Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Senior Payroll Officer (XN05)

The closing date is 01 October 2025

Job summary

The Senior Payroll Officer will be required to work in a busy section within Payroll, supporting the Payroll Section Manager in providing a comprehensive Payroll service to Managers, Human Resources, Finance and all employees of the Trust and other client organisations, including other NHS Trust, Hospices and University (Deanery). The role involves ensuring the processing of salaries, wages, personal expenses, and pensions administration within the section.

A key characteristic of the role is that it will have the responsibility for supporting a specific management area; however, it also provides flexible support performing specific tasks in relation to other areas and key payroll tasks which are section wide. This will involve the provision of payroll information and advice in accordance with the set procedures (NHS and Local Conditions of Service and Statutory Regulations) through completion of own work and through coordination and completion of work within the Payroll Team.

The Senior Payroll Officer will ensure that payrolls are processed in accordance with policies and procedures and investigates complex enquiries, providing assistance and advice.

The post holder will also monitor and supervise the Payroll Officers and Payroll Assistants within the Payroll Office on a day-to-day basis.

Expected Shortlisting Date

16/09/2025

Planned Interview Date

30/09/2025

Main duties of the job

To assist the Payroll Section Manager in ensuring the production of high-quality payroll output which meets the requirements of the organisation and is in line with agreed timescales.

To assist the Payroll Section Manager in all aspects of running their team and to take responsibility for others within the team.

Prioritises, plans, and organises own work and work of trainees within section to meet strict deadlines for payroll completion, pensions administration and statutory requirements.

To organise and be responsible for delivering core training in the specialism of payroll to new members of the team and to assist in the re-training of payroll staff whenever changes to systems/regulations are introduced.

Detailed knowledge of NHS Pensions scheme, regulations, and administrative procedures.

Ability to communicate orally, in writing and face to face with next of kin of deceased employees and terminally ill employees.

To make accurate payments of salaries and wages to employees in accordance with Local and National conditions.

To maintain accurate records of pay, income tax, national insurance, Statutory Sick Pay, Statutory Maternity Pay, Occupational Maternity Pay, Occupational Sick Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay and Working Family Tax Credits.

About us

The teams cover 10 separate clients providing a payroll and pensions service to the following organisations:

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Leeds & York Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust

Leeds Hospitals Charity

The Yorkshire Deanery (Registrars) which is linked to Leeds University

St. Gemmas Hospice

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust

Calderdale & Huddersfield Health Solutions

West Yorkshire ICB

Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust

GP Confederation

The Payroll Department is responsible for processing payments in excess of 55000 per month.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Details

Date posted

10 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9298-FIN-0152

Job locations

St. James's University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF


Job description

Job responsibilities

a) To assist the Payroll Section Manager in ensuring the production of high-quality payroll output which meets the requirements of the organisation and is in line with agreed timescales.

b) To meet the departmental heads as and when required to undertake a general review of any payroll issues associated with their area, raising any queries, highlighting where procedures are not being adhered to which could result in incorrect payments being made.

c) To make accurate payments of salaries and wages to employees in accordance with Local and National conditions.

d) To maintain accurate records of pay, income tax, national insurance, Statutory Sick Pay, Statutory Maternity Pay, Occupational Maternity Pay, Occupational Sick Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay and Working Family Tax Credits.

e) To maintain employees personal records including permanent grade/hours changes and ensuring all sickness/absence records are maintained to the standards required.

f) To perform tasks which need to be co-ordinated by one individual, on behalf of the payroll team, such as checking manual calculations of gross to net pay, undertaken by other members of staff.

g) To deal with enquiries connected with employees pay, verbal, electronic and written, and to give advice on the same to employees, departmental heads, colleagues within the pay office and external agencies.

h) To assist the Payroll Section Manager in all aspects of running their team and to take responsibility for others within the team.

i) To check permanent changes to employee records input by other team members and to check entries made to payroll records which affect the operation of the pension scheme.

j) To organise and be responsible for delivering core training in the specialism of payroll to new members of the team and to assist in the re-training of payroll staff whenever changes to systems/regulations are introduced.

k) To undertake calculations of complex payments of removal expenses and identify where a taxable benefit arises. This process will invariably require a detailed explanation of all the payments made including an interpretation of the relevant sections of the removal policy.

l) To interpret and implement pay awards in conjunction with the Payroll Section Manager.

m) Authorised signatory for NHS Pensions Scheme communications.

n) Authorised signatory for Removal Expenses.

