Job Title: Payroll Specialist - Systems Implementation & Transformation
Location: Walsall
HR & Payroll Team at The Mercian Trust
HR and Payroll Department sits within the heart The Mercian Trust. The department supports all of The Mercian Trust Schools and Central Teams..
INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES, IMPROVING OUTCOMES
As one Trust we share a common purpose. We call it our social mobility and social justice mission to change our communities through the very best equitable education. When we get this right, it enables our children and young people to fulfil their potential, thrive in the world of work, and make a positive contribution to the local, national and international community.
Put simply, our common purpose is to increase opportunities and improve outcomes for our students. We are particularly committed to students who are under-served and under-resourced. We prioritise those who have special educational needs and disabilities, or who are more likely to face discrimination for whatever reason.
It is this common purpose that fuels everything we do. We deliver impactful, sustainable and ethical continuous school improvement in our schools to ensure the children and young people in the communities we serve learn in the very best and most inclusive schools.
We are deeply rooted in the communities we serve (which are the education investment areas of the West Midlands). We adopt a pioneering spirit and look to lead the sector with innovative solutions to the problems our students and families face.
Want to make a difference to young people?
Are you ready to embark on a rewarding journey within an educational community that values increasing opportunities, improving outcomes for our students. We are looking for a Payroll Specialist - Systems Implementation & Transformation to join The HR & Payroll Team. Reporting to Julie Leo, you will:
Provide specialist, hands-on payroll expertise to support the Mercian Trust in the procurement, business readiness, implementation and optimisation of a Payroll and HR System and outsourced payroll service. The post holder will act as the Trust’s payroll and HR client-side representative throughout the procurement and mobilisation project, ensuring that operational payroll and HR requirements, controls and user needs are fully understood, tested and embedded. The role will also support the continued accurate delivery of the Trust’s current monthly payroll and use practical experience of running payroll to inform system requirements, supplier evaluation and process improvement. This role will bridge operational payroll delivery and strategic transformation.
Key responsibilities:
Payroll Operations:
Provide hands on support to the existing payroll team with the delivery, checking and reconciliation of the Trust’s monthly payroll processing, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, compliance and continuity of service
Apply practical experience of managing payroll operations to identify issues, resolve queries, support exception reporting and ensure effective payroll controls are operating in the current service.
Payroll & HR System Procurement Support
Work alongside the Director of People and OD to support the tender evaluation process
Implementation & Mobilisation
Act as a key payroll subject matter expert and user representative during system implementation, mobilisation and onboarding
Pr Process Review & Improvement
U Undertake a full review of current payroll and HR processes
R Risk, Compliance & Governance
I Identify and mitigate payroll risks, including overpayments, contractual changes, compliance gaps.
S Stakeholder Support
Pr Provide guidance on payroll implications of HR decisions (e.g. contracts, changes, restructures)
Key Deliverables
- Continuity of accurate monthly payroll delivery
- Successful procurement support (robust evaluation input)
- Business readiness for a go live date of 1st April 2027
- Clean and validated data migration to new system
- Fully tested and operational payroll at go-live (April 2027)
- Documented, standardised payroll processes aligned to new system
Pay range: Scale SCP 38-43 £49,282 - £54,495 - Fixed Term for 12 months
Qualifications and Skills:
Relevant payroll qualification (e.g. CIPP or equivalent experience)
- Strong technical payroll expertise and attention to detail
- Ability to operate confidently as both a hands-on payroll practitioner and a project-facing payroll lead
- Ability to interpret and apply complex payroll legislation
- Strong analytical skills (data validation, error identification)
In-depth knowledge of:
-
HMRC payroll legislation (RTI, PAYE, statutory payments)
-
TPS and LGPS Pension Schemes
-
HR and Payroll Information system
-
Understanding of UK GDPR in employee data management
For full details of the post please see attached Job Description and Person Specification
Why The Mercian Trust?
As one Trust we share a common purpose. We call it our social mobility and social justice mission to change our communities through the very best equitable education. When we get this right, it enables our children and young people to fulfil their potential, thrive in the world of work, and make a positive contribution to the local, national and international community.
Put simply, our common purpose is to increase opportunities and improve outcomes for our students. We are particularly committed to students who are under-served and under-resourced. We prioritise those who have special educational needs and disabilities, or who are more likely to face discrimination for whatever reason.
It is this common purpose that fuels everything we do. We deliver impactful, sustainable and ethical continuous school improvement in our schools to ensure the children and young people in the communities we serve learn in the very best and most inclusive schools.
We are deeply rooted in the communities we serve (which are the education investment areas of the West Midlands). We adopt a pioneering spirit and look to lead the sector with innovative solutions to the problems our students and families face.
Want to be a part of something extraordinary? Find out more: The Mercian Trust - Home
Benefits:
Financial, Health and Lifestyle
For further benefits including education sector leading CPD: The Mercian Trust - What we can offer you
The Mercian Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults, and all appointments are subject to enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks and satisfactory references.
The Mercian Trust is also committed to promoting equality, challenging discrimination and developing community cohesion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.
