Job summary University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL) is seeking an experienced and motivated Pay, Pensions & Benefits Liaison Team Leader to provide operational leadership within our People Services function. This is a key leadership role, providing day to day management and support to our small internal team and being the key liaison with our external payroll and pensions provider, ensuring the accurate, timely and compliant delivery of payroll, pensions and employee benefits. You will act as a senior escalation point for complex pay and pensions cases, work closely with our external payroll and pensions provider, and play an active role in service improvement, governance and digital transformation. Main duties of the job You will be an experienced payroll, pensions or benefits professional with strong leadership skills and a passion for accuracy, governance and service improvement. Essential criteria: Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant experience Payroll/Pensions qualification (e.g. CIPP) or equivalent experience Significant experience working in payroll, pensions and employee benefits within a complex organisation Proven experience of supervising and leading teams Strong knowledge of Agenda for Change, Medical & Dental terms and statutory pay requirements Working knowledge of NHS Pension schemes Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly to different audiences High level of accuracy, attention to detail and commitment to confidentiality Desirable criteria: Experience of using ESR Experience of working in the NHS or public sector Experience supporting service change, automation or digital transformation Why join UHL? At UHL, you'll be part of a supportive and forward-thinking People Services team, with opportunities to be involved in meaningful service improvement and digital transformation across one of the country's largest NHS Trusts. We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, compassionate leadership and creating a positive working environment where staff feel valued and supported. About us Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030). We have four primary goals: high-quality care for all, being a great place to work, partnerships for impact, and research and education excellence And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities. Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all: we are compassionate, we are proud, we are inclusive, and we are one team This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve. About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust: https://www.uhleicester.nhs.uk Job description Job responsibilities Key responsibilities Provide full line management to the Pay, Benefits & Expenses team, including performance management, appraisals, wellbeing and staff development Lead day to day payroll, benefits & expenses operations, ensuring transactions are processed accurately and within agreed deadlines Act as the first point of contact with the Payroll Provider, leading regular operational meetings Manage and resolve complex and sensitive pay and benefits queries, including over-payments and retrospective adjustments Oversee quality assurance processes, identifying errors, embedding learning and driving continuous improvement Ensure compliance with Agenda for Change, Medical & Dental Terms & Conditions, NHS Pension Scheme regulations, HMRC requirements and Trust policies Support audits, maintain accurate ESR records and ensure robust payroll controls Contribute to service improvement initiatives, automation and the implementation of national pay and pensions changes Build strong working relationships across People Services, Finance, CMGs and external partners Job description Job responsibilities Key responsibilities Provide full line management to the Pay, Benefits & Expenses team, including performance management, appraisals, wellbeing and staff development Lead day to day payroll, benefits & expenses operations, ensuring transactions are processed accurately and within agreed deadlines Act as the first point of contact with the Payroll Provider, leading regular operational meetings Manage and resolve complex and sensitive pay and benefits queries, including over-payments and retrospective adjustments Oversee quality assurance processes, identifying errors, embedding learning and driving continuous improvement Ensure compliance with Agenda for Change, Medical & Dental Terms & Conditions, NHS Pension Scheme regulations, HMRC requirements and Trust policies Support audits, maintain accurate ESR records and ensure robust payroll controls Contribute to service improvement initiatives, automation and the implementation of national pay and pensions changes Build strong working relationships across People Services, Finance, CMGs and external partners Person Specification Qualifications Essential Educated to degree level, or equivalent relevant experience Payroll/Pensions qualification (CIPP) Evidence of ongoing learning and development Desirable Experience of using ESR Experience Essential Experience working in payroll, pensions and employee benefits within a complex organisation Experience supervising and leading teams Experience of handling complex pay cases and providing first-line support to colleagues or customers Desirable Experience supporting service change or automation Experience of working in an NHS or public sector organisation Experience contributing to process improvement or service development Knowledge & Skills Essential Confident IT skills including use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams) Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities Ability to maintain accurate records and documentation Understanding of the importance of confidentiality and data protection when handling sensitive information Excellent attention to detail and quality focus Strong knowledge of Agenda for Change, Medical & Dental terms and conditions and statutory pay requirements Able to understand and interpret changes in local, national and statutory regulations Working knowledge of NHS Pension schemes Communication and relationship skills Essential Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with a range of stakeholders Ability to explain complex or technical information in a clear, accessible way for different audiences Confident in responding to queries, managing expectations and providing guidance to users Able to work collaboratively as part of a team and proven interpersonal skills to build positive working relationships Analytical and Judgement skills Essential Ability to follow processes accurately and identify errors, issues or exceptions Able to investigate problems, gather relevant information and escalate appropriately Excellent analytical skills and ability to quickly interpret data/information from a variety of sources and correctly apply complex national regulations Desirable Experience monitoring performance and supporting reporting activity Experience contributing to process improvement or service development Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours Essential Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's Values and Behaviours Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Essential Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs. All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high quality care and interactions with others Other requirements specific to the role Essential Ability to travel to Trust sites Person Specification Qualifications Essential Educated to degree level, or equivalent relevant experience Payroll/Pensions qualification (CIPP) Evidence of ongoing learning and development Desirable Experience of using ESR Experience Essential Experience working in payroll, pensions and employee benefits within a complex organisation Experience supervising and leading teams Experience of handling complex pay cases and providing first-line support to colleagues or customers Desirable Experience supporting service change or automation Experience of working in an NHS or public sector organisation Experience contributing to process improvement or service development Knowledge & Skills Essential Confident IT skills including use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams) Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities Ability to maintain accurate records and documentation Understanding of the importance of confidentiality and data protection when handling sensitive information Excellent attention to detail and quality focus Strong knowledge of Agenda for Change, Medical & Dental terms and conditions and statutory pay requirements Able to understand and interpret changes in local, national and statutory regulations Working knowledge of NHS Pension schemes Communication and relationship skills Essential Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with a range of stakeholders Ability to explain complex or technical information in a clear, accessible way for different audiences Confident in responding to queries, managing expectations and providing guidance to users Able to work collaboratively as part of a team and proven interpersonal skills to build positive working relationships Analytical and Judgement skills Essential Ability to follow processes accurately and identify errors, issues or exceptions Able to investigate problems, gather relevant information and escalate appropriately Excellent analytical skills and ability to quickly interpret data/information from a variety of sources and correctly apply complex national regulations Desirable Experience monitoring performance and supporting reporting activity Experience contributing to process improvement or service development Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours Essential Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's Values and Behaviours Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Essential Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs. All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high quality care and interactions with others Other requirements specific to the role Essential Ability to travel to Trust sites 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.. Additional information 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement.. Employer details Employer name University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust Address County Hall Leicester Road, Glenfield LE3 8HD Leicester LE3 8HD United Kingdom Employer's website