About Company
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest specialist mental health and learning disability trusts in the UK, providing a wide range of services to diverse communities across Liverpool, Sefton, Kirkby, Knowsley, St Helens, and Warrington. With a dedicated team of over 7,500 staff, we are committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care that promotes recovery, wellbeing, and independence. Our mission is to “Make a positive difference to people’s lives,” and we achieve this through innovation, collaboration, and a profound respect for every individual. We are a values-driven organization, fostering an inclusive environment where every employee feels valued, supported, and empowered to contribute their best. Joining Mersey Care means becoming part of a community that truly cares, not just for our service users, but for our employees too. We offer robust development opportunities, a supportive culture, and a chance to make a tangible impact on public health within the North West. Our financial department is integral to our operations, ensuring that resources are managed efficiently to support front-line services and staff remuneration, making us a key enabler in delivering our vital services.
Job Description
Are you a meticulous financial professional with a keen eye for detail and a passion for ensuring accuracy in payroll operations? Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a dedicated and experienced Payroll Analyst to join our dynamic Financial Department in Liverpool. In this crucial role, you will be instrumental in the accurate and timely processing of payroll for our extensive workforce, ensuring compliance with both internal policies and external statutory regulations, including NHS terms and conditions.
As a Payroll Analyst, you will be responsible for a broad spectrum of payroll activities, from inputting and verifying complex payroll data to calculating statutory and non-statutory deductions, and resolving payroll queries efficiently and professionally. Your expertise will directly contribute to the financial wellbeing of our dedicated staff, who provide essential healthcare services across our communities. You will work closely with HR, finance colleagues, and individual employees, acting as a trusted point of contact for all payroll-related matters. This role requires a strong understanding of payroll legislation, excellent analytical skills, and a commitment to maintaining confidentiality and data integrity.
You will play a key part in the month-end and year-end payroll procedures, supporting audits, and contributing to the continuous improvement of payroll processes. We are looking for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, can manage multiple priorities, and possesses an unwavering commitment to accuracy. This is an exciting opportunity to join a leading NHS Foundation Trust, where your skills will be valued, and your contribution will directly support the delivery of outstanding patient care. If you are ready to apply your payroll expertise in a meaningful and impactful way within a supportive and progressive organisation, we encourage you to apply.
Key Responsibilities
- Process end-to-end payroll for a large volume of employees accurately and efficiently, in line with NHS terms and conditions and statutory requirements.
- Calculate and process all statutory (e.g., PAYE, NI, SMP, SSP) and non-statutory deductions (e.g., pension contributions, union dues).
- Resolve complex payroll queries and discrepancies from employees and managers in a timely and professional manner.
- Reconcile payroll data, prepare payroll reports, and assist with month-end and year-end closing procedures.
- Ensure strict compliance with HMRC regulations, GDPR, and internal audit requirements.
- Collaborate with HR and other finance colleagues to ensure seamless information flow and process improvements.
- Participate in payroll system upgrades, testing, and continuous improvement initiatives.
Required Skills
- Proven experience as a Payroll Analyst or similar role (minimum 3 years).
- Strong knowledge of UK payroll legislation, HMRC regulations, and NHS terms and conditions.
- Proficiency in using large-scale payroll software (e.g., ESR, SAP, Oracle).
- Advanced Excel skills (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, complex formulas).
- Excellent numerical accuracy and attention to detail.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to handle sensitive information confidentially.
Preferred Qualifications
- CIPP (Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals) qualification or working towards it.
- Experience working within an NHS Trust or a large public sector organisation.
- Experience with ESR (Electronic Staff Record) system.
- Knowledge of NHS pension schemes.
Perks & Benefits
- Generous NHS Pension Scheme.
- Competitive annual leave entitlement, increasing with service.
- Access to a wide range of staff benefits, discounts, and salary sacrifice schemes.
- Commitment to professional development and continuous learning opportunities.
- Supportive working environment and employee well-being programmes.
- Flexible working options (subject to service needs).
- NHS Blue Light Card eligibility for discounts.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are invited to apply by clicking on the application link below. Please ensure your CV and cover letter highlight your relevant experience and how you meet the requirements for this role. We encourage early applications as we reserve the right to close the advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.