Payroll Administrator

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals; Darwen; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Payroll Administrator to support payroll services for NHS staff. The role is based at our head office in Darwen with hybrid working options, handling ESR payroll input, calculations, and staff inquiries with a focus on accuracy and compliance.

You will work within ELFS Business Services, bringing together payroll, pensions, and service desk support for NHS clients, ensuring timely payslips and adherence to NHS terms and conditions.

Qualifications

• GCSEs including Maths and English or an equivalent qualification.
• Five GCSEs including Maths and English or equivalent.
• Experience with payroll procedures and working in an office environment.

Responsibilities

• Input payroll data into the ESR system and perform payroll calculations (Paye, Ni, SMP, SSP, etc).
• Ensure payments comply with statutory legislation and NHS terms and conditions of service.
• Meet strict deadlines with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Respond to payroll queries from staff in a timely, professional manner.
• Support staff and contribute to service improvements within the payroll function.

Skills

Payroll procedures

Microsoft Office

Confidentiality

Customer service

Data entry

ESR system knowledge

Administrative skills

Office environment experience

Education

GCSEs including Maths & English

5 GCSEs including Maths & English

Tools

ESR Payroll System

Microsoft Excel

MS Office

Job description

We hope to be welcoming you to the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals team soon; we've shown you exactly why we're 'a great place to work', now it's time to see for yourself! Have a look at our current vacancies down below and make the first step to starting a fantastic new career. Need help with your NHS application? We've got you covered! Our brand-new step-by-step NHS Application Help Video will guide you through the process, making it easier, faster, and stress-free to apply. Additionally, you can check out our helpful Application Guide as well!

You can also look at our recruitment flipbook , an interactive brochure showcasing various entry-level roles. It includes a fun quiz to help you find the right role and links to more information about our hospitals and our fantastic staff.

Corporate Services Roles

For roles in our corporate services departments including Digital Services (I.T), Recruitment, Employment Services, Temporary Staffing, Rostering, Procurement and Finance, these departments are now part of OneLSC and can be found on the ELHT website: https://elht.nhs.uk/working-us/our-vacancies

We are looking to recruit a Payroll Administrator, who has a passion for helping us provide an excellent customer experience to our clients, has an excellent telephone manner and excellent administrative and IT skills. The candidate must demonstrate attention to detail and a commitment and enthusiasm to contributing to service improvement and development. The candidate must have knowledge of the ESR system and NHS terms and conditions whilst working under pressure and adhering to strict deadlines.

This role is based at our head office in Darwen delivering payroll services to multiple NHS Clients.

You will be responsible for an allocated area but will work closely together with our friendly and supportive Payroll team.
As a large, leading shared service provider, this opportunity will allow you to opportunity to enhance your skills with opportunities throughout ELFS for progression.

Main duties of the job

It's fair to say this job is varied and will keep you on your toes. You will be responsible for providing payroll services to Clients so comprehensive knowledge of NHS Payroll and good organisational skills are key.
You will be expected to manage, plan and organise your own workload, work independently and use your initiative to resolve any complex problems arising and communicate solutions effectively, escalating issues to your Team Leader where deemed necessary.

You will also need to work to strict deadlines ensuring accuracy and attention to detail are at the forefront of all tasks undertaken, and input a range of pay affecting data into the National ESR Payroll system. Undertaking a range of calculations (PAYE, Ni, SMP, SSP etc).

You will also need to ensure correct calculations in line with statutory deductions and correct entries are made in ESR. and respond to payroll queries in a professional and timely manner.

We work collaboratively as a team, where you will help with the development and implementation of new initiatives within the service and ensure that all payroll services processes are carried out in accordance with current legislation and best practice.

Working for our organisation

ELFS Business Services is the business division of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. As a leading provider in NHS Payroll Services, we combine best practice of shared services solution design with our extensive knowledge and experience in delivering NHS Payroll Services at a cost-effective price. Our payroll services are successfully delivered providing over 100,000 payslips per month across 14 large NHS Trust/ICBs throughout the country in addition to weekly payrolls, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time.

We work in partnership with our clients building a strong working relationship and in putting our customers at the heart of what we do.

Established in 2002, ELFS is a proven NHS owned Shared Service solution providing Financial and Payroll services to thirty-four NHS client organisations and one CIC’s throughout the country from its Head office in Darwen, Lancashire with a satellite unit based at St James House, Salford.

Our payroll department provides a comprehensive Payroll, Pensions, Expenses and Service desk to our clients. We are passionate about providing high quality services, staff development and growing our talent. We understand that quality and accuracy are paramount and encourage our staff on continued learning and development.

