Payroll and Pensions Manager

Are you an experienced and successful Payroll and Pensions Manager within the education sector with a commitment to meeting multiple external and internal deadlines? Are you ready to play a key role to ensure all payroll and pension obligations are delivered in a high-performing multi-academy trust?

Star Central, which is based at our head office in Blackburn, Lancashire, provides leadership, strategic direction and support to Star Academies and our schools.

The Star Central team includes experts from a range of professional backgrounds, who work together to provide an outstanding support service to the Star community. We support our schools to provide educational and operational excellence and to cultivate a strong Star community, with the aim of nurturing today's young people and inspiring tomorrow's leaders.

As the Payroll and Pensions Manager, you will be administering and reporting employees' pension information to all pension schemes (currently Teachers' Pension Scheme and 4 Local Government Pension Schemes).

The successful candidate will need to manage tight payroll cut-off dates alongside the various external reporting deadlines set by the pension schemes and HMRC.

You will be the subject expert on education sector specific payroll and pensions subject matters, and you will have three direct reports supporting you in delivering the Trust's payroll and pension obligations. As the Trust continues to grow, both organically and through conversions, you will lead on onboarding new schools into the Trust's payroll and pension schemes.

• Comprehensive knowledge of industry specific payroll and pension matters.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Management and coaching skills in leading a small central payroll and pensions team.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills.
• Staff onboarding experience.
• Experience in public sector defined benefit pension scheme administration processes and education specific terms and conditions.
• Payroll system implementation, configuration and management experience.
• Full commitment to our vision and values.

Star Academies is a high-performing multi-academy trust that runs more than 30 primary and secondary schools. We are a values-based organisation that works to improve the life chances of young people in areas of social and economic deprivation to help them succeed at the highest levels of education, employment and the professions. Every single day you'll be rewarded with the opportunity to shape a young person’s future - our STAR values embody what we believe is needed to succeed.

Professional development is key to our ongoing success, so we continually invest in our employees through our professional development hub, Star Talent Academy. With a wealth of training, mentoring and progression opportunities across a large, growing group of academies, joining our team of leading education experts could propel your career to the next level.

We can also offer you a range of rewards and benefits, including competitive salaries and pension schemes, generous holiday entitlements and healthcare cash plans.

Please download the job description and person specification below for further information about the role.

Closing Date: Sunday, 4 October 2026 at midnight.

Interview Date: Monday, 12 October 2026.

Proposed

Start Date:

As soon as possible.

You should ensure your application form and supporting statement address all elements of the person specification. We will only consider candidates who meet the vast majority of the essential criteria outlined in the person specification.

Star Academies is committed to safeguarding, safer recruitment and promoting the welfare of pupils. Our comprehensive recruitment and selection processes aim to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Successful candidates are subject to rigorous pre-employment checks.

We are equally committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity. We aim for our workforce to be representative of society and that each employee feels respected and able to give their best. We are committed to providing equality and fairness in our recruitment and employment practices and not to discriminate on any grounds. We oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.