Payroll and Pension Officer

The role involves inputting a range of pay-affecting data into the National ESR Payroll system and performing various calculations, such as PAYE, National Insurance, Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), and Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). The work is carried out to strict deadlines, with a strong focus on accuracy and attention to detail. In addition, the role includes taking appropriate recovery action based on individual circumstances and advising employees in accordance with departmental procedures. Corrective actions are undertaken in the ESR system to ensure accurate calculations of statutory deductions and that correct entries are made.,

• Make authorised payments to employees accurately and promptly in accordance with the Trust and Client Organisation Standing Financial Instructions, policies and procedures.
• Prepare and ensure that all payments are made in accordance with National Terms and Conditions unless specific written approval or local variations.
• Ensure accurate input of contractual and variable data and the completion of all appropriate documentation.
• Undertake validation of documentation prior to input, and feeding back discrepancies and advising correct course(s) of action to managers/clients as appropriate
• Accurate input of high volume and complex employee/payroll data into the Electronic Staff Record System within agreed deadlines.
• Process payments correctly within scheduled deadlines ensuring all input has been checked for authorisation and accuracy. Take corrective action as appropriate.
• Utilising report functionality to identify any payments processed and to identify any discrepancies.
• Ensure the accurate and timely completion and issuing of any HR letters or documents which form part of the HR transactional service.
• Ensure the correct assessment, calculation and application in relation to employee records, and ensure payments or deductions are made in accordance with legal and operational requirements.
• Make annual tax records and other relevant documentation available to employees promptly and in accordance with statutory legislation.
• Ensure the correct assessment, calculation and application in relation to employee records and payments.
• Ensure all payments are made in line with AfC/M&D Terms and Conditions of Service or local Trust policies and that the appropriate approval is sought for any payments outside these regulations in line with internal procedures.
• Utilise the Healthroster system to ensure that entries reflect correct payments due, in line with Statutory Terms and Conditions. Highlight to Healthroster Team if any discrepancies.
• Explain payroll, NHS Pension scheme and statutory information clearly to employees, handling and resolving complex and sensitive queries/issues courteously and confidentially.
• Take follow up action as required in order to resolve enquiries.
• Post holder demonstrates the ability to assist in the training and development of new or inexperienced staff.
• Organise and prioritise own workload ensuring strict deadlines are adhered to.
• Prepare relevant returns and documents and submit to external agencies and organisations in a timely manner.
• Reconcile deduction records with payroll system.
• Compile spreadsheets detailing complex pay information and responding to detailed enquiries from solicitors regarding loss of earnings, RTA and compensation claims.
• Prepare, process and update NHS pension scheme records via the internet using the NHS Pensions online facility.
• Ensure the correct set up and deduction for any local schemes including NEST.
• Ensure correct entries are made in ESR for Auto-enrolment.
• Respond to all enquiries either written or verbal in a professional, courteous and timely manner and ensuring a high standard of customer service is provided.
• Recognise where problems/issues need to be escalated.
• Provide effective communications to include the distribution of confidential information, including promotion of new communication technologies to the Trust and system users.
• Maintain an effective working relationship with other members of the department, other employees within the Trust and external organisations to deliver a professional service focused on achieving a high level of customer satisfaction.
• Plan own workload in conjunction with Employee Services Team Manager to ensure procedures and timescales are observed taking on additional payroll work to cover for absent colleagues.
• Issue the appropriate letters in respect of terminations, maternity and return, paternity/adoption and return, retire and return, change of hours and confirmation of employment.
• Comply with Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions, Reservation of Powers to the Board and Scheme of Delegation of the Trust and Client Organisations to ensure probity.
• Maintain an effective working relationship with other individuals of the Directorate, other officers of the Trust and Client Organisations in order to ensure the delivery of a professional service focused on achieving a high level of customer satisfaction.
• Adhere to the Trust's Standing Orders, Standing Financial Instructions and relevant Trust policies and procedures.
• Apply correct cost centres and subjective codes as instructed for split cost centres or recosting of elements.
• To carry out other appropriate delegated duties as required by Head of Department.
• The job description and person specification are an outline to the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role.
• The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an on-going basis in accordance with the changing needs to the department and the organisation.
  
