Apprentice Payroll Administrator

Summary

The pay and pensions team at Halton Borough Council delivers 11 monthly payrolls to both internal and external payees, paying around 8,000 people each month. We are now looking to employ an apprentice on the team, and this opportunity will be a chance for the apprentice to learn all there is to know about a career in Payroll. 

Wage

£19,461 a year

Training course

Payroll administrator (level 3)

Hours

Monday - Friday, typical office hours i.e. 9.00am - 5.00pm.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 10 August 2026

Duration

2 years

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

You’ll be involved in all manner of payroll activities, with support and encouragement from our experienced team.

More specific responsibilities include:

• Data entry into service specific IT systems to ensure that employee pay is calculated and paid correctly, within prescribed policy and procedure, meeting legislative requirements and all statutory regulations
• Administrative Support to process contractual documentation for amendments and changes to existing posts (leavers and variations), within the scope of legislation, HMRC guidance, pension regulations, and Council policy
• Assistance in the preparation, calculation  and maintenance of pay and allowances for all external payees, including variations to pay, deductions and recoveries, cheque preparation, distribution of payslips and P45s, in line with Service Level Agreements (SLA) and working  to multiple deadlines, in order for payees to receive monthly salaries
• Support with the production of payroll reports for all payrolls following the gross to net calculation, acting upon and reconciling any discrepancies prior to final calculation
• Support with the preparation of  costing and cheque reconciliation reports to record payment of monies collected from employees to statutory agencies, pension providers, etc., completing all tasks associated to each payment so that employees’ records are accurate and any financial liability on the Council is minimised
• Support with the production of monthly payroll reconciliation reports, investigating and correcting any anomalies to enable accurate completion of statutory and other returns
• Assisting with the administration of financial transactions, including placing orders, good receipting and dealing with enquiries
• Support with the completion of all statutory returns using various statistical reporting / analysis tools (annual and monthly) ensuring the Council meets all of its obligations in relation to legislative, statutory and pension scheme regulations
• Support with the reconciliation of pension information for schools that use external HR / pay providers, following up anomalies and taking corrective action to facilitate accurate reporting and returns
• Respond to service specific enquiries, assess the urgency of enquiries, and handle appropriately
• Carry out system testing of new enhancements of the computerised HR / Pay system and produce appropriate guidance to both internal and external users
• Provision of general administrative support as and when required including filing and photocopying
• Undertake any other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned from time to time, which are commensurate with the grade of the job

Where you'll work

DCBL Stadium
Lower House Lane
Widnes
WA8 7DZ

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

MBKB LTD

Training course

Payroll administrator (level 3)

What you'll learn

• gather, analyse and process payroll data and information
• resolve different types of queries that may be presented from payroll customers such as employees, clients, management, explaining and documenting responses
• deal with complaints, following processes and escalating complex situations
• meet client or customer needs in line with service level agreements
• provide customer service using agreed systems and processes, taking ownership for work applying agreed processes for checking
• adhere to deadlines and process schedules both internal and statutory, mitigating the impact on the business, employees and clients of deadlines not being met by reprioritising tasks when dealing with conflicting or changing demands
• select appropriate media for communication etc recognising the advantages and risks related to each method
• escalate concerns relating to deadlines in a timely manner, suggesting solutions
• use the appropriate communication media for each stakeholder for each situation. Examples may include ‘phone, face-to-face, email and letters, communicating and engaging professionally, accurately and appropriately, respecting the principles of data protection and confidentiality
• Build and maintain trust and sound relationships with stakeholders to deliver quality payroll services
• develop and maintain strong working relationships with team colleagues, supporting and collaborating to achieve results, seeking advice when appropriate within parameters of the role
• use computerised payroll software and spreadsheet packages such as MS Excel
• use systems and processes to support the payroll function. Examples may include the provision of accounting information and the Real Time Information submissions to His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
• gather, analyse and process payroll data and information
• resolve different types of queries that may be presented from payroll customers such as employees, clients, management, explaining and documenting responses
• deal with complaints, following processes and escalating complex situations
• meet client or customer needs in line with service level agreements
• provide customer service using agreed systems and processes, taking ownership for work applying agreed processes for checking
• adhere to deadlines and process schedules both internal and statutory, mitigating the impact on the business, employees and clients of deadlines not being met by reprioritising tasks when dealing with conflicting or changing demands
• select appropriate media for communication etc recognising the advantages and risks related to each method
• escalate concerns relating to deadlines in a timely manner, suggesting solutions
• use the appropriate communication media for each stakeholder for each situation. Examples may include ‘phone, face-to-face, email and letters, communicating and engaging professionally, accurately and appropriately, respecting the principles of data protection and confidentiality
• Build and maintain trust and sound relationships with stakeholders to deliver quality payroll services
• develop and maintain strong working relationships with team colleagues, supporting and collaborating to achieve results, seeking advice when appropriate within parameters of the role
• use computerised payroll software and spreadsheet packages such as MS Excel
• use systems and processes to support the payroll function. Examples may include the provision of accounting information and the Real Time Information submissions to His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC)

Training schedule

Training will take place online via 1:1 tuition and group sessions with MBKB Group. 

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English Language (grade 4/C)
• Mathematics (grade 4/C)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Team working
• Time management