Senior payroll officer

Band 4 · Payroll officer · 286 job evaluation points

Senior payroll officers handle complex payroll cases, check the work of payroll officers, and help run payroll reconciliations and returns.

Responsibilities

Resolve complex pay cases, such as back pay, multiple contracts, and salary sacrifice.
Recover overpayments sensitively and in line with policy.
Reconcile payroll to the ledger, and prepare tax and pension reconciliations.
Check the work of payroll officers and sign off sections of the payroll.
Test pay award and rule changes in the payroll system before they go live.
Train payroll officers and give basic pay advice to managers.

Skills

Skill	Expected level	What this level means
PayrollThis reference	Practitioner (3)	You can: run the full payroll for a group of staff and sign off the payroll checks manage statutory payroll reporting and pension returns resolve complex cases, such as multiple contracts, back pay, or salary sacrifice test changes to the payroll system, such as annual pay awards and rule changes
Finance systemsThis reference	Working (2)	You can: use spreadsheets well, including formulas, lookups, and pivot tables maintain finance system data, such as cost centers, suppliers, and approvers report and help fix system problems
Financial controls and auditThis reference	Working (2)	You can: operate key controls, such as separation of duties and supplier bank detail checks provide evidence to auditors and answer their questions check that spending is approved at the right level
TaxThis reference	Working (2)	You can: prepare tax returns and reconciliations under supervision apply the right tax treatment to common purchases and income check employment status for contractors under guidance
Financial transactions and ledgersThis reference	Awareness (1)	You can: explain the purchase-to-pay and order-to-cash processes and your part in them enter invoices, receipts, and payments accurately, following set procedures check that a transaction has the right approval and supporting documents
Communicating informationUK GDaD PCF	Working (2)	You can: listen to the needs of design and business stakeholders and interpret information take part in discussions within a multidisciplinary team be an advocate for the team externally, and can manage differing perspectives shape and share communications relevant to the audience
Information governance and data protectionThis reference	Working (2)	You can: apply data protection principles to your work contribute to data protection impact assessments handle information requests and records correctly

Typical qualifications and experience

An intermediate payroll qualification, or equivalent experience.

Band 4 outline

Knowledge: Detailed knowledge of the work area, typically from a foundation degree, apprenticeship, or equivalent experience.
Autonomy: Works within guidelines; resolves most day-to-day problems; manager available for advice.
Scope: Own work and a defined service or process.
Leadership: May supervise a small team or coordinate others' work.
Accountability: Delivery of a defined service or process.

Job evaluation (illustrative)

Factor	Level	Level summary	Points
Communication and relationship skills	3	Gives routine information needing tact or persuasion, or complex or sensitive information, or straightforward training to groups.	21
Knowledge, training, and experience	4	A range of procedures, mostly non-routine, needing intermediate theory (for example a foundation degree or equivalent experience).	88
Analytical and judgmental skills	3	Judgments on a range of facts or situations needing analysis or comparison of options.	27
Planning and organizational skills	2	Plans straightforward tasks or activities, some ongoing.	15
Physical skills	3	Developed skills needing speed or accuracy, such as advanced keyboard use.	27
Responsibility for patient and client care	1	Helps patients, clients, or relatives during incidental contact.	4
Responsibility for policy and service development	2	Implements policies for own area and proposes changes to its practices.	12
Responsibility for financial and physical resources	3	Authorizes payments, buys some assets or supplies, monitors or holds a delegated budget, or maintains assets.	21
Responsibility for people	2	Supervises or coordinates staff day to day, trains others regularly, or gives basic HR advice.	12
Responsibility for information resources	3	Takes formal minutes, regularly writes reports or queries, or maintains information systems as a significant duty.	16
Responsibility for research and development	1	Carries out surveys or audits for own work; occasionally takes part in research or testing.	5
Freedom to act	2	Follows standard procedures and precedent; someone is usually available to ask; work may be checked.	12
Physical effort	2	Frequent sitting or standing in a restricted position, or occasional light to moderate effort.	7
Mental effort	2	Frequent concentration on predictable work, or occasional concentration on unpredictable work.	7
Emotional effort	1	Rare exposure, or occasional indirect exposure, to distressing circumstances.	5
Working conditions	2	Occasional unpleasant conditions, frequent travel or outdoor work, or near-continuous screen use on most days.	7
Total (Band 4: 271 to 325)			286