People, Payroll & Compliance Officer

Howett Thorpe; Guildford; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous pension scheme

Employee wellbeing support

Professional development opportunities

Generous holiday entitlement

Supportive working environment

Job summary

Howett Thorpe is seeking a highly organised administrator to join our Surrey-based HR team as People, Payroll & Compliance Officer. You will work closely with the HR Manager to support HR, payroll and compliance processes, manage employee data and maintain workforce records.

A varied role overseeing recruitment, onboarding, payroll changes, benefits and reporting is included. The successful candidate will demonstrate experience in HR, payroll or admin, excellent organisation, attention to

Qualifications

• Experience in administrative, HR, payroll or compliance roles.
• Excellent organisational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and prioritise workloads.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office and workforce systems.
• Confidential handling of data and GDPR compliance knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Support HR administration across the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, changes and leaver processes.
• Coordinate payroll information and liaise with payroll providers.
• Maintain employee records, HR systems and personnel files.
• Administer employee benefits, absence management and related documentation.
• Handle HR-related enquiries professionally and promptly.
• Monitor workforce compliance records and documentation.
• Track agency worker compliance and required checks.
• Produce HR reports and workforce data for management decisions and statutory reporting.

Skills

HR administration

Payroll administration

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Data protection

MS Office

Discretion

Record keeping

Communication

GDPR

Tools

Payroll software

HR systems

Job description

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a highly organised and detail-focused administrator to join a respected educational organisation in Surrey. Working closely with the HR Manager, you will play a key role in supporting the delivery of efficient HR, payroll and workforce compliance processes.

Job Title: People, Payroll & Compliance Officer

Job Type: Permanent

Location: Surrey

Salary: £28,628 - £30,702 - 36 hours term time, plus 2 weeks - Office based

Reference No: 16180

People, Payroll & Compliance Officer About the Role

This is a varied position that would suit an experienced HR, payroll or administrative professional who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities and ensuring high levels of accuracy. You will provide administrative support throughout the employee lifecycle, maintain workforce records and systems, coordinate payroll information and support a range of HR and compliance activities.

The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring employee data is accurate, confidential and up to date, while helping to maintain robust workforce compliance processes and supporting reporting requirements across the organisation. Main Responsibilities:

• Support all HR administration activities across the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, contractual changes and leaver processes.
• Coordinate payroll information, processing changes accurately and liaising with payroll providers where required.
• Maintain employee records, HR systems and personnel files, ensuring information is accurate and up to date.
• Administer employee benefits, absence management systems and related documentation.
• Manage and respond to HR-related enquiries, ensuring a professional and timely service.
• Monitor and maintain workforce compliance records and documentation.
• Manage agency worker compliance tracking, ensuring all required checks and records are completed and maintained.
• Produce HR reports and workforce data to support management decision-making and statutory reporting requirements.
• Support organisational workforce census and reporting activities.
• Ensure compliance with GDPR, safeguarding requirements and internal policies.
• Assist with the continuous improvement of HR, payroll and compliance processes.
• Maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive employee and payroll information.

The Successful Candidate Will Have:

• Previous experience in an administrative, HR, payroll or compliance-focused role.
• Excellent organisational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Experience maintaining accurate records, databases, trackers and systems.
• The ability to manage multiple deadlines and prioritise workloads effectively.
• Strong IT skills, including experience using Microsoft Office applications and workforce systems.
• A professional and discreet approach when handling confidential information.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build positive working relationships with colleagues and external providers.
• An understanding of compliance processes, data protection and record-keeping requirements.
• A proactive and dependable approach with the ability to take ownership of administrative responsibilities.
• The ability to learn new systems and processes quickly.

Previous experience within HR, payroll or education would be advantageous, although candidates with strong administrative experience and a willingness to develop within a people-focused role are encouraged to apply. This is a fantastic opportunity for an organised and motivated professional to join a supportive organisation where attention to detail, teamwork and excellent service are highly valued.

We do not discriminate on the grounds of any protected characteristics.

Benefits:

• Generous pension scheme
• Employee wellbeing support
• Professional development opportunities
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Access to a supportive working environment