Payroll and Benefits Officer
| Posting date: | 22 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £41,965 to £45,087 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 09 February 2026 |
| Location: | Godalming, Surrey |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Waverley Borough Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | DLP/26/329879 |
Summary
Join Us as a Payroll and Benefits Officer – Supporting Two Councils with Precision and Care!
Are you detail-oriented, proactive, and passionate about delivering an excellent payroll and benefits service? Step into a key role supporting Guildford Borough Council and Waverley Borough Council, where your accuracy and expertise will directly impact over 1,100 employees!
About the Role — Payroll and Benefits Officer
As our Payroll and Benefits Officer, you’ll ensure the smooth, accurate, and timely processing of payroll and employee benefits. You’ll be the trusted source of advice on pay, pensions, and benefits, helping us maintain compliance, reduce risk, and deliver a customer-focused experience.
Based at The Burys, Godalming and Millmead House, Guildford
Why Join Our Team?
- Be Essential: Play a vital role in ensuring every employee is paid correctly and on time across two progressive councils.
- Supportive Culture: Work with a friendly, professional team that values wellbeing, collaboration, and integrity.
- Career Development: Access training and growth opportunities within a forward-thinking People & OD department.
- Flexible Working: Enjoy a hybrid working environment designed to support work-life balance.
Comprehensive Benefits:
- Local Government Pension Scheme – secure your future
- Generous annual leave and flexible working options
- Employee Assistance Programme for confidential wellbeing support
- Great locations with free parking and excellent transport links
What You’ll Do:
- Process payroll data accurately, including starters, leavers, pay changes, allowances, and deductions — ensuring deadlines are consistently met.
- Produce monthly payroll reports, resolve discrepancies, and support reconciliation with finance systems.
- Administer pension schemes (including LGPS), salary sacrifice, and other employee benefits with precision.
- Ensure compliance with HMRC regulations, pension requirements, and employment law, supporting audits and risk management.
- Provide expert advice and support to employees and managers on payroll, pensions, and benefits queries.
- Collaborate across People & OD, Finance, and IT teams to resolve issues and enhance service delivery.
- Drive continuous improvement by suggesting and implementing payroll process enhancements and digital innovations.
- Maintain accurate payroll records and generate reports to support management decisions and statutory requirements.
Who You Are:
- Detail-focused with strong technical knowledge of payroll and benefits administration.
- Confident providing clear, professional advice to employees and managers.
- A problem solver who thrives on improving processes and data accuracy.
- Committed to confidentiality, data protection, and delivering outstanding customer service.
- Collaborative and adaptable, ready to work across two councils in a dynamic environment.
Ready to bring your payroll expertise to a role that truly matters?
Apply now and become a key player in delivering accurate, efficient, and reliable payroll and benefits services across Guildford and Waverley!
Closing date for applications: 9:00am on Monday the 9th February 2026
Interview Date: w/c 23rd February 2026
We do not accept CVs without a completed application form. Strictly no agencies please.
In return for your valued contribution, we can offer you a competitive benefits package which includes hybrid working and agile working policies, training and development opportunities, generous annual leave and flexi time, free onsite parking, an employee assistance scheme and membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme. You can find out more about working at Waverley and our benefits by visiting - Working at Waverley Borough Council | Waverley Borough Council
The district is home to many different people, and we want our workforce to reflect our diverse local communities. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences - we are a Disability Confident employer and appoint on merit. You can find out more about this scheme and check your eligibility here
We are proud to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from serving or ex-members of the armed forces and their partners. We offer an interview scheme for serving and ex-military forces members when they meet the essential criteria for the role. You can find out more about this scheme and check your eligibility here
Please note we do not accept applications after the stated closing time and right to work in the UK will be checked as part of the interview process.
Are you detail-oriented, proactive, and passionate about delivering an excellent payroll and benefits service? Step into a key role supporting Guildford Borough Council and Waverley Borough Council, where your accuracy and expertise will directly impact over 1,100 employees!
About the Role — Payroll and Benefits Officer
As our Payroll and Benefits Officer, you’ll ensure the smooth, accurate, and timely processing of payroll and employee benefits. You’ll be the trusted source of advice on pay, pensions, and benefits, helping us maintain compliance, reduce risk, and deliver a customer-focused experience.
Based at The Burys, Godalming and Millmead House, Guildford
Why Join Our Team?
- Be Essential: Play a vital role in ensuring every employee is paid correctly and on time across two progressive councils.
- Supportive Culture: Work with a friendly, professional team that values wellbeing, collaboration, and integrity.
- Career Development: Access training and growth opportunities within a forward-thinking People & OD department.
- Flexible Working: Enjoy a hybrid working environment designed to support work-life balance.
Comprehensive Benefits:
- Local Government Pension Scheme – secure your future
- Generous annual leave and flexible working options
- Employee Assistance Programme for confidential wellbeing support
- Great locations with free parking and excellent transport links
What You’ll Do:
- Process payroll data accurately, including starters, leavers, pay changes, allowances, and deductions — ensuring deadlines are consistently met.
- Produce monthly payroll reports, resolve discrepancies, and support reconciliation with finance systems.
- Administer pension schemes (including LGPS), salary sacrifice, and other employee benefits with precision.
- Ensure compliance with HMRC regulations, pension requirements, and employment law, supporting audits and risk management.
- Provide expert advice and support to employees and managers on payroll, pensions, and benefits queries.
- Collaborate across People & OD, Finance, and IT teams to resolve issues and enhance service delivery.
- Drive continuous improvement by suggesting and implementing payroll process enhancements and digital innovations.
- Maintain accurate payroll records and generate reports to support management decisions and statutory requirements.
Who You Are:
- Detail-focused with strong technical knowledge of payroll and benefits administration.
- Confident providing clear, professional advice to employees and managers.
- A problem solver who thrives on improving processes and data accuracy.
- Committed to confidentiality, data protection, and delivering outstanding customer service.
- Collaborative and adaptable, ready to work across two councils in a dynamic environment.
Ready to bring your payroll expertise to a role that truly matters?
Apply now and become a key player in delivering accurate, efficient, and reliable payroll and benefits services across Guildford and Waverley!
Closing date for applications: 9:00am on Monday the 9th February 2026
Interview Date: w/c 23rd February 2026
We do not accept CVs without a completed application form. Strictly no agencies please.
In return for your valued contribution, we can offer you a competitive benefits package which includes hybrid working and agile working policies, training and development opportunities, generous annual leave and flexi time, free onsite parking, an employee assistance scheme and membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme. You can find out more about working at Waverley and our benefits by visiting - Working at Waverley Borough Council | Waverley Borough Council
The district is home to many different people, and we want our workforce to reflect our diverse local communities. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences - we are a Disability Confident employer and appoint on merit. You can find out more about this scheme and check your eligibility here
We are proud to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from serving or ex-members of the armed forces and their partners. We offer an interview scheme for serving and ex-military forces members when they meet the essential criteria for the role. You can find out more about this scheme and check your eligibility here
Please note we do not accept applications after the stated closing time and right to work in the UK will be checked as part of the interview process.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.