Go back South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
People Services & Payroll Operations Lead
The closing date is 07 June 2026
We are looking for an experienced and forward-thinking People Services & Payroll Operations Leadto lead and modernise our people services and payroll function. This senior role provides strategic and operational leadership to our People Services team, ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, compliant and efficient payroll service for all SCAS employees.
You will act as the Trust's internal payroll expert, overseeing our outsourced payroll and pensions provider while strengthening internal processes, controls, customer service and data integrity. This is a key opportunity to rebuild capability, stabilise services, and drive improvement across the employee lifecycle.
Working closely with Finance, HR, Workforce Information and senior operational leaders, you will play a critical role in ensuring staff are paid correctly and on time, that statutory and NHS terms and conditions are applied accurately, and that our systems, reporting and governance are robust and future-proof.
This is an excellent role for a motivated leader with deep payroll expertise, strong people management skills, and a passion for service excellence and continuous improvement.
Please note: If we receive high volumes of applications, we may close this advert earlier than the current closing date.
Job summary
We are looking for an experienced and forward-thinking People Services & Payroll Operations Leadto lead and modernise our people services and payroll function. This senior role provides strategic and operational leadership to our People Services team, ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, compliant and efficient payroll service for all SCAS employees.
You will act as the Trust's internal payroll expert, overseeing our outsourced payroll and pensions provider while strengthening internal processes, controls, customer service and data integrity. This is a key opportunity to rebuild capability, stabilise services, and drive improvement across the employee lifecycle.
Working closely with Finance, HR, Workforce Information and senior operational leaders, you will play a critical role in ensuring staff are paid correctly and on time, that statutory and NHS terms and conditions are applied accurately, and that our systems, reporting and governance are robust and future-proof.
This is an excellent role for a motivated leader with deep payroll expertise, strong people management skills, and a passion for service excellence and continuous improvement.
Please note: If we receive high volumes of applications, we may close this advert earlier than the current closing date.
Main duties of the job
As the People Services & Payroll Operations Leadyour focus points will be:
Operational LeadershipLead a timely, accurate and customer-focused payroll & people services function. Manage the Trust's outsourced payroll contract, monitoring KPIs, SLAs, service reviews and escalation, and ensure accurate monthly payment of salaries, expenses and pay elements.
People Services & Team ManagementLead the People Service Partner in managing and developing the People Services team, ensuring high performance, resilience and service quality. Oversee team recruitment, performance management, resourcing and training, lead team meetings.
Payroll, Pensions & ComplianceOversee payroll and pension activity including starters, leavers, contractual changes, absence and family leave. Approve salary corrections and advances and ensure compliance with statutory requirements, NHS terms and local agreements.
Systems, Data & AssuranceAct as organisational owner for HR/People systems (e.g. ESR, e-Expenses, e-Payslips), ensuring data integrity through audits, reconciliations and exception management. Lead system improvements, training and releases. Produce payroll reporting, support audits, manage financial risk and work closely with Finance
Advisory & Stakeholder ManagementProvide expert advice on pay, tax, NI, pensions and employment legislation. Support organisational change through accurate costings and maintain strong relationships with managers, unions, external providers and stakeholders.
About us
Benefits we offer:
* Full training and a range of courses which you can book locally.
* Holiday entitlement of 27 days, rising to 29 days after 5 years' service and 33 days after 10 years' service, plus an additional 8 days bank holiday (pro rata for part time).
* Automatic enrolment into the NHS Pension Scheme.
* Access to continual professional development within SCAS and the wider NHS.
* Occupational Health support and direct access to our Employee Assistance Programme as well as our own Health and Wellbeing Team.
* NHS Discounts in over 200 + stores saving money on holidays, days out, car insurance, restaurants, clothing and much more.
* Ability to join our staff networking groups (as a member, ally or just for interest).
Corporate Induction
It's really important for us to ensure you have the best onboarding experience which allows you to feel a sense of belonging from the start. To help with this, we will book your Corporate Induction as soon as we possibly can (depending on availability).
All new starters need to attend our *Corporate Induction in person, this is held over one and half days from our educational centres based in: Newbury (Berkshire), Bicester (Oxfordshire) or Whiteley (Hampshire). More specific details will be sent to you once your start date has been confirmed.
*Please note - depending on your role additional training may be required following on from your corporate induction.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached job description and person specification.
To lead the delivery of a timely and effective Payroll & People Services administrativefunction.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* Masters level qualification in Payroll Management or equivalent experience. Full member of Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals.
* CIPP Qualified with significant post qualification experience
* CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management
Desirable
* Higher level postgraduate management qualification e.g. MSc, MBA
* PRINCE2 qualification
* CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in People Management
Knowledge
Essential
* Detailed knowledge of legislative regulations in relation to pay including tax, NI, sickness, maternity, salary sacrifice and liability orders
* Understanding of the NHS Audit requirements
* Expert knowledge of the operational aspects of running a payroll service, underpinned by practical experience
* Expert-level knowledge of Agenda for Change, NHS terms and conditions of service, including pay, allowances and deductions.
* Understanding of NHS pensions conditions and benefits
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please seeNHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Northern House
Northern House, 7-8 Talisman Business Centre
Bicester
OX26 6HR
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://scasjobs.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
£57,528 to £64,750 a yearpro rata per annum
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
12 months
Working pattern
Reference number
195-26-354-ARH
Job locations
Northern House
Northern House, 7-8 Talisman Business Centre
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