Payroll Advisor

Diamond Light Source; Harwell; On-site; GBP 11,000 - 16,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave

Defined benefit pension (2.3%)

Relocation allowance

Job summary

Diamond Light Source in Harwell, Oxfordshire, is seeking a Payroll Advisor for a part-time, 16‑hour-per-week, 12‑month fixed-term contract. The role supports the Payroll Manager across all payroll activities, working with Finance and HR to deliver payroll from start to finish.

The position is predominantly on-site with the possibility to work from home one day a week, and requires CIPP or equivalent, plus experience with pensions administration and MS Excel.

Qualifications

• Proven experience of processing UK payroll.
• Working knowledge of UK payroll rules and compliance.
• Experience administering medium to large payrolls.
• CIPP qualification or equivalent payroll qualification is essential.

Responsibilities

• Support Payroll Manager with payroll activities across the employee life cycle.
• Deliver payroll processes from start to finish.
• Collaborate with Finance and HR teams to ensure accurate payroll output.
• On-site role at Diamond Light Source in Harwell with occasional home working.

Skills

UK payroll knowledge

Payroll processing

MS Excel

Pensions administration

CIPP qualification

Education

CIPP qualification

Tools

MS Excel

Job description

Based onsite at Diamond Light Source, Harwell, Oxfordshire

Part time (16 hours per week), 12-month fixed-term contract

About Us

Diamond Light Source is the UK’s national synchrotron science facility. By accelerating electrons to near light-speed, Diamond generates brilliant beams of light from infra-red to X-rays which are used for academic and industry research and development across a range of scientific disciplines including structural biology, physics, chemistry, materials science, engineering, earth and environmental sciences.

About the Role

We now have an opportunity for a Payroll Advisor to join Diamond’s Finance and Corporate Services Team on apart time (16 hours per week),12-month fixed-term contract.

This role will support the Payroll Manager with payroll activities across all aspects of the employee life cycle, working closely with both Finance and HR teams to deliver payroll processes from start to finish.

The role will predominantly be based on site at Diamond in Harwell, Oxfordshire, with the possibility of working from home one day a week when appropriate.

About You

Along with the ability to adapt to a changing environment and demonstrate excellent communication skills, you should also have:

• Proven experience of successfully processing UK payroll.
• Working knowledge of UK payroll rules and how to apply them to maintain compliance.
• Experience of processing medium to large payrolls, which would be a major asset.
• Experience of administering pensions, which is essential to this role.

Being CIPP qualified, or holding an equivalent payroll qualification, together with intermediate MS Excel skills, is also essential.

Benefits

• Diamond offers an exceptional benefits package to support staff in achieving a positive work/life balance. This includes 26 days annual leave plus Christmas closure, public holidays, 2 annual volunteering days and flexible working hours.
• We also offer an excellent defined benefit pension scheme with a 2.3% accrual rate.
• A relocation allowance may also be available where applicable.

• Our campus-based location, with open green space, offers sports pitches, an outdoor gym, as well as a network of cycle, running and walking routes.
• Staff also have access to a range of onsite amenities including cafes, restaurants, a daycare nursery and free on-site parking.

The closing date for applications is 6th September 2026 with interviews scheduled for 8th September 2026.

Please note that this role doesn't meet the requirements for visa sponsorship.