Payroll, Pensions & Systems Coordinator

Bath Spa University; Newton St. Loe; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Pension scheme (LGPS/Teacher’s)

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work

Job summary

Bath Spa University is seeking a Payroll, Pensions & Systems Coordinator to lead and enhance payroll and pension services for over 2,000 staff. The role sits in HR and supports the Payroll & Pensions Manager, with focus on timely, compliant processing and system improvement.

Experience in full UK payroll, large payroll environments, and defined benefit pensions is essential; HE payroll experience is highly valued. Hybrid-working options and a competitive Grade 6 salary apply.

Qualifications

• Proven experience of full end-to-end UK Payroll
• Large payroll experience
• Process improvement experience
• Large system configuration & testing exeperience
• Defined Benefit Pension experience
• HE or Education Payroll/Pension experience

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of accurate and compliant payroll services, ensuring deadlines are met
• Drive development of payroll and pensions systems and processes for efficiency
• Oversee administration of the university’s pension schemes and data management
• Support audit, compliance and financial assurance activities with accurate information
• Provide day-to-day leadership to the Payroll & Pensions team

Skills

End-to-end UK Payroll

Large payroll experience

Process improvement

System configuration & testing

Defined Benefit Pension experience

HE or Education Payroll/Pension

iTrent configuration

Tools

iTrent

Job description

Payroll, Pensions & Systems Coordinator

Application Deadline: 11 September 2026

Department: HR

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Bath, Somerset - Newton Park

Compensation: Grade 6 - starting from £33,951 rising to £37,694 per annum

Description

This newly created role presents an exciting opportunity to transform and enhance the BSU payroll & pension services. The Payroll, Pensions & Systems Coordinator will Support and deputise for the Payroll & Pensions Manager to deliver accurate, timely and compliant payroll and pensions services for all University employees.

By streamlining existing processes, identifying and delivering system improvements, and strengthening pension engagement with our staff, this busy and varied role will enable the team to work smarter, improve the employee experience, and ensure consistent delivery of a first-class service to every employee.

Sitting in the HR Department, the Payroll team of four delivers the University’s payroll and pensions services through MHR iTrent. The team manages payroll for over 2,200 employees, covering the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) and Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), plus a separate payroll for around 150 employees with their own contractual and DC pension arrangements.

Team responsibilities span payroll processing, pensions, financial accounting, system configuration, process improvement, implementation and regulatory compliance.

The team works work closely with HR, Enterprise IT and our payroll software provider to maximise system capability, drive efficiencies, ensure regulatory compliance and maintain value for money.

About the Role

• Lead the delivery of accurate and compliant payroll services, ensuring statutory obligations and deadlines are met while working closely with HR and pensions colleagues to resolve complex issues and support informed decision-making through payroll data and reporting.
• Drive the ongoing development of payroll and pensions systems and processes, maximising efficiency, accuracy and service quality through continuous improvement, testing and implementation of system enhancements.
• Oversee the administration of the University’s pension schemes, ensuring compliance, high-quality data management and the delivery of accurate and timely pension communications.
• Support audit, compliance and financial assurance activities by providing accurate information, maintaining relevant policies and controls, and identifying and escalating financial risks where appropriate.
• Provide day-to-day leadership and support to the Payroll & Pensions team, contributing to payroll governance, sign-off processes and management cover when required.

For more information please see the JD.

About You

• Proven experience of full end-to-end UK Payroll
• Large payroll experience
• Process improvement experience
• Large system configuration & testing exeperience
• Defined Benefit Pension experience
• HE or Education Payroll/Pension experience

For further information on the essential and desirable skills we’re looking for, please refer to the attached Job Description.

Additional Information

Salary Grade 6 - starting from £33,951 rising to £37,694 per annum

The salary range shows the potential maximum pay progression in addition to any annual inflationary increase to your pay. Please note that our default position is to appoint into the lower end of the range, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Payroll & Pensions Manager

• Lead the team, Sign-off of each monthly payroll, Year-End & Audits
• Ensure statutory compliance
• Auto Re-enrolment & Contractual enrolment of pensions
• iTrent configuration improvements
• Pension engagement

Payroll & Pensions Administrator

• Full end to end of BSU Ltd payroll
• Pension calculations, returns, queries & audits
• Payroll accounting requirements

Payroll, Pensions & Systems Coordinator

• Supporting & testing iTrent configuration improvements
• Oversee all payroll & pension communications with staff
• Oversee all monthly payroll & pension processing
• Point of escalation for queries
• Assist the Manager ensuring processes and statutory requirements are met

Payroll & Pensions Assistant Processing & checking BSU payroll

• Responding to, or escalating staff queries

Staff Benefits

We offer a wide range of great benefits at BSU, including

• Generous pension scheme (Local Government Pension Scheme/Teacher's Pension Scheme). This is a defined benefit pension scheme which pays members a secure income for life, post-retirement
• Enhanced paid leave - 41 - 46 days depending on the role (Full Time) - more details here: https://apphub.bathspa.ac.uk/StaffBenefits
• Family friendly policies including hybrid working, flexible work environment, on-site nursery, and a sector-leading enhanced maternity scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme which offers access to on-demand GP appointments, wellbeing support and advice, and access to counselling
• Transport schemes including Electric Vehicle Scheme and Cycle to Work
• Wide range of discounts and financial benefits, accessed through and easy-to-use app

For further details about all our staff benefits, have a look at our rewards page: https://apphub.bathspa.ac.uk/StaffBenefits

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.