Payroll & Finance Officer

Payroll & Finance Officer

Salary: £32,000 - £35,000

Location: Remote – Cheshire

Working Setup: Remote, with very occasional travel to the Cheshire office

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full-time

JGA Recruitment Group are working exclusively with a growing education organisation to recruit a Payroll & Finance Officer into their central team.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced payroll professional who enjoys working independently and wants to take ownership of an in-house payroll function supporting multiple schools.

The role is currently approximately 75% payroll and 25% finance, with the payroll element expected to increase as the organisation continues to grow. You will be responsible for the accurate and timely processing of payroll across academies and a central team.

The Role

Reporting to the Finance Manager, you will take ownership of the day-to-day payroll operation, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time while managing payroll-related pensions, statutory submissions and stakeholder queries.

Alongside payroll, you will support the wider finance team with reconciliations, invoices, month-end activity and general financial administration.

The role is predominantly remote, with occasional travel to the Cheshire office — approximately once a month during term time — so candidates within a reasonable commuting distance of Cheshire are preferred.

Key Responsibilities

Manage the end-to-end monthly payroll for multiple academies and the central team.

Ensure payroll calculations, deductions and submissions are accurate and completed within agreed deadlines.

Manage payroll-related queries and liaise with employees, schools, senior stakeholders and external bodies including HMRC and pension providers.

Manage Teachers' Pensions and Local Government Pension Scheme requirements, including relevant forms, returns and deductions.

Complete monthly payroll and budget reconciliations, investigating and explaining variances.

Upload monthly payroll costs to the finance system and support the wider finance team with reporting and administration.

Review and approve academy invoices and assist with month-end routines.

Support bank reconciliations, the asset register and wider financial administration.

Provide advice and guidance to colleagues on payroll and finance matters.

Identify opportunities to improve payroll and finance processes as the organisation continues to grow.

About You

The successful candidate will have:

Current or recent experience running a monthly payroll from end to end.

Previous education, academy or school payroll experience is highly desirable.

A strong understanding of PAYE, pensions and UK payroll legislation.

Experience with Teachers' Pensions and/or LGPS would be advantageous.

Experience using payroll software

AAT qualification or equivalent experience, with an understanding of accruals-based accounting.

Good Excel and wider MS Office skills.

Strong attention to detail and the ability to work accurately to tight payroll deadlines.

The confidence to work independently, manage your own workload and take ownership of the payroll function.

Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain payroll and financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues.

What's on Offer

£32,000 - £35,000 salary

Permanent position

Predominantly remote working

Occasional travel to the Cheshire office during term time

5 weeks' annual leave, increasing to 6 weeks after 5 years' service

Bank holidays

Local Government Pension Scheme

Individualised, funded training plan

Annual flu jab

Cycle to Work Scheme

Opportunity to develop with a growing organisation and take increasing ownership of the payroll function

Interested?

If you're an experienced payroll professional with education-sector experience and are looking for a predominantly remote role where you can take genuine ownership of the payroll function, we'd love to hear from you.

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JGA Recruitment Group Ltd (“We”) are committed to equality of opportunity for all applications regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage and civil partnerships. We strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply.

We are also committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. We are a specialist Payroll and HR recruitment agency and recruitment business as defined in the Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003