About The Role
Project Payroll & People Advisor
Fixed Term, Full Time
£26,315 up to £30,959 per annum
Location: Chelmsford
Working Style: Anywhere worker
ECC is looking for a team member with extensive payroll experience on a 14-month fixed-term contract to join a project team focussed on updating the absence and Pension configuration in our payroll software.
This position has an Anywhere Worker working style, but we will require you to attend the office in Chelmsford on average 2-3 days per month around business need.
What we are looking for in our future team member:
- Extensive payroll experience
- Ability to perform manual calculations of PAYE and National Insurance
- Understanding the key aspects of UK legislation regarding statutory absence entitlement and payments
- Experience in Local Government and Teachers Pensions with an understanding of assumed pensionable pay, and pension deduction tiers (preferred)
- User Acceptance testing experience and confidence in providing detailed feedback to third parties
We are looking for someone who loves payroll, appreciating its nuances and complexities, is curious and enjoys investigation and issue resolution, understands how payroll is everchanging, recognising its critical significance within an organisation and the importance of this project and getting it right.
Overview Of The Project
Elements updates and testing
We're reviewing all payment elements used by the payroll team and employees via self-service; liaising with our third-party software provider on the required amendments. These updates need thorough testing from both a professional user (payroll entry) and employee self-service perspective. It's crucial to verify the correct calculations based on the element configuration and employees' contracts, while also ensuring the appropriate statutory deductions and UK payslip compliance.
Statutory Absence
We're updating system configuration to improve the flexibility and accuracy of statutory absence processing. This requires comprehensive testing to confirm the correct calculation of entitlement to statutory payments alongside occupational payments, and subsequent reporting to HMRC via FPS and EPS.
Teachers’ Pension reporting
We're changing how ECC reports teachers' service, salary, and pension contributions to Teachers Pensions to make the process more efficient and less time-consuming. We need to ensure employees’ records hold the appropriate data and that payroll elements and absence are correctly configured to accurately reflect a teacher’s service and pay details.
Local Government Pension reporting
Local Government employers must submit a monthly report providing employee personal data, pay, contributions, changes to employee personal and employment data, new members, and those who have left the scheme. To transition to an automated LGPS report, current processes and system configuration will need to be reviewed, updated, and tested, ensuring all reporting requirements are met.
Skills and Qualifications:
Strong mathematical and numeracy skills.
Knowledge of payroll compliance and regulations.
Problem-solving and analytical skills.
Ability to work under pressure, meeting deadlines and targets.
Attention to detail and accuracy of work.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Excel.
Self-motivated and able to work independently, as well as part of a team.
Ability to plan and prioritize workload and adapt to changes.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong project planning, organization, and execution skills.
Well-developed interpersonal skills with the ability to quickly build rapport.
Preferred Experience:
Experience working within a Local Government payroll environment.
Experience working in a large Payroll function.
Proven competency in payroll regulation and legislation.
To read more about us please visit: People, Policy, Economy and Public Health
Why Essex?
As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we’re committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.
In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government’s devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR)) on our careers site
Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.
Once you’ve secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.
At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.
As part of employment with Essex County Council (ECC) should your role require a DBS check you will be required to register with the DBS update service. The DBS update service ensures all registered DBS certificates are kept up to date and allows authorised parties to view the status of your certificate. This is an annual subscription, and you will be responsible for ensuring this is maintained. For further information on the DBS update service please go to https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service
Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
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If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email
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