o) Responsible for the calculation of overpayments and reporting on these to ensure that the Trust recovers any lost monies.

p) Involved in the initial stages of appraisal within the section, in conjunction with the Payroll Section Manager.

q) Regularly creates and uses spreadsheets to assist working practices.

r) Responsible for information input into Electronic Staff Record, which is then used to provide budgetary information for Trust Managers, Statutory returns to Dept. Of Health and Statutory returns to Inland Revenue.

s) Completes annual returns to Government Statistical Department relating to employee wages, collective agreements and client numbers and weekly and monthly payments.

t) Undertakes monthly and weekly audits of trainees in relation to Electronic Staff Record input and payroll output to check for accuracy or payments and to prevent fraud.

u) Prioritises, plans, and organises own work and work of trainees within section to meet strict deadlines for payroll completion, pensions administration and statutory requirements.

v) Answers queries both complex and simple from Managers, Human Resources Officers and employees relating to Terms and Conditions of Service, Statutory Payments (Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Sick Pay, Inland Revenue Regulations, NHS Pension Scheme), involving face to face, telephone, written and electronic media.

w) Frequent exposure and involvement with angry, irate, or distressed employees and relatives of employees, requiring tact, empathy, patience, and calming techniques.

x) Frequently answers complex queries from, and give advice to, employees where English is not their first language.

y) Frequently handles escalated queries from irate employees where payroll officers/assistants have been unable to resolve the problem, including reasons for delaying payments and other sensitive issues which can be contentious.

z) To act in an advisory capacity to managers and clients in the absence of the Section Manager.

aa) Occasional exposure to terminally ill employees to give assistance and help on most beneficial options.

bb) Occasionally required to act as an appointment panel member.

cc) Responsible for processing and authorised signatory for cheques and cash payments more than £5k.per month.

dd) Frequent requirement for prolonged concentration, controlling payrolls, checking, and reconciling information, inputting data, making calculations.

ee) Maintain client confidentiality in accordance with the data protection act.

ff) Any other duties as appropriate.

Job description

Job responsibilities

a) To assist the Payroll Section Manager in ensuring the production of high-quality payroll output which meets the requirements of the organisation and is in line with agreed timescales.

b) To meet the departmental heads as and when required to undertake a general review of any payroll issues associated with their area, raising any queries, highlighting where procedures are not being adhered to which could result in incorrect payments being made.

c) To make accurate payments of salaries and wages to employees in accordance with Local and National conditions.

d) To maintain accurate records of pay, income tax, national insurance, Statutory Sick Pay, Statutory Maternity Pay, Occupational Maternity Pay, Occupational Sick Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay and Working Family Tax Credits.

e) To maintain employees personal records including permanent grade/hours changes and ensuring all sickness/absence records are maintained to the standards required.

f) To perform tasks which need to be co-ordinated by one individual, on behalf of the payroll team, such as checking manual calculations of gross to net pay, undertaken by other members of staff.

g) To deal with enquiries connected with employees pay, verbal, electronic and written, and to give advice on the same to employees, departmental heads, colleagues within the pay office and external agencies.

h) To assist the Payroll Section Manager in all aspects of running their team and to take responsibility for others within the team.

i) To check permanent changes to employee records input by other team members and to check entries made to payroll records which affect the operation of the pension scheme.

j) To organise and be responsible for delivering core training in the specialism of payroll to new members of the team and to assist in the re-training of payroll staff whenever changes to systems/regulations are introduced.

k) To undertake calculations of complex payments of removal expenses and identify where a taxable benefit arises. This process will invariably require a detailed explanation of all the payments made including an interpretation of the relevant sections of the removal policy.

l) To interpret and implement pay awards in conjunction with the Payroll Section Manager.

m) Authorised signatory for NHS Pensions Scheme communications.

n) Authorised signatory for Removal Expenses.

o) Responsible for the calculation of overpayments and reporting on these to ensure that the Trust recovers any lost monies.

p) Involved in the initial stages of appraisal within the section, in conjunction with the Payroll Section Manager.

q) Regularly creates and uses spreadsheets to assist working practices.

r) Responsible for information input into Electronic Staff Record, which is then used to provide budgetary information for Trust Managers, Statutory returns to Dept. Of Health and Statutory returns to Inland Revenue.

s) Completes annual returns to Government Statistical Department relating to employee wages, collective agreements and client numbers and weekly and monthly payments.

t) Undertakes monthly and weekly audits of trainees in relation to Electronic Staff Record input and payroll output to check for accuracy or payments and to prevent fraud.

