Location: Hybrid working (Halton Borough Council)
Hours: 20 hours per week
Pay Rate: £14.82 per hour
Contract: Initial 3-month contract (with potential for extension)
About the Role
Halton Borough Council is seeking a knowledgeable and detail-oriented Pay and Pensions Officer to join our team on a part-time, hybrid basis. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with payroll and pensions experience to contribute to a busy and supportive environment, ensuring employees and external payees are paid accurately and on time.
You will play a key role in delivering payroll services within strict deadlines, maintaining compliance with statutory regulations, and supporting pension administration across multiple schemes.
Key Responsibilities
Deliver accurate and timely payroll processes for internal and external payees, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, audit controls, and Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
Assist in the reconciliation of gross to net payroll calculations, identifying and resolving discrepancies.
Provide technical support across pension schemes including LGPS, TPS, and NHS.
Duties Include
Offering expert advice and guidance to employees, managers, schools, and SLA clients on payroll policies, procedures, and pension schemes.
Ensuring accurate calculation and payment of salaries, including handling pay variations, deductions, statutory payments (sick pay, maternity/paternity), overpayments, and recoveries.
Processing contractual changes such as starters, leavers, and amendments in line with legislation, HMRC guidance, and Council policy.
Advising on terms and conditions across various employment frameworks (e.g., NJC, JNC, NHS, School Teachers).
Preparing and maintaining payroll records, including payslips, P45s, and payments to external payees.
Analysing payroll reports and reconciling discrepancies prior to final processing.
Supporting monthly payroll and pension reconciliations, ensuring accuracy for statutory and financial reporting.
Assisting with statutory returns and pension reporting using relevant systems and tools.
Supporting pension estimates and redundancy calculations to aid decision-making.
Investigating and resolving pension data issues for schools using external providers.
Contributing to projects such as TUPE transfers by providing payroll and pensions expertise.
Supporting system testing and producing user guidance for HR/Payroll systems.
Undertaking additional duties appropriate to the role as required.
About You
Essential: Recognised BTEC Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Payroll Techniques / Payroll Procedures qualification, or equivalent evidence of an appropriate level of skills, HR/payroll knowledge, and ability.
Experience in payroll and/or pensions administration.
Strong understanding of statutory payroll requirements and pension schemes.
Excellent attention to detail and analytical skills.
Ability to manage multiple deadlines and prioritise workload effectively.
Strong communication skills with the ability to provide clear advice and guidance.
Experience working with HR/Payroll systems and reporting tools is desirable.Connect2Halton is a trading style of Halton & Kent Commercial Services LLP- A joint venture between Halton Borough Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2Halton is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates
Salary description
£14.82 - £14.82 per hour