HR & Payroll Officer

We are seeking a highly organised and customer-focused HR and Payroll Officer to join our HR and Payroll Support team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to take the next step in their career and develop their HR and Payroll skills. 

As an HR and Payroll Officer you will work as part of a supportive and collaborative team, providing expert support to managers and employees across Dorset Council, ensuring payroll is processed accurately, employment records are maintained, and excellent customer service is delivered at every stage of the employee lifecycle.  You will also be the first point of escalation within the team for complex queries.

You will be responsible for a broad range of HR and payroll activities, including:

• Processing payroll and HR transactions accurately and within deadlines.
• Managing employee lifecycle changes including starters, leavers, contractual variations and organisational changes.
• Providing advice and guidance on pay, policies, terms and conditions, pensions and employment-related matters.
• Investigating and resolving payroll queries, discrepancies and system exceptions.
• Calculating and recovering salary overpayments in line with established procedures.
• Producing employment contracts and HR correspondence.
• Supporting service restructures and organisational change initiatives.
• Running reports, analysing data and maintaining accurate HR records.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues, managers and external organisations to deliver high-quality services.

About You

We are looking for someone who has experience of working in an HR and/or payroll environment, using HR and payroll systems to process employee information and maintain records.

You will have strong customer service skills with experience of advising managers and employees.

We are looking for someone with excellent attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.

You will need to have an understanding of payroll processes, employment terms and conditions, and relevant legislation.

Why Join Us?

Having recently joined the Council's new Business Support Hub, this is an exciting opportunity to help shape and improve the Council's HR and Payroll services within a supportive working environment.

At Dorset Council, it's not just about the work we do, it's about how we do it. Hear directly from our employees about what makes Dorset Council special in this short video:

At Dorset Council, we are working together to create a fairer, more prosperous, and more sustainable Dorset for everyone, now and in the future.

We:

• provide essential services that support over 300,000 residents
• work in partnership to make a real difference
• value every role and the impact it has on our communities
• support our employees to grow, develop, and thrive

You will:

• be part of a team that works together for a better Dorset
• have access to a range of benefits and support
• receive training and development opportunities to help your career progress

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation where different skills, perspectives, and backgrounds strengthen both our council and the communities we serve.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. If you declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role, we will offer you an interview. We also want our recruitment process to be accessible, if you need any reasonable adjustments, just let us know on your application.

This role is UK-based, and we will need to confirm your Right to Work as part of the appointment process. We use generic job descriptions and person specifications, so the job title in any attachments may differ from the advert. If needed, we will provide additional details in a context statement.

If you’re passionate about making a difference, we’d love you to join us.

Find out more about how to apply.