Summary
We’re looking for a Payroll Officer to join our People Services Centre, playing a vital role in delivering accurate, timely payroll for people across the National Trust. This role is central to ensuring pay is processed correctly, compliantly and with care, supporting colleagues and managers across the organisation and helping protect our reputation.
You’ll bring specialist payroll knowledge and a strong customer focus, working in a complex, high‑volume environment where attention to detail and confidentiality are essential. This is a role where your expertise makes a real difference to people’s experience of work at the Trust.
What it's like to work here
You’ll be part of a collaborative People Services Centre, working closely with colleagues across payroll, HR, finance and related teams. We work as one team, sharing knowledge and supporting each other to deliver a dependable, high‑quality service.
Your contractual location will be our office in Swindon and there will be an expectation for you to attend the office regularly. However, there is flexibility on where you are based at other times. You will be required to work at a National Trust location for 40-60% of your working week. This will be discussed in more detail at interview.
What you'll be doing
You’ll be responsible for processing and delivering multiple monthly payrolls, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and compliance with internal controls and external legislation. You’ll respond to payroll queries, solve complex pay issues, and provide clear, professional advice to colleagues and stakeholders.
You’ll help prepare payrolls for authorisation and BACS submission, carry out user acceptance testing for system and legislative changes, and contribute to continuous improvement in payroll processes and reporting. Working with a wide range of teams, you’ll apply judgement, discretion and technical expertise to ensure payroll is delivered with confidence and care.
You can view the full role profile for this role in the document attached. You don't need to have all of the knowledge, skills and experience listed in the role profile; this is just to provide a full picture of what’s possible in this role.
Who we're looking for
1. Strong knowledge of payroll compliance and legislation
2. Ability to manually calculate payroll tasks – PAYE, SMP SSP, Overpayments
3. Provide great communication to deal effectively with diverse stakeholders
4. Delivery focused, time management and ability to meet critical deadlines
5. Experience using Oracle payroll or similar application
The package
The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.
•Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
•Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
•Rental deposit loan scheme
•Season ticket loan
•EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
•Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
•Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
•Flexible working whenever possible
•Employee assistance programme
•Free parking at most Trust places