Payroll Assistant (Operations)

NHS National Services Scotland; City of Edinburgh, Kirkcaldy, Denny, Dumfries; Hybrid; GBP 21,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Work life balance policies

Occupational health services

Learning resource centres

Discounted leisure, financial and shop

Job summary

NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) Payroll Services is recruiting a Payroll Assistant (Operations) to support the delivery of a nationally managed payroll for around 80,000 staff across eight NHS Scotland Boards. The role requires accurate payroll processing and adherence to statutory legislation and contractual terms.

You will join a busy team within PSD Scotland, with hybrid working options and a 36-hour week, Monday to Friday.

Qualifications

• Strong administration skills and the ability to work accurately to strict deadlines.
• Previous payroll or finance experience is advantageous.
• Knowledge of payroll processes and statutory entitlements helpful.

Responsibilities

• Undertake payroll responsibilities for a section of staff in line with statutory legislation and local procedures.
• Provide payroll administration support to the team across all aspects of payroll and expenses.

Skills

Administration

Attention to deadlines

Payroll knowledge

Team player

Job description

Payroll Assistant (Operations)

4 permanent posts available

On 1 April 2026, NHS National Services Scotland (NSS) and NHS Education for Scotland (NES) became one national organisation, focused on continuity today and a stronger, more connected service for tomorrow.

About the Organisation:

PSD Scotland unites expertise from NES and NSS in a way that will allow us to accelerate national programmes to support the NHS to deliver better care, now and in the future.

We support staff with education and training, provide the tools and data that improve services, and run vital national functions such as procurement, logistics and blood, tissue and cell services.

The Post:

NSS Payroll Services has been granted the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals Payroll Assurance Scheme accreditation.
This post sits within Payroll Services, part of the finance, Corporate Governance and legal Services directorate, and plays a pivotal role in the delivery of a high-quality, fully managed payroll service across multiple NHS Scotland Boards. Payroll Services supports approximately 80,000 staff across eight Health Boards, managing a paybill in excess on £2.5 billion on a shared service basis.

The role of the Department is to ensure that, from recruitment to retirement, all employees are paid both timeously and accurately in conjunction with their contracts of employment and Terms and Conditions of Service. The department must also ensure that all boards are compliant with all aspects of Statutory legislation relating to Income Tax, National Insurance, Statutory absence payments (SSP, SMP, etc), NHS Scotland Pension Scheme etc.
Payroll Assistants undertake payroll responsibilities for a section of staff complying with all relevant statutory legislation and local procedures as well as providing payroll administration support to the team across all aspects of payroll and expenses.

The Candidate:

We are looking for a motivated and well-organised individual with strong administration skills and the ability to work accurately to strict deadlines. You should be able to prioritise your own workload, work independently and contribute flexibly as part of a team. Previous payroll or finance experience, together with knowledge of payroll processes, statutory entitlements and an understanding of the General Data Protection Act, would be advantageous.
Please see the Person Specification for further details.

Location and Working Pattern:

PSDS Payroll Services has office locations in Edinburgh, Kirkcaldy, Denny and Dumfries. We offer the opportunity for hybrid working. Hours are 36 per week on a Monday to Friday office hours basis with flexitime available.

PSD Scotland is a remote-friendly employer with colleagues based throughout Scotland. We support hybrid and office-based working arrangements where possible and welcome discussions about alternative working patterns during the application process.

It is a condition of this employment that you must live and remain a resident within the UK and have entitlement to work in the UK for the post in which you will be employed.

Benefits:

• pension scheme
• comprehensive range of work life balance policies
• occupational health services
• learning resource centres
• discounted leisure, financial and shopping benefits

HR Benefits Brochure.

Inclusion:

Public Services Delivery Scotland is a national organisation and, as an anchor institution, is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from all under-represented groups, including racially minoritised people and disabled people. You do not need to be working in a similar role now. Whether you are returning from a career break, such as maternity, paternity or caring responsibilities, or bringing transferable skills from another sector, your experience can bring a valuable perspective to our work. We are committed to supporting staff health, wellbeing and development, and offer a range of learning and development opportunities to promote diversity, inclusion and positive mental health. Staff can also join a range of equality networks. As an equal opportunities employer and accredited Disability Confident Leader, we offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria. Where exceptionally high application volumes make this impracticable, a fair and proportionate shortlisting approach will be applied in line with Disability Confident guidance. If you would like to discuss the role, reasonable adjustments or alternative working patterns before applying, please contact [e-mail].

Further information:

For an informal discussion on the post, please contact Anne Watson, Payroll Manager at [e-mail].

Closing date for completed applications is Wednesday 11th November 2026

Please note that the majority of correspondence is sent by e-mail only, so please check your e-mail regularly (including junk folders).

We are an equal opportunities employer and as committed participant in the disability confident scheme, guarantees to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies however, where exceptionally high application volumes make this impracticable, a fair and proportionate shortlisting approach will be applied in line with Disability Confident guidance.