Payroll and Finance Officer

We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias.

Coventry City Council's Payroll & Pensions Service provides the full range of services to Council, as well as to external customers on a traded service basis.

Our People Plan 2022-25 sets out our ambitions as a HR service that will inspire others, working towards being a more diverse and inclusive employer. Providing learning opportunities for the future including having a digitally enable workforce.

The work of our team spreads across two main areas: Council services/LA schools and external customers, and we provide our services to approx. 40 external customers, paying up to 12,000 people. We have an excellent reputation and wish to grow our capacity for new business opportunities.

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do.

Our Values are:

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

The role undertakes financial support in respect of payroll and employee benefits reconciliation and budgetary control for the Council and a number of our external customers.

As a Payroll and Finance Officer, you will manage payroll and pension financial processes. You'll play a key role in maintaining compliance with regulations and providing essential financial support to the service.

The role requires an up-to-date knowledge of financial management preferably in either a payroll or traded environment.

You will also liaise with and advise colleagues, managers, and customers in relation to IR35, employee benefits and P11D.

We are looking for an individual who has an understanding of financial management, including budgetary control, forecasting, payroll and pensions service requirements, and local authority financial practices.

You must have a high level of numeracy skills, be able to work under pressure to deadlines, prioritise and manage complex, time-critical tasks with proficiency in IT.

You should be customer-focused and able to develop effective working relationships with external partners whilst working cooperatively within an inclusive team environment.

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.

Interview date: 28 July 2025

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.

We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.

At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.

To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.

If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package - to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies