging with internal stakeholders, presenting information clearly in various formats to influence and inform.

Interviews are anticipated to take place week commencing 2nd November 2026.

Our Recruitment Process: We anonymise applications during shortlisting to ensure only relevant information is considered. Please complete your application fully, especially the supporting statement, to highlight what you’ll bring to the role.

Please note: The minimum criteria in the ideal candidate section detailed above will be used if you are applying under one of our Interview Guarantee Schemes, detailed below.

About Staffordshire County Council

We are no ordinary county council:

Our Values:

The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.

Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:

We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.

We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.

We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.

As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as yourapplication meets the minimum criteria for the post.