u) Prioritises, plans, and organises own work and work of trainees within section to meet strict deadlines for payroll completion, pensions administration and statutory requirements.

v) Answers queries both complex and simple from Managers, Human Resources Officers and employees relating to Terms and Conditions of Service, Statutory Payments (Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Sick Pay, Inland Revenue Regulations, NHS Pension Scheme), involving face to face, telephone, written and electronic media.

w) Frequent exposure and involvement with angry, irate, or distressed employees and relatives of employees, requiring tact, empathy, patience, and calming techniques.

x) Frequently answers complex queries from, and give advice to, employees where English is not their first language.

y) Frequently handles escalated queries from irate employees where payroll officers/assistants have been unable to resolve the problem, including reasons for delaying payments and other sensitive issues which can be contentious.

z) To act in an advisory capacity to managers and clients in the absence of the Section Manager.

aa) Occasional exposure to terminally ill employees to give assistance and help on most beneficial options.

bb) Occasionally required to act as an appointment panel member.

cc) Responsible for processing and authorised signatory for cheques and cash payments more than £5k.per month.

dd) Frequent requirement for prolonged concentration, controlling payrolls, checking, and reconciling information, inputting data, making calculations.

ee) Maintain client confidentiality in accordance with the data protection act.

ff) Any other duties as appropriate.

Person Specification

Skills & behaviours

Essential

  • Highly detailed and specialist knowledge of NHS Terms and Conditions of Service
  • Capacity to absorb and understand ever changing conditions of service and statutory requirements as above, which occurs at least on an annual basis
  • Ability to give complex, detailed advice and information to Managers and Human Resources outside of Payroll, on Pensions and Payroll related matters.
  • Ability to organise/plan own work and that of trainees ensuring that tasks are performed in accordance with departmental deadlines, managing a range of priorities

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working within a payroll/pensions environment for a substantial period of time. The post holder must demonstrate the ability to deal with all aspects of work associated with Payroll
  • Highly detailed knowledge of Electronic Staff Record System.
  • Detailed knowledge and understanding of complex Statutory requirements for PAYE, Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Sick Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay, Student Loan
  • Regularly creates and analyses complex reports generated from Electronic Staff Record, for use within the Payroll Office, for example, electronic time sheets, batch summary reports, sick reports,etc

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualifications and Training:IPPM Degree in Pensions/ Payroll Management or significant equivalent experience
  • NVQ level 3 Bereavement Awareness or equivalent experience

Desirable

  • European Computer Driving Licence or equivalent experience
  • Evidence of Managerial/HR short courses /Qualifications IT
  • Qualifications/evidence of short courses in Microsoft Office applications
  • Staff recruitment
Person Specification

Skills & behaviours

Essential

  • Highly detailed and specialist knowledge of NHS Terms and Conditions of Service
  • Capacity to absorb and understand ever changing conditions of service and statutory requirements as above, which occurs at least on an annual basis
  • Ability to give complex, detailed advice and information to Managers and Human Resources outside of Payroll, on Pensions and Payroll related matters.
  • Ability to organise/plan own work and that of trainees ensuring that tasks are performed in accordance with departmental deadlines, managing a range of priorities

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working within a payroll/pensions environment for a substantial period of time. The post holder must demonstrate the ability to deal with all aspects of work associated with Payroll
  • Highly detailed knowledge of Electronic Staff Record System.
  • Detailed knowledge and understanding of complex Statutory requirements for PAYE, Statutory Maternity Pay, Statutory Sick Pay, Statutory Paternity Pay, Statutory Adoption Pay, Student Loan
  • Regularly creates and analyses complex reports generated from Electronic Staff Record, for use within the Payroll Office, for example, electronic time sheets, batch summary reports, sick reports,etc

Qualifications

Essential

  • Qualifications and Training:IPPM Degree in Pensions/ Payroll Management or significant equivalent experience
  • NVQ level 3 Bereavement Awareness or equivalent experience

Desirable

  • European Computer Driving Licence or equivalent experience
  • Evidence of Managerial/HR short courses /Qualifications IT
  • Qualifications/evidence of short courses in Microsoft Office applications
  • Staff recruitment

Employer details

Employer name

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

St. James's University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF


Employer's website

https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

St. James's University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF


Employer's website

https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Payroll Section Manager

Nicola Cavanagh

nicola.cavanagh3@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

10 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 5

Salary

£31,049 to £37,796 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9298-FIN-0152

Job locations

St. James's University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF


Supporting documents

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