We are seeking to appoint a Payroll and Benefits Officer Application close date: 1st March 2026
Interview date: 10th March 2026
Previous Applicants need not apply Aims of Job/ Job Purpose As part of the Payroll and Benefits team you will be responsible for day to day payroll work for circa 1000 employees, including working collaboratively with internal People Services team for an accurate payrun.
Successful applicant will be expected to provide high quality specialist advice in relations to the Colleges Pension Schemes, Benefits and Pay queries.
Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities - Accurate Data Processing: Ensure precise processing of both fixed and variable payroll data, with all changes actioned promptly and accurately, guaranteeing employees are paid correctly and on time.
- Payroll Deductions & Compliance: Accurately process payroll deductions, including taxes, and ensure payments to third parties (e.g., HMRC, pension providers) are made within legal deadlines. Escalate issues to the Assistant Manager or Head of Payroll as needed.
- Pension Scheme Administration: Administer and process pension-related transactions, including accurate payments, compliance with Auto Enrolment legislation, refunds, and comprehensive reporting.
- Year-End Reporting: Complete year-end processes, including the calculation and reporting of P11Ds and P60s, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
- Query Resolution: Respond efficiently to payroll queries from employees, Finance, HMRC, local authorities, and pension providers, providing clear and accurate information.
- Mentorship and Team Contribution: Support and mentor the Payroll Apprentice, fostering a collaborative environment and contributing to team objectives and performance.
- Audit & Compliance: Regularly audit payroll documentation for compliance, assist with both internal and external audits, and maintain high standards of governance and data accuracy.
- Process Improvement: Evaluate payroll processes and document control procedures, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and assist in modernising workflows for smoother operations.
- Confidentiality & Data Protection: Maintain confidentiality in all payroll and benefits matters, ensuring compliance with Data Protection policies and regulations.
- Pension Scheme Administration (Local Government & Teachers' Pension): Manage the day-to-day administration of college pension schemes, including processing member data, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, and handling member queries.
- Pension Portal Management: Utilize pension provider portals effectively for reporting, communication, and scheme updates, ensuring accurate information is provided to both members and pension providers.
- Member Support: Assist pension scheme members with requests, including providing pension quotations, handling scheme transfers, and completing relevant forms (e.g., opt-ins, opt-outs, retirement forms).
- Legislative Compliance: Stay up to date with relevant legislative changes affecting pensions and payroll, ensuring continued compliance with internal and external regulations.
- Workload Prioritisation: Prioritize daily tasks effectively to meet strict payroll and pension deadlines with maximum accuracy.
- Monthly Payroll Processing Support: Assist in the monthly payroll process, including Net Pay Variance calculations, resolving discrepancies with People Services, and ensuring accurate submissions for FPS, EPS, and RTI compliance.
- Regulatory Compliance & Technical Knowledge: Ensure payroll processes are fully compliant with relevant legislation, including GDPR, HMRC requirements, and other statutory obligations. Keep abreast of regulatory changes to maintain an up-to-date technical knowledge base.
- HMRC Liaison: Proactively liaise with HMRC on technical inquiries, providing support and resolving complex payroll matters when they arise.
- Comprehensive Payroll Knowledge: Demonstrate a deep understanding of all aspects of payroll, including gross pay, net pay, PAYE/NIC, tax code changes, student loans, and statutory payments (e.g., redundancy, SMP, SAP, SPP, SSP).
The Job Description for this position has been attached, please refer to it for more detailed information. About South and City College Birmingham We are one of the largest further education providers in the UK, with eight campuses across the city. We are committed to ensuring students have the relevant skills, qualifications and experience for their future, whether that is to seek employment or continue their education.
Our vision is to be recognised as an outstanding educational and economical resource by, providing outstanding education, training that is primarily vocational in response to the needs of the learners, employers and other key stakeholders.
At South and City College Birmingham, equality, diversity and inclusion are integral to who we are and what we do. We are firmly committed to promoting and imbedding the key principles for all within our institution, from our learners to our staff, governors, employers, visitors and contractors.
For further details about the role and how to apply: To apply, please click onto the "
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If you have any queries not specified in the Job Description, please contact the People Services team by email to
[email protected] Safeguarding The college is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young adults and expect all staff to share this commitment.
The successful applicant will be subject to all necessary pre-employment checks. including, enhanced DBS; Prohibition check; Childcare Disqualification (where applicable); qualifications (where applicable); medical fitness; identity and right to work.
All applicants will be required to provide a minimum of two suitable references covering a 5-year period.
An online search will also be carried out as part of our due diligence on all shortlisted candidates.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Which means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are 'protected' so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are employers cannot take them into account.
Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.
Safeguarding is our top priority. We encourage all applicants to review our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, which outlines our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of learners.
This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016). Therefore, the ability to speak fluent and spoken English is an essential requirement for this role.
