Payroll Specialist

Job summary

BELONG HERE. TOGETHER, WE MAKE PARLIAMENT HAPPEN.

As aPayroll Specialist,you’ll play an important role in supporting the UK’s parliamentary democracy. Your work will help Members carry out their responsibilities effectively — contributing to something bigger than any one role.

You’ll be part of a collaborative community, working alongside colleagues from a wide range of professions. Together, we make Parliament happen.

You’ll be based on the Parliamentary Estate in Westminster — a unique working environment shaped by history and powered by the people who work here today.

You’ll ensure that our colleagues are paid accurately and on time, while delivering a high-quality payroll service across the organisation.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working with numbers, takes pride in accuracy, and is passionate about providing an excellent service to colleagues and stakeholders alike.

Job description

What you’ll be doing

In this role, you will be:

• Processing the monthly payroll for approximately 740 employees, ensuring accuracy and attention to detail at every stage.

• Serving as a trusted point of contact for payroll-related queries, providing excellent support and guidance to employees and stakeholders.

• Accurately maintaining employee and payroll information within the iTrent HR and Payroll system, ensuring records are complete and up to date.

• Working closely with the Payroll & Operations Manager, Payroll Supervisor, and Human Resources team to ensure salaries, allowances, and other payments are administered correctly and efficiently.

• Running and submitting monthly Real Time Information (RTI) files through the Government Gateway in line with statutory requirements.
• Preparing HMRC and other third-party payments each month, ensuring they are accurate, reconciled, and processed within required deadlines.

Person specification

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who can bring their skills and experience to make a meaningful contribution here.

You’ll have:

• Proven experience managing payroll processes from start to finish, with the ability to work effectively in a busy environment while maintaining exceptional accuracy and attention to detail.

• A sound and up-to-date understanding of payroll legislation and statutory requirements, including tax, National Insurance, Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP), Statutory Paternity Pay (SPP), workplace pensions, and auto-enrolment.

• Good IT skills and experience using payroll systems, alongside proficiency in Microsoft Office applications. You'll be organised, methodical, and comfortable managing multiple priorities.

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to build positive working relationships while handling sensitive information with professionalism, tact, and discretion. You'll be confident in responding to payroll queries and know when to seek support or escalate more complex matters.
• Strong numerical and analytical skills, with a keen eye for detail and the ability to carry out manual payroll calculations when required.
• A proactive approach to work, with the confidence to use your initiative while also valuing collaboration and seeking guidance when needed to achieve the best outcomes.

It would be even better if you have (or are willing to learn):

• Experience of the iTrent HR & Payroll system.
• Basic understanding of payroll accounting entries.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,800, House of Lords contributes £9,502 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Details of our employee benefits can be found at https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/lords/lordshro/employee-benefits/

What you’ll get in return

Working at the House of Lords means joining a community that values your wellbeing, growth and contribution.

You’ll benefit from:

• 30 days annual leave (rising to 35 after one year).

• Generous Civil Service pension scheme.

• A comprehensive Parliamentary health and wellbeing programme.

• Access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities across diverse professions.

• The chance to witness democracy in action and work in a place of historic national significance.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Apply online by 23:59 on Sunday 8th November 2026.

We expect to invite shortlisted candidates to interview on Thursday 26th November 2026 in Westminster. We may also ask you to complete an assessment or test.

As part of your application, you’ll need to submit:

• An anonymised CV outlining your career history, responsibilities and achievements.
• An application form providing examples against each of the essential criteria in this job description, showing how your experience matches what we’re looking for.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalit