Payroll and Finance Officer

Coventry City Council; Coventry; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Coventry is seeking a Payroll and Finance Officer to manage payroll and pension financial processes. The ideal candidate will be proficient in financial management, with strong numeracy skills and a customer-focused approach. This role involves ensuring compliance with regulations and providing essential support to the service. The position offers a chance to impact our communities positively.

Benefits

Competitive rewards and benefits package

Qualifications

• Understanding of budgetary control and forecasting.
• High level of numeracy skills needed for financial tasks.
• Ability to liaise with various stakeholders effectively.

Responsibilities

• Manage payroll and pension financial processes.
• Ensure compliance with payroll regulations.
• Provide financial support for the Council's services.

Skills

Financial management

Numeracy skills

Customer-focused

IT proficiency

Job description

Overview

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, accepting of all and free from discrimination and bias.

Coventry City Council's Payroll & Pensions Service provides the full range of services to the Council, as well as to external customers on a traded service basis. Our People Plan 2022-25 sets out our ambitions as a HR service that will inspire others, working towards being a more diverse and inclusive employer and providing learning opportunities for the future, including having a digitally enabled workforce.

The work of our team spreads across two main areas: Council services/LA schools and external customers. We provide our services to approximately 40 external customers, paying up to 12,000 people. We have an excellent reputation and wish to grow our capacity for new business opportunities.

Our Values

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

What is the job role?

The role undertakes financial support in respect of payroll and employee benefits reconciliation and budgetary control for the Council and a number of our external customers.

As a Payroll and Finance Officer, you will manage payroll and pension financial processes. You'll play a key role in maintaining compliance with regulations and providing essential financial support to the service.

The role requires up-to-date knowledge of financial management, preferably in either a payroll or traded environment.

You will also liaise with and advise colleagues, managers, and customers in relation to IR35, employee benefits and P11D.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for an individual who has an understanding of financial management, including budgetary control, forecasting, payroll and pensions service requirements, and local authority financial practices.

You must have a high level of numeracy skills, be able to work under pressure to deadlines, prioritise and manage complex, time-critical tasks with proficiency in IT.

You should be customer-focused and able to develop effective working relationships with external partners whilst working cooperatively within an inclusive team environment.

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.

Interview date: 05 November 2025

About Coventry

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.

We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse. At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.

To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.

If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package - to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies