Payroll & Pensions Advisor

SF Partners; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

SF Partners is seeking a Payroll & Pensions Advisor to join the People Services team in Leicester on a 12-month fixed-term contract. The role involves preparing payroll data, providing expert guidance on pensions, and supporting pension scheme administration.

The successful candidate will be CIPP qualified (or with 3+ years payroll experience), have experience with occupational pension schemes and proficiency in SAP, iTrent, Oracle or similar systems, plus strong Excel and communication skills.

Qualifications

• CIPP qualification or 3+ years payroll experience.
• Experience administering occupational pension schemes.
• Experience with SAP, iTrent, Oracle or similar HR/payroll systems.
• Strong Excel, attention to detail and ability to work under pressure.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, coordinate and review monthly payroll data to ensure accuracy and compliance
• Resolve complex payroll and pensions queries, acting as escalation point where required
• Administer occupational pension schemes in line with legislative and regulatory requirements
• Maintain accurate payroll records and ensure data confidentiality
• Produce payroll and pensions reports and management information
• Support HR and payroll system testing, upgrades and process improvements
• Assist with payroll processing through to payment submission when required
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and knowledge sharing within the team
• Support the maintenance of payroll guidance and employee self–service resources

Skills

Excel skills

Communication skills

Customer service

Attention to detail

Payroll experience

Education

CIPP Qualified

Tools

SAP

iTrent

Oracle

Job description

Payroll & Pensions Advisor

Salary: GBP32,000 – GBP35,000

Contract: Full Time, 12–Month Fixed–Term Contract

Location: Leicester/Hybrid – 2 days in office per week

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Payroll & Pensions Advisor to join a busy People Services team within a large and well–established organisation.

This role is responsible for ensuring the accurate and timely preparation of payroll data ahead of monthly processing while supporting the delivery of a professional, compliant payroll and pensions service.

You will act as a key escalation point for complex payroll and pensions queries, provide expert advice to colleagues and stakeholders, and support the administration of multiple pension schemes. The role also plays an important part in system improvements, process optimisation and continuous improvement initiatives across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities:

• Prepare, coordinate and review monthly payroll data to ensure accuracy and compliance
• Resolve complex payroll and pensions queries, acting as an escalation point where required
• Administer occupational pension schemes in line with legislative and regulatory requirements
• Maintain accurate payroll records and ensure data confidentiality
• Produce payroll and pensions reports and management information
• Support HR and payroll system testing, upgrades and process improvements
• Assist with payroll processing through to payment submission when required
• Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, documentation and knowledge sharing within the team
• Support the maintenance of payroll guidance and employee self–service resources

The successful candidate will have:

• CIPP Qualified or 3 years+ recent payroll experience, with a thorough understanding of payroll processes across the full employee lifecycle.
• Experience administering occupational pension schemes
• Confident using integrated HR and payroll systems such as SAP, iTrent, Oracle, or similar platforms.
• Strong Excel skills, excellent attention to detail and the ability to work accurately under pressure are essential.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills, with the ability to explain complex payroll matters clearly and build effective relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

Additional Information:

• The successful candidate will be expected to maintain up–to–date knowledge of payroll legislation, pensions and industry best practice.
• All employees are expected to comply with organisational policies, procedures and relevant statutory requirements.