Payroll Officer

Job summary

We are seeking an experienced Payroll Officer to join our Payroll Team and support the accurate and timely delivery of weekly and monthly payrolls across the Trust.

This role is ideal for someone with hands-on payroll experience who can work confidently and independently, applying NHS Terms and Conditions and statutory payroll regulations with minimal supervision. The successful candidate will play an active role from day one, helping to maintain service continuity and ensure employees are paid accurately and on time.

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further details.

Main duties of the job

• To provide an accurate payroll and pension service to the Trust, ensuring that data is prepared and input into ESR in a timely and accurate manner and within the timetables set within the payroll processing calendar, ensuring that all employees are paid in a timely manner
• To analyse and interpret complex payments (for example, following pay awards, organisational change, re-gradings, etc). Investigate pay queries and analyse detailed data to identify errors and discrepancies. Inform individuals of overpayments and negotiate how monies are recovered
• Using under-pinning knowledge ensure the processing, correct application and calculation of tax, national insurance, pension, sickness, maternity, paternity and statutory deductions (e.g. court, council tax, child support deductions) etc are accurate and complies with statutory and organisational requirements escalating and liaising with internal & external bodies where necessary
• To maintain accurate sickness absence and entitlement records for each employee. Advise the employee and manager of any half and no-pay situations and maintain a deemed pensionable pay record as necessary
• To ensure that changes to employees details and pay and any payments made, are done so in line with the correct authorisation procedures detailed within the department, by means of the Trusts authorised signature list

About us

We are an acute trust caring for over one million people in Wakefield and Kirklees. Our 10,000 staff work in patients homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield). We prioritise our people and values so we can deliver the best possible care to patients. Our team is friendly, passionate, and innovative, always seeking better ways to work. We support work-life balance and foster a diverse, inclusive environment where everyone belongs. Our staff networks offer safe spaces to share ideas and concerns so we can increase awareness and appreciation of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and especially encourage members of the LGBTQ+ community, ethnic minority groups, and people with disabilities or neurodivergence to apply, as they are currently underrepresented in the Trust. As a member of the team, you will have access to the NHS pension plan, a generous holiday allowance, employee health and wellbeing services and extensive benefits and support. These include onsite nurseries, childcare vouchers, home electronics schemes, working carers support, carer-friendly policies, and more. If you value caring, high standards, improvement, and respect, join the MY team to make a difference every day.

Details

• Date posted: 14 September 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 4
• Salary: £28,392 to £31,157 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 001558
• Job locations: Stanley Hall - Pinderfields General Hospital, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, WF1 4AL, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Essential person specification requirements

Qualifications:

• Sound educational background (4 GCSEs, grade C or above including Maths)
• NVQ Level 3 in Payroll or equivalent relevant experience

Experience:

• Experience of working with computer software programmes such as Microsoft Office, e-mail and internet.
• Knowledge of ESR system.
• Experience of working in a busy office environment and responding to competing demands
• Awareness of NHS Terms and Conditions of Service, including Agenda for Change and Medical and Dental
• Significant experience of working as a Payroll officer

Knowledge and Awareness:

• Understanding and knowledge of dealing with sensitive and confidential issues, work policies and procedures (Data Protection Act)
• In depth knowledge and understanding of payroll systems, procedures and current legislation (manual and computerised), including calculating payroll payments from gross to net.
• Knowledge of statutory regulations – PAYE, NIC, SSP, SMP, SAP, SPP