Job Title: Pensions and Payroll Compliance Lead

Pay Scale: SCP 20 – 25 pro rata £18,951 – £21,195 (full time salary £31,586 – £35,325)

Hours of Work: 0.6 FTE 22.2 hours a week

Location: Hybrid and flexible working

Line Manager: Deputy Chief Operating Officer

L.E.A.D. is a successful and growing Academy Trust, consisting of 27 academies across Nottingham, Sheffield, Derby, Lincoln and Leicester. This newly created role represents an exciting opportunity to be part of our professional services team that provide specialist expertise to our schools and associated Trust business areas, with the key aim to improve efficiency and support school improvement which benefits our 11,000 pupils and 1600 staff.

Job purpose:

This role will oversee the compliance and operational success of the Trust Payroll process, working closely with all colleagues within the Trust responsible for payroll input to support continuous improvement and best practice within L.E.A.D. Academy Trust.

At L.E.A.D we have a strong vision and four core principles, to lead, empower, achieve and drive. These principles underpin the day-to-day culture for support to our academies.

Overview of key duties:

• Ensure Trust processes and practice regarding payroll and pension administration are compliant with the relevant rules and regulations.
• Act as the Trust’s subject matter expert on all matters relating to payroll, including UK income tax, national insurance legislation and workplace pension rules.
• Champion payroll compliance with internal stakeholders across the Trust using specialist knowledge and working understanding of day-to-day payroll operations, procedures, and documents.
• Work closely with the Trust Payroll provider to regularly review and ensure ongoing good value for money for this service.
• Work closely with the Trust Pension providers to ensure the records held are accurate.

Candidate Requirements:

• Excellent working knowledge of payroll and pension systems and best practice.
• Knowledge of pension providers and other related processes such as salary sacrifice, benefits & expenses etc.
• Strong communication, presentational, organisational, and analytical skills.
• Self-starter, with and ability to work independently & use own initiative to overcome obstacles.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure Trust processes and practice regarding payroll and pension administration are compliant with the relevant rules and regulations.
• Act as the Trust’s subject matter expert on all matters relating to payroll, including UK income tax, national insurance legislation and workplace pension rules.
• Champion payroll compliance with internal stakeholders across the Trust using specialist knowledge and working understanding of day-to-day payroll operations, procedures, and documents.
• Work closely with the Trust Payroll provider to regularly review and ensure ongoing good value for money for this service.
• Work closely with the Trust Pension providers to ensure the records held are
• Monitor accuracy of payroll data inputted and timeliness of submissions across the Trust, working collaboratively to promote good working practices.
• Provide guidance on how to solve complex payroll, tax and pension
• Act as the primary monitor of upcoming changes to the UK payroll & pensions
• May demonstrate own duties to new or less experienced
• Takes responsibility for own personal development, including identifying relevant training Supports the schools in promoting the values of the organisation.
• Supports a positive culture throughout the organisation and adopts behaviours that exemplify the Trust’s culture.
• Liaises regularly and effectively with a wide range of stakeholders across the Trust, including budget holders and schools’ office and business managers.
• Liaises with external auditors and school administrative staff, to assist information flow, during internal and external audits.
• Works closely with external providers, ensuring that E.A.D is always represented professionally.

Influencing and Managing Relationships:

• Academy Office / Business Managers
• E.A.D. Central Support Teams
• Trust External suppliers for Payroll and HRIS
• Headteachers
• Directors of Schools
• Trust pension providers

Benefits of working at L.E.A.D. include:

• Hybrid and flexible working
• Generous holiday entitlement starting at 26 days, increasing with service.
• Access to generous Local Government Pension scheme.
• Development opportunities including CPD and apprenticeships.
• Out of Hours GP service
• Electric Car Scheme
• Employee Assistance programme including free, confidential counselling for employee and dependents over 16 in the household.
• Occupational health services
• Physio referral service
• Eye care vouchers
• Free Flu vaccinations
• Free parking & mileage expenses
• Air-conditioned modern head office
• Access to various discount platforms

Please see our Trust website for more information

Completed application forms should be returned to: [email protected]

Closing date: 30^th October 2024, 12:00pm, noon.

Interview date: 6^th November 2024

L.E.A.D. Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.