Payroll Officer

The Methodist Church in Britain; England; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Discovery Schools Academies Trust is seeking a permanent Payroll Administrator to join the People Team. You will run the monthly payroll cycle, check data, and submit to our external provider by deadlines while addressing payroll queries from schools and staff.

The role collaborates with schools, the Finance Team, and the People Team, and offers 37 hours per week across 52 weeks a year. Visa sponsorship is not available. We value confidentiality, accuracy, and proactive process improvement.

Qualifications

• Experience in payroll, finance, HR administration or a similar administrative role.
• Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.
• High-quality customer service and a willingness to support others.
• Organised, able to manage deadlines effectively.
• Confident communication with a range of stakeholders.
• Proactive and solution-focused, with ideas for improvement.

Responsibilities

• Coordinating the monthly payroll process, with information collated, checked and submitted within deadlines.
• Processing payroll changes for new starters, leavers and contractual amendments.
• Acting as the point of contact for payroll queries from schools and colleagues.
• Liaising with schools and managers to keep payroll information accurate and on time.
• Maintaining accurate employee and payroll records.
• Producing payroll reports and carrying out regular accuracy checks.
• Supporting compliance with payroll legislation, policies and procedures.
• Working with the external payroll provider and internal teams to resolve issues and improve processes.

Skills

Attention to detail

Customer service

Organised

Confident communication

Proactive approach

Job description

A new permanent post in the People Team of Discovery Schools Academies Trust, where the role will help shape how payroll support is delivered across the Trust's schools. The postholder runs the monthly payroll cycle, checking and submitting data to an external provider by agreed deadlines, and answers payroll queries from schools and staff. The role works with schools, the Finance Team and the People Team, at 37 hours a week for 52 weeks a year. Visa sponsorship is not available.

What the job involves

• Coordinating the monthly payroll process, with information collated, checked and submitted within deadlines
• Processing payroll changes for new starters, leavers and contractual amendments
• Acting as the point of contact for payroll queries from schools and colleagues
• Liaising with schools and managers to keep payroll information accurate and on time
• Maintaining accurate employee and payroll records
• Producing payroll reports and carrying out regular accuracy checks
• Supporting compliance with payroll legislation, policies and procedures
• Working with the external payroll provider and internal teams to resolve issues and improve processes

What’s required

Experience

• Experience in payroll, finance, HR administration or a similar administrative role

Skills & knowledge

• Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy
• High-quality customer service and a willingness to support others
• Organised, able to manage deadlines effectively
• Confident communication with a range of stakeholders
• Proactive and solution-focused, with ideas for improvement

Other

• Maintains confidentiality and professionalism at all times