What's involved with this role: Senior Payroll Officer JM 88553 - Newcastle Contract Length: 6 months Pay Rate: £114.38 per day PAYE IR35: IN SCOPE 37 hours per week Location: NEWCASTLE – Can be hybrid or full time working in the office Security Clearance: BPSS Our client is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Payroll Officer to join their dynamic team. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented professional with strong legislative knowledge and technical payroll skills who is ready to hit the ground running. Responsibilities & Duties: 1. Staff Payroll Oversee monthly payroll processes, including BACS payments and General Ledger outputs Manage high volumes of sensitive payroll data under tight deadlines Reconcile team inputs and manage manual corrections and payments Process statutory deductions (e.g., HMRC) and compile monthly Tax/NI liabilities Liaise with the ESR Helpdesk, manage service requests, and stay updated on ESR/legislative changes Address staff and third-party payroll and pension queries, ensuring Data Protection compliance Support Payroll Officers with complex queries and administrative tasks Provide technical expertise and act as a knowledge resource for junior staff 2. Pensioner Payroll Monitor and validate daily pension payroll runs Cross-check outputs and exception reports for accuracy Ensure BACS payments are accurate and all adjustments are processed Distribute payslips, P60s, and pension communications Calculate and report pension-related Income Tax to HMRC Log and resolve technical issues with Compendia systems Stay up to date on Compendia procedures and train staff accordingly 3. General Responsibilities Provide training and guidance on payroll, pensions, and expenses procedures Handle requests for information while maintaining data confidentiality Escalate processing issues promptly to the Payroll & Pensions Manager Foster strong relationships with internal teams and external partners Support the induction of new staff and promote ongoing professional development Essential Requirements: Confident in manual gross-to-net payroll calculations Able to hit the ground running in a fast-paced environment In-depth understanding of PAYE, taxable benefits, and salary sacrifice legislation Proficient in Excel and capable of data analysis Public sector experience is welcomed but not essential 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. "XI JM 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.