Payroll Analyst - Faversham, Kent

Avante Care & Support Ltd.; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free DBS check

Pension scheme

24/7 GP and wellbeing support

Life Insurance

Staff recognition schemes

Discounts at 800+ retailers

Job summary

Avante Care & Support Ltd is seeking a Payroll Analyst to join our payroll team. Based at our Head Office in Faversham, the role involves monthly and four‑weekly payroll runs, accuracy of payroll data, and keeping up to date with HMRC changes. Occasional travel to services in Kent and South East London is expected.

You will support the Payroll Manager with data gathering, reporting, and process improvements, contributing to efficient payroll operations across the organisation.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' experience in a Payroll department.
• CIPP Level 3 qualification and CPD ongoing.
• Ability to prioritise work and meet tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong Excel skills including lookups and formulas.
• Experience with payroll systems and reporting is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Ensure smooth and timely completion of payroll runs.
• Establish clear payroll guidance and processes to reduce errors.
• Manage pension and benefits administration.
• Oversee life assurance scheme using payroll data.
• Handle employee lifecycle, RTW, onboarding, and compliance.
• Assist with year-end audit and statutory reporting.

Skills

Payroll processing

Excel

Communication

Prioritisation

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Education

CIPP Level 3

Tools

Workforce

Staffology

Job description

Avante Care and Support is a major provider of quality residential and community care for older people in Kent and South East London. The post will be based at Avante Care and Support’s Head Office in Faversham although there will be occasional travel to our services in Kent and South East London.

About the role

The Payroll Analyst is a key part of the Payroll Team and will be responsible for the preparation of monthly and four-weekly payroll runs. You will be responsible for controlling Avante Care & Support's payroll-related employee information to ensure it is maintained and accurate. You will also be expected to keep up to date with the latest legislation relating to Payroll and Pensions and HMRC changes, ensuring that Avante works within the required parameters. The role will also provide support to the Payroll Manager with data gathering and reporting.

Main responsibilities and duties

• Ensuring the smooth and timely completion of payrolls.
• Establishing clear payroll guidance and processes to reduce the error margin and strengthen the function.
• Managing pension and benefits administration.
• Managing the life assurance scheme using data driven from the payroll system.
• Employee lifecycle administration, including RTW, compliance and onboarding processes.
• Managing payslip, tax, pension and other benefit enquiries.
• Implementing new processes together with the People and Organisational Development (POD) Department to manage both recruitment and absence more effectively across the POD and Payroll functions.
• Checking reconciliations and irregular postings within the payroll and postings to the nominal ledger.
• Assisting with the year-end audit process, both leading up to and during the audit.
• Ensuring payrolls and reporting are completed to agreed deadlines and the year-end timetable is adhered to.
• Updating and providing analysis of costs incurred.
• Assisting the Payroll Manager with data gathering and reporting, both statutory and internal.

Internal audits

• Maintain a programme of internal payroll audits of all service locations within Avante.
• Ensure audit findings are documented and any issues followed up.
• Advise all Payroll and Finance Managers of the audit results.

Other responsibilities

• Provide support to home administrators and other departments as required.
• Adhere to Avante Care & Support's policies and procedures at all times, including confidentiality, health and safety and fire regulations.

Promote Avante Care & Support's Equal Opportunities Policy Statement and ensure awareness of differing ethnic, social and cultural backgrounds.

About you

• A minimum of 5 years' experience working in a Payroll department, ideally with exposure to all elements listed in the job description.
• CIPP Level 3 qualification and continued CPD.
• The ability to set and manage priorities, working to tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to effectively convey complex information at all levels and across departments.
• Good knowledge of Microsoft Excel, including lookups and conditional SUM functions.
• Experience in the use of Workforce and Staffology software would be advantageous.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Critical payroll procedure analysis skills would be advantageous.
• The ability to monitor and analyse data and streamline documentation and reporting processes.
• The ability to thrive whilst working under pressure.
• A hard-working and team-player approach.
• The ability to motivate in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Ideally, a driving licence and use of a car for occasional travel to our services when conducting internal audits and attending meetings.
• The ability to pass a DBS check, as you may be required to attend our care homes.

Why join Avante Care & Support?

This is an opportunity to join a key function within Avante Care & Support and play an important role in ensuring our payrolls are completed accurately and on time. You will work closely with the Payroll Manager and colleagues across Payroll, Finance and People and Organisational Development, helping to maintain accurate payroll information, strengthen processes and support effective reporting.

Why People Love Working With Us

• Free DBS check
• Pension scheme
• 24/7 GP and wellbeing support
• Life Insurance
• Staff recognition schemes
• Discounts at 800+ retailers

If you have the payroll experience, attention to detail and analytical skills we are looking for, we would love to hear from you.