What's involved with this role: Job Title: HR and Payroll Officer Ref: Stoke 5270551 Pay rate: £281.12 per day PAYE The role: Join us to play a vital role in providing an effective pay, conditions and pensions service ensuring the timely and accurate processing of information into the HR/payroll system and third-party systems. You’ll provide proactive, expert HR, pension, and payroll support—offering clear advice and guidance to managers and employees alike. Whether it’s employee relations, welfare, pensions, or pay and conditions, your professionalism will make a real difference. Your attention to detail will be key in managing all contractual, statutory, and pension-related changes—from new starters and auto-enrolment to terminations and variations in terms—ensuring every update is processed accurately and on time. Key responsibilities: Liaise and respond to info requests from employees, clients, pension authorities, government agencies, and external bodies via all communication methods Supervise Pay & Conditions Officers to ensure timely completion and dispatch of employment documents Check pre/post payroll reports and correct errors Reconcile payrolls; inform Accounts, Academies, and third parties of funding within deadlines Calculate pension, redundancy, settlement, and notice payment estimates; provide costs to employer Manage BACS transmissions for staff payments and third-party deductions Oversee emergency manual payments via banking system; ensure payroll accuracy Calculate and liaise on Third Party Claims with Solicitors and Risk/Insurance Services. Handle Academy conversions, TUPE transfers, and arrange deductions with third parties Liaise with Academies on policy changes affecting pay, conditions, and pensions Calculate/process overpayments; adjust pensions, NI, tax, and year-end figures Communicate with employees/clients about overpayments and underpayments Understand pension schemes and rules to advise employees, managers, clients, and HR Check and raise invoices for actuarial strain, loans, and vouchers Ensure pension authorities receive timely contributions, breakdowns, certificates, and returns Assist Pensions Manager with Ill Health applications and appeals Provide sensitive advice face-to-face on pensions and death-in-service cases Supervise, guide, and train Pay & Conditions Officers Review and update pay and conditions processes and documentation Suggest and implement improved working methods and systems Contribute to HR policy and procedure research and development Develop and maintain HR/payroll systems relating to pensions What the client is looking for: Strong knowledge and experience with integrated HR and payroll systems Technical experience in HR administration, payroll, or pension administration Able to investigate and resolve pay queries, including complex Tax and NI issues Experience with SAP ERP HR & Payroll, including Employee Central and Employee Central Payroll Knowledge of court order management via payroll Knowledge of Local Government and Teachers Pension schemes (to include I-Connect, MCR and EOYC) Understanding of Local Government legislation, including HMRC rules. Knowledge of local government terms and conditions Knowledge of salary sacrifice schemes and the application to employee pay. Knowledge of Statutory/Occupational & Parental leave entitlement schemes (Maternity, Shared Parental, Paternity, Maternity Support Leave) How to Apply Quote the Job Title and Reference Number in your application. Submit your CV in Word format. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis—early submission is recommended. If you do not hear from us within three working days, unfortunately your application has not been shortlisted on this occasion. Thank you for your interest in working with us. Please quote the Job Title & Vacancy Reference No. in your application, or we will be unable to match your CV to the role being applied for. JE Please note that clients invariably ask us to strip out contact details from CVs before we submit them for consideration. This is always quicker and easier to do if you send your CV to us in Word format, rather than as a PDF please.