OR107302 – Payroll Officer

Job Title:             Payroll Officer            

Department:        Resources 

Division:              Finance   

Grade:                  SO2 

Reports to:          Payroll Team Leader   

Responsible for: None   

Context

Working with a diverse payroll team consisting of 12 members, managing the payroll operations for approximately 2,920 school staff, 3,200 corporate staff, and around 200 external school staff. maintaining close collaboration with our internal & external partners and software providers to ensure the smooth function of the Oracle payroll system.

Job Purpose

To assist in all aspects of the day to day delivery of a comprehensive and efficient payroll service, that ensures staff are paid accurately and on time and in accordance with legislation, regulations and Council policy.

To act as first line contact to the full range of clients (employees, Council departments, schools and external bodies).

To provide specialist advice on all matters pertaining to payroll administration regulations and associated policies.

Actively respond to and resolve payroll service desk items within performance targets.

Responsibilities

1. To assist line management in ensuring the timely, efficient and effective delivery of payroll so that performance targets are met and that payroll is developed in a way that will drive through measurable service efficiencies and enhance both service delivery and client expectation and experience.
2. Administer the Councils payroll and provide all the services associated with it in accordance with all relevant legislation, policies and procedures, including:

• Statutory and contractual Maternity pay
• Statutory and contractual sick pay, including liaison with managers and HR officers to ensure compliance with statutory regulations
• NI Benefits
• PILON
• pay awards
• increments
• manual payments.

1. Responsible for checking the work of team colleagues to ensure the accurate and timely payment of salaries.
2. Take total responsibility for the completion of service desk items in addition to clearing down allocated post and emails within set timescales to ensure consistent and high performance.
3. Liaise directly with employees, employers, external bodies by correspondence, telephone or in person in a professional manner.
4. To undertake presentations, surgeries and one to ones as and when required.
5. Deal with complex queries, utilising interpersonal and negotiation skills to build relationships and placing customer needs at the forefront.
6. Ensure that starters and leavers are processed in line with legislation and procedure.
7. Apply the terms and conditions relating to employees (teaching and non-teaching staff) and the Council�s policies and procedures in the calculation and processing of payments.
8. Process the employer functions in relation to pension scheme administration (e.g. TP, LGPS (Lambeth and LPFA), NHSPS and auto enrolment regulations).
9. To provide sound, specialist advice on a range of payroll matters relating to Income Tax, National Insurance Contributions, Statutory Sick Pay, Statutory Parental Pay and Student Loans, Real Time information and any new statutory legislations.
10. To advise on problems and issues within the post holder�s competence and ensure action is taken in line with the Council�s policies and statutory requirements using guidance from managers or specialist staff.
11. To ensure that letters and emails to customers are clear and concise enabling customer queries to be resolved first time.
12. Ensure that payroll services are actively promoted to all employees, continuously building and maintaining strong relationships with both internal and external customers and stakeholders.
13. Process documentation to the Contributions Agency and Inland Revenue in accordance with Legislation. Dispatch payslips, P45�s, P60�s and other documents and arrange payment of State Scheme premiums as required.
14. Represent the payroll team at relevant forums and stakeholder groups.
15. To ensure that financial or management information required for the Council�s accountancy or management systems or auditors, and returns to statutory and other bodies (e.g. NFI), is produced as required.
16. Assist in the preparation of pay calculations, ensuring adherence to and implementation of Statutory legislation and a variety of Local Government Terms and Conditions of Service in place such as NJC, Teachers, Soulbury, Local agreements and EMBs etc.
17. Liaise with external bodies (Contributions Agency, Inland Revenue, other Local Authorities etc.) and internal departments under the appropriate guidance and provide relevant information to Officers of Courts, liaising with solicitors and court officials as necessary.
18. Check data received from HR and schools for accuracy and compliance, input variable data and carry out any necessary manual computations.
19. Support line management in developing systems for minimising errors and omissions, highlighting potential anomalies in payroll calculations to mitigate risk of financial loss through overpayments.
20. Foster an inclusive, diverse environment where every team member feels valued and supported as an individual; treated fairly and with respect; enabled and empowered to perform; supported and encouraged to achieve their potential.
21. Work collaboratively within the team to ensure the service is provided in a way that promotes the Council�s approach to equality diversity and inclusion, at all times carrying out responsibilities/duties within the framework of the Council’s EDI Strategy.
22. Carry out any other duties which fall within the broad spirit, scope and purpose of this job description and which are commensurate with the grade of the post.
23. To work flexibly in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of this job and participate as required in multi-disciplinary cross-department and cross-organisational groups and task teams.

PERSON SPECIFICATION