  We are looking to recruit a Payroll and Pensions Officer, who has a passion for helping us provide an excellent customer experience to our clients, has an excellent telephone manner and excellent administrative and IT skills. The candidate must demonstrate attention to detail and a commitment and enthusiasm to contributing to service improvement and development. The candidate must have knowledge of the ESR system, Agenda for Change and NHS Pension scheme whilst working under pressure and adhering to strict deadlines., NVQ Level 4 or equivalent or experience of working in an Payroll environment, Extensive knowledge of pay procedures and statutory legislation and experience of working in a payroll department
• Working knowledge of payroll screens and transfer facilities within the H.R. system.
• Understanding of security and Health and safety issues.
• Comprehensive knowledge of computer input and the use of spreadsheets.
Desirable criteria
• Comprehensive knowledge of NHS conditions and pay procedures including the appropriate application of relevant statutory legislation.
• Previous experience and ability to use ESR payroll system.
• Experience and knowledge of NHS Pension rules and regulations.
  
  At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care. We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work., Our friendly and thriving Employee Business Services currently has 6 clients. Providing a high quality payroll and pension service to approx. 20,000 employees which equates to producing in excess of 300,000 payslips annually whilst consistently delivering accuracy rates of 99%., Our Partnership brings together the five NHS provider Trusts with the Integrated Care Board (ICB) in Lancashire and South Cumbria to improve health and healthcare. The organisations across Lancashire and South Cumbria involved in the collaboration are Blackpool Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.
This is about working together as equal partners to make sure patients, their families and communities benefit across the whole of the area. The aim is to reduce health inequalities and improve services, outcomes and people's experiences of accessing healthcare. Our partnership also aims to ensure that Lancashire and South Cumbria is a great place to work. We want to further improve quality by sharing skills and best practice, pooling our resources and standardising the way we work where possible to reduce unnecessary duplication. To achieve this we have created One LSC, which will oversee all corporate services for Lancashire and South Cumbria. This is an exciting time to join a new collaboration, which is focused on a system-wide approach to better outcomes for patients and opportunities for staff. Please note that One LSC is hosted by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, who would be the employer., The Trust is an equal opportunities employer, committed to improving the working lives of our staff and operates a 'Zero Tolerance' policy to aggression, violence, bullying and harassment. In addition, our aim is to help protect children and vulnerable adults by providing a first-class service to the recruitment of people into positions of trust. We aim to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone irrespective of ethnic origin, gender, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability or social background. We especially welcome applications from members of our black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, as we have identified that ELHT has an under-representation of BAME employees. Appointments will be made on merit.

It is important you are made aware of the following as regards your application to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
• Please note that the salary advertised is for full time hours. If this post is less than 37.5 hours per week, the salary will be pro-rata. For posts on Agenda for Change pay-scales, new entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the first pay point of the relevant band.
• This vacancy may close before the closing date if the recruiting manager deems sufficient applications have been received. Therefore it is advised to complete your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Please ensure you check the email account from which you apply regularly as we will use this to contact you regarding your application.
• Please note that shortlisting is completed anonymously with candidates being assessed against the essential criteria for the post. Therefore only applicants, who can clearly demonstrate how they meet our person specification criteria in their application, will be short-listed.
Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) If the role you are applying for is identified as either controlled or regulated activity as defined in in the Safeguarding vulnerable Groups Act (2006) any offer of employment is provisional upon a satisfactory DBS check being obtained. The healthcare sector is exempted from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. In line with other NHS organisations in the North West Region, the Trust is now passing the charge for undertaking a DBS check on to candidates in the event they are successfully appointed into the post for which they have applied. Candidates can choose whether to pay this over 1-3 months as a deduction from the monthly salary. However, if you are applying for a post as a BANK worker, the payment must be made in full at the time of employment checks. By applying for this vacancy you are agreeing to this undertaking in the event you are successfully appointed. The cost of an Enhanced Disclosure will be £55.38 and for a Standard Disclosure will be £27.38.