Payroll Specialist

About The Role Payroll Specialist – Payroll Operations & System Transition

Hybrid –6 months FTC – Up to £40k FTE

Join us at Orbis Education and Care as a Payroll Specialis t , where you will play a key role in ensuring our colleagues are paid accurately and on time while we implement a new HR, Workforce Management and Payroll system, Sona . This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a critical system transition while supporting the smooth delivery of payroll operations across the organisation.

This is a hands-on payroll role with real impact, allowing you to work closely with payroll, HR and workforce teams to ensure payroll processes remain accurate , reliable and well controlled during a period of change.

Your Role as a Payroll Specialist: As a Payroll Specialist, you will support the end-to-end payroll process while helping the team successfully transition to our new payroll and workforce management system. You will investigate payroll queries, analyse payroll outcomes and contribute to building strong payroll processes and controls as the system goes live and stabilise.

This role is ideal for a detail-driven payroll professional who enjoys understanding how payroll rules, workforce data and systems work together to produce accurate pay.

A Day in the Life of a Payroll Specialist Includes:

• Supporting Payroll Delivery : Preparing and assisting with the delivery of end-to-end payroll alongside the existing payroll team.

• Supporting System Transition : Helping the payroll team during system implementation, go-live and stabilisation of the new HR and payroll ecosystem.

• Investigating Payroll Queries : Resolving pay queries, data discrepancies and payroll exceptions to ensure employees are paid accurately.

• Analysing Payroll Data: Reviewing payroll outcomes to identify trends, errors and root causes to support continuous improvement.

• Strengthening Payroll Processes : Supporting the development of payroll controls and improvements to ensure robust and reliable processes.

• Collaborating with Teams : Working closely with HR and Workforce teams to ensure roster, timesheet and contract rules translate correctly into payroll results.

• Supporting Process Documentation: Contributing to clear payroll processes, documentation and operational optimisation as the new system becomes embedded.

Sound good so far? We are looking for someone who has:

• Solid experience processing end-to-end payroll .

• Strong systems capability and confidence working with payroll data and payroll systems .

• A people-focused approach, with the confidence and communication skills to respond to payroll queries clearly, professionally and with empathy.

• Excellent problem-solving and investigation skills when resolving payroll queries and discrepancies.

• Comfort working with rules, calculations and payroll logic .

• A collaborative approach and the ability to work effectively during system or process change .

• Strong attention to detail and a proactive mindset.

Desirable experience includes:

• Experience with Sona or similar workforce management/payroll systems.

• Experience supporting payroll implementations or system transitions .
• Experience working in care, education or multi-entity payroll environments .

Here's a glimpse into some of the amazing benefits you can expect:

• Support at every step – Employee Assistance, Wellbeing Champions and Salary Finance Support.

• Refer a Friend bonus – earn up to £1,000!

• Build your career here – funded QCF and genuine progression – 97% of our managers were promoted internally.

• Health Shield Plan - after probation.

• Enhanced maternity/paternity – after 12 months of continuous service.

• Proud signatory of the JGHR Pledge – paid time off for cancer

Who We Are: Orbis Education and Care is a leading provider of specialist support for children and adults with complex needs associated with autism. Our mission is to provide person-centred education and care that empowers every individual to achieve their potential. Behind the scenes, our central teams play a vital role in supporting our services and ensuring our colleagues have the systems and processes they need to deliver outstanding care.

As a Payroll Specialist, you will be part of a collaborative payroll team responsible for delivering accurate pay while helping embed improved payroll and workforce management processes across the organisation.