Payroll & Reconciliation Advisor

Job Title: Payroll & Reconciliation Advisor
Contract Type: Fixed term contract up to 12 months
Salary: £30,727.23 per annum (£33,787.71 is achieved after 12 months successful performance in the role)
Working Hours: 35 Hours per week
Working Pattern: Monday-Friday
Location: Liverpool

If you share our values and are excited about making a significant impact at Riverside, please ensure you attach a current CV and covering letter. At Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience, so we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the essential criteria on the job description. 
Please note that whilst we will accept applications on the basis of any form of valid legal permission to work in the UK, we will be surrendering the Riverside Sponsorship licence, so for the avoidance of doubt, we are unable to apply for any further sponsorships whether on behalf of existing colleagues or candidates.  

The difference you’ll make as a Payroll & Reconciliation Advisor
You will provide a customer focussed Pay and Benefits reconciliation service to the Group ensuring adherence to all regulatory and statutory requirements. Conduct a range of technical and analytical activities in line with the Pay and Benefits frameworks, including quality and accuracy, advising and reporting on legislation and maintaining compliance at all times.

About you
We are looking for someone with:
• Proven track record of delivering payroll, pensions and benefit services within a large, complex organisation 
• Excellent attention to detail with the ability to work under pressure delivering to strict deadlines and manage conflicting priorities.
• Results driven with strong analytical skills, including the ability to critically analyse complex information, and experience of providing meaningful management information and insights. 
• CIPP qualified, or equivalent, or willingness to work towards.

Why Riverside?

At Riverside, we’re a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we’ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives.   
We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.

Working with us, you’ll enjoy:
•    Competitive pay & generous pension 
•    28 days holidays plus bank holidays
•    Flexible working options available
•    Investment in your learning, personal development and technology
•    A wide range of benefits

Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside: 
We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues. 
Riverside is a Disability Confident Employer and operates a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for any applicant who declares they have a disability. If the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the role (as set out in the role profile and/or person specification) they will be guaranteed an interview. 

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment. 
We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the criteria on the job description, at Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience.

Role Profile
• Deliver monthly analysis and reconciliation of pay, benefits and control accounts, ensuring accuracy and completeness in line with required standards and timescales. 
• Provide specialist technical expertise throughout the payroll & benefits lifecycle, liaising with third parties (HMRC & Regulators) regarding submissions, payments, deductions, tax treatment and statutory changes.. 
• Carry out pension activities for contractual and auto-enrolment services across the Group pensions schemes, ensuring accuracy and compliance with regulations at all times. 
• Perform accurate data calculations and analysis of payrolls for the Group and its subsidiaries, including statutory and occupational payments, deductions and reconciliation of movements and validation of variances (gross & net). 
• Perform and complete regulatory returns and reporting including processing monthly and annual payments and benefits within timescales and quality standards e.g. P11d, P60s, PSA, FPS, Pensions returns P45s. 
• Co-ordinate and manage accounting activities, working closely with finance, to ensure costings, GLI accounts and under & over payments balance reducing any risk to reporting and levy’s to the organisation. 
• Support payroll systems project management activities and regular systems upgrades, providing comprehensive testing where appropriate. 
• Lead or contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and change projects to enhance service performance and customer satisfaction, ensuring your deliverables meet service delivery plans.
• Increase self service capability through the provision of regular coaching and guidance of policies, processes and systems. 
• Maintain all payroll collateral, including procedure and toolkits, ensuring relevance and alignment to the overall People Strategy, compliance frameworks and business needs. 
• Accurately record all calls and queries to enable on-going management, reporting and tracking of queries, including the scanning of documents to employee records. 
• Monitor and maintain the integrity and quality of data input, call recording, case management and storage of documents, resolving and communicating any data quality improvements to achieve compliance standards. 
• Plan and prioritise work, check own work and that of others as required for completeness and accuracy.
• Provide accurate and timely payroll data to key stakeholders as required for review at regular performance meetings and to input into decision making as required. 
• Maintain industry knowledge, keeping abreast of payroll developments and opportunities including pay & benefits tax changes, to contribute to the planning process and future decision making. 
• Manage internal and external stakeholders effectively, building constructive working relationships to effectively deliver the Group’s People Strategy. 
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of People Services processes and procedures. 
• Respond flexibly to any necessary changes in work priorities and undertake other duties when required to support the effective operation of the service. 
• Ensure that all information security requirements, including data protection, are met in accordance with the Group’s policy, procedures and statutory requirements. 
• Ensure that health and safety requirements are met in accordance with the Group’s policy, procedures and statutory requirements.
• Provide payroll advice and expertise to colleagues across the Group, dealing with complaints and complex queries through to effective resolution, suggesting and implementing continuous improvement activity to prevent any reoccurrences of omissions and processing.
• Work closely with third party suppliers ensuring end to end processes, including governance and controls, are delivering a seamless and compliant service to colleagues. 
• Analysis and production of periodic and ad-hoc management information, communicating and presenting findings, often complex and statistical in nature in a simple and user friendly way.

Person Specification
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Essential
• Proven track record of delivering payroll, pensions and benefit services within a large, complex organisation 
• Excellent attention to detail with the ability to work under pressure delivering to strict deadlines and manage conflicting priorities.
• Results driven with strong analytical skills, including the ability to critically analyse complex information, and experience of providing meaningful management information and insights.
• CIPP qualified, or equivalent, or willingness to work towards. 
• Comprehensive up to date knowledge of HR Policy, payroll and benefits legislation, regulations and standards. 
• Strong numeracy skills with experience of accurately calculating pay, contributions, deduction, overtime, bonuses and allowances. 
• Understanding of the principles of data integrity and data quality. 
• Customer focused with excellent communication skills both written and verbal with the confidence to interact with employees at all levels. 
• Ability to show initiative and propose solutions to issues identified. 
• Commercially aware and results focused with the ability to take ownership of tasks. 
• Excellent team player who can work flexibly to meet business requirements. 
• Experience of successfully working with payroll/pension related systems together with strong MS Office skills.