The post is based at our Head Office in Darwen, just off Junction 4 of the M65. We operate hybrid working giving you the flexibility to work from home as well as in the office.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Every day brings different but rewarding challenges in ensuring NHS staff are accurately and paid on time. Duties include:-
• Making authorised payments to employees accurately and promptly in accordance with Client Organisation Standing Financial Instructions, policies
• Ensure payments are in line with Statutory legislation, NHS terms and conditions of service or any locally agreed variations.
• Accurately inputting a range of pay affecting data into the National ESR Payroll system. Undertaking a range of calculations (PAYE, Ni, SMP, SSP etc)
• Working to strict deadlines ensuring accuracy and attention to detail are at the forefront of all tasks undertaken.
• Undertaking checking procedures, identifying any discrepancies and undertaking corrective action in ESR.
• Understanding of NHS Pension alongside any alternative pension schemes applying autoenrollment duties and ensuring correct banding and deductions are made.
• Providing support to staff responding to queries in a timely manner, explaining information clearly in order to resolve query.
• The job description and person specification are an outline to the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role.
• The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an on-going basis in accordance with the changing needs to the department and the organisation.

Person specification

Qualifications and Educations

• GCSE in Maths and English or equivalent qualifications at Grades 9-4 (A*-C)
• Minimum of 5 GCSEs including Maths & English at Grades 9-4 (A*-C) or equivalent qualifications.

Knowledge and Experience

• Working knowledge of computer Payroll input and spreadsheets
• Experience of working within an office environment.
• Aware of the concept and application of confidentiality
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Applications.
• Administration background
• Knowledge of Payroll Procedures.
• Customer Service Experience.

We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of race, age, disability, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marriage and civil partnership, neurodiversity or veteran status are encouraged to apply for this post. Our Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders is available Here

To support you in your application process we’ve created a What we can offer you guide that shows what you can expect when you join our hospitals. The guide includes links to our strategic aims and objectives as well as our values, development support and rewards and benefits. To help you get the best from your application we’ve also put together two guides to help you make your application the best it can be. Just click here and here to go through them, or have themopen as you complete your application.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) when writing job applications

If you choose to use AI or other tools to assist in writing your application, it's essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting information section. While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you’re applying for. There is also a risk that it can generate false or misleading information.

AI-generated job applications can often be generic, impersonal and may not accurately reflect your qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experiences. It is crucial that you personalise your supporting statement by articulating these in your unique voice. Relying solely on AI to write your application or supporting information section is not advocated by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals and could negatively impact your chances of success in the application process.

We have added a disclaimer to our application process advising that the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Supporting Information

The supporting information section is an opportunity for you to showcase how your qualifications, knowledge, skill and experiences align with the requirements and criteria outlined in the job description and person.

Our recruiting managers score applications based on the criteria listed in the person specification. They will be looking for evidence of how you meet these criteria. To increase your chances of securing an interview, provide examples of how you have applied your skills and knowledge in real-life situations. Share work-related successes and challenges you’ve navigated that align with the criteria. These could be from various aspects of your life, including work, education, and personal experiences.

Consider structuring your supporting information section with clear headings or bullet points. This approach will help both you and the recruiting manager navigate through your application more effectively.

Working Smarter pledge

We are reminded everyday of how important life is, so as part of our Working Smarter pledge we offer a variety of flexible working options and wellbeing support to enable our people to find and maintain the right work-life balance.

Secondments

If you are applying for a secondment role please ensure you have agreement from your current line manager prior to attending an interview. Also please ensure you have read the LTHTR Secondment Policy. A copy of this can be found on the intranet or by contacting [e-mail]

Please note a young person must be in part-time education or training until they’re 18. therefore if you are under 18 we are unable to employ you on a full time basis, unless it is in an apprenticeship role.

Disclosure and Barring Service checks

If the role you’ve applied for requires a Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) check we will administer this on your behalf and the cost will be recovered from your salary, either as a one-off payment, or over 3 months. The level of check required depends on the role that you have been offered. Currently the charges are - Basic DBS check £26.40 Standard DBS check £26.40 and Enhanced DBS check £54.40. You should be aware that if you are successful in obtaining a position that requires a DBS check but later withdraw your application, you may be required to reimburse the cost of the DBS check. DBS checks remain free of charge for volunteer positions. The DBS Code of Practice can be accessed here.

In line with guidance from United Kingdom Health Security Agency, all staff and volunteers are required to comply with Trust Infection Prevention and Control processes in relation to safe working. This includes mask wearing and adherence to social distancing at all Trust sites.

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We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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