People Officer; Payroll & Consultant Lifecycle - FTC

HIRING MANAGER: Eleanor Holt

JOB OVERVIEW:

The People Officer (Payroll & Consultant Lifecycle) plays a key role in delivering accurate, compliant and reliable payroll services, alongside effective support across the consultant lifecycle. The role has essential responsibility for overseeing the end‑to‑end UK payroll process using iTrent (HRIS), including payroll inputs, checks, reconciliations and signing off BACS payments. In addition, the role manages consultant onboarding, administration and offboarding, working closely with colleagues, managers and external providers to ensure high standards of service, data accuracy and regulatory compliance.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

PAYROLL

• Responsible for the end-to-end UK monthly payroll (approx.
  600 employees), ensuring all payroll inputs are accurate, complete and submitted in line with agreed payroll timelines.

• Undertake detailed review and validation of payroll with iTrent, covering (but not limited to) starters, leavers, contractual changes, variable pay, deductions, benefits in kind, statutory payments, and ad hoc adjustments, to ensure accuracy, completeness and compliance prior to payroll sign-off.

• Complete payroll reconciliations, validating payroll outputs against source data and investigating and resolving discrepancies prior to payroll sign-off.

• Review and sign-off the BACS files, ensuring approvals and payroll controls are followed.

• Maintain accurate payroll records and supporting documentation, ensuring compliance with internal controls, audit requirements and data protection standards.

CONSULTANT LIFECYCLE

• Manage the end-to-end onboarding process for consultants, ensuring a smooth and compliant start.

• Coordinate background screening and right-to-work checks.

• Act as first line support for consultant-related queries, ensuring timely and helpful responses line support for consultant-related queries, ensuring timely and helpful responses.

• Track contract end dates, initiate extension conversations with managers, and process extensions or offboarding steps.

• Maintain accurate and up to date consultant records across internal systems and trackers.

• Ensure managers complete IR35 assessments when required.

• Manage the full offboarding workflow, ensuring IT and hiring managers arrange systems access removal, return of equipment.

• Maintain positive working relationships with external agencies and third‑party providers.

OPERATIONS

• Manage the People Team shared inbox, ensuring timely, accurate and supportive responses.

• Maintain and update HR records, ensuring all colleague and consultant information is accurate, complete and compliant.

• Assist with general People Team projects, documentation updates and process improvements.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience using iTrent payroll is essential.

• 1–2 years’ experience in HR, People Operations with hands‑on experience with end‑to‑end delivering UK payroll process end‑to‑end.

• Working knowledge of UK payroll legislation.

• Awareness of payrolling benefits and salary sacrifice.

• Excellent organisational and administrative skills.

• High attention to detail and accuracy, especially in documentation and data entry.

• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing priorities.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to build trusting relationships with consultants, managers, and external partners.

• Strong problem‑solving skills, with a proactive and solutions‑focused approach.

EXPECTATIONS: In addition to your role responsibilities, you must align with the following principles:
Colleagues Expectations

TOP 5

SKILLS REQUIRED:

Please note that this only represents the top 5 skills required in this position. The proficiency levels are Awareness, Practitioner and Mastery.

• Identifies inefficiencies in daily operations, suggesting improvements, and implementing changes to simplify processes.
• Utilises organisational tools and techniques to handle tasks and resources effectively.
• Efficiently schedules and completes daily tasks such as processing transactions, handling customer enquiries, and preparing reports to ensure all deadlines are met.
• Assigns tasks to team members based on their strengths and current…