Payroll Administrator

Payroll Administrator

Salary: Competitive

12-Month Fixed-Term Contract

Location: Hybrid working. During your initial training period, you will be required to attend our Homer Road, Solihull office daily. Once training is complete, the role will move to a hybrid working arrangement with a minimum of two days per week in the office.

Join Our Payroll Team

We are looking for a detail-oriented and customer-focused Payroll Administrator to join our busy payroll team on a 12-month fixed-term contract. Supporting the processing of payroll for approximately 27,000 employees across multiple pay frequencies, you'll play a vital role in ensuring colleagues are paid accurately and on time.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with some payroll exposure, or a strong administrative background, who enjoys working with data, solving problems and delivering outstanding customer service. You'll gain valuable payroll experience while working within a supportive team environment.

What You'll Be Doing

Payroll Processing & Administration

• Process payroll transactions including salary changes, absences, overtime, bonus payments and statutory payments.
• Accurately input and maintain employee data within payroll systems.
• Carry out payroll validation checks and reconciliations to ensure accuracy before payroll deadlines.
• Support the delivery of payroll services in line with internal procedures and UK legislation.

Employee Support & Query Resolution

• Respond to payroll queries via telephone and email in a professional, helpful and empathetic manner.
• Investigate and resolve payroll issues, escalating complex cases where appropriate.
• Provide guidance on payslips, deductions, tax codes and payroll-related queries.
• Record and monitor query trends to support continuous improvement initiatives.

Compliance & Data Accuracy

• Ensure payroll processing complies with statutory requirements, including PAYE, National Insurance and statutory payments.
• Maintain high levels of data accuracy and confidentiality.
• Adhere to GDPR and company policies when handling sensitive employee information.

What We're Looking For

Essential Skills & Experience

• Previous administrative experience, ideally within payroll, finance, HR or a shared services environment.
• Good understanding of data entry and working accurately with large volumes of information.
• Confident communicator with excellent telephone and customer service skills.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to identify discrepancies.
• Comfortable working to deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.

Desirable

• Some knowledge of UK payroll processes and payroll legislation.
• Experience using payroll or HR systems such as ResourceLink, SAP HR or similar.
• Experience handling payroll-related queries.

Personal Attributes

• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
• Positive, proactive and eager to learn.
• Strong problem-solving and investigative skills.
• Able to manage multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy.
• Professional and discreet when handling confidential information.
• Collaborative team player with a customer-focused approach.
• Open to feedback, training and continuous development.

Why Join Us?

This role offers the opportunity to build payroll expertise within a large and complex organisation while working alongside experienced payroll professionals. If you enjoy working with numbers, solving problems and delivering a great service to internal customers, we'd love to hear from you.

Benefits

• Pension 6% employer matched
• Annual leave 25 days + bank holidays
• Life assurance 2x base salary if in pension, (1x if not)
• Flexible working to support work-life balance

Other notable benefits:

• Employee Assistance Programme
• 30% Serco Leisure Centre Discount
• Option to buy additional leave
• Charitable payroll giving
• A wide range of discounts

A little bit about us:
At Serco, everyone plays a vital part in delivering essential public services that make a real difference. As a global team of 50,000 people across Defence, Transport, Justice, Immigration, Healthcare, Leisure and Citizen Services, we’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the services that communities rely on. Guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation and Pride, our people make meaningful impact, every single day.

Our inclusive recruitment commitment:
We prioritise your skills and potential. As a Disability Confident Leader, the Top Great British Employer of Veterans 2026, and a Gold Inclusive Employer Standard holder, we champion equal opportunities for all. We offer flexible and hybrid working where possible and make reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.

• Guaranteed Interview Scheme: Applicants with disabilities, veterans and people with convictions, who meet the minimum job criteria, are guaranteed an interview. Simply opt into the relevant scheme on the application form.
• Ban The Box: We also support fair access for those with unspent criminal convictions through our ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some roles may have security exemptions).

For support with your application, please contact recruitmentuk@serco.com.

Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.