Payroll Trainee; CIPP

Payroll Trainee (CIPP) - Peterborough - September 2026

Are you looking to start your career in Payroll? We’re seeking ambitious individuals from all backgrounds to join our team as a trainee, studying towards the CIPP qualification.

Who we welcome

We recognise that talent comes from different paths, so we encourage applications from recent school leavers or career changers. We do not expect applicants to have any prior relevant work experience.

About the programme

Our training contract takes 18 months to complete with full support and access to first-class tuition centres.

Key dates to apply:

19 December 2025 – 11 January 2026

Please note that the next stage of our recruitment process (psychometric testing) will be paused from 19 December 2025 until 11 January 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted during this period, and candidates may then be invited to complete a psychometric test in mid-January 2026. We hope this pause provides you with time to enjoy the holiday season or prepare for upcoming exams.

Your role and development

Your growthdoesn't just come from exams,andit comes from valuable work experience and real-world learning.

The candidate will be allocated their own portfolio of clients, processing multiple payrolls and the role will involve:

• Process all payrolls from start to finish
• Starters, Leavers and Permanent data changes
• Process variable data from clients
• Manage multiple deadlines for variable data and managing clients throughout their pay cycle
• Report processing and sending to clients
• Liaise with client and dealing with salary queries
• Dealing with queries from the client and HM Revenue & Customs
• Processing and calculating statutory payments such as SMP, SSP etc
• Manually calculating pro-rata payments such as holiday pay, hourly/daily rates of pay etc
• Keeping abreast of new legislation, supporting the team implement new procedures
• Ad hoc tasks as required

You will have the chance to grow, as well as receive managerial support, and you can expect your responsibilities to increase throughout your time with us. You will work in a friendly and progressive environment, building up your knowledge on all the intricacies of payroll including tax, national insurance, auto enrolment, holiday pay, maternity/paternity/adoption, sick pay and more.

You will also learn the different ways that someone can be paid through salary, hourly pay, overtime, commission, benefits, shares and salary sacrifice.

We’ll support you every step of the way through mentorship, structured training, and our off-site trainee programmes as well as regular social events to build friendships with colleagues.

What you'll need

• A minimum of 120 UCAS points from your top 3 A Levels (or equivalent), excluding General Studies and AS Levels.
• A minimum of 6 (or
  
  B) in GCSE Maths and English Language (or equivalent).

Where potential meets personal meets you

At Saffery, we look for people who share our values - those who are collaborative, enthusiastic
, and act with integrity while always striving for excellence
.

You’ll be approachable and committed, ready to take ownership and go the extra mile to deliver our signature service. You won’t hesitate to speak up when something could be better and you’ll help to make it happen. We value drive, focus, and a positive attitude.

Here, you’re never just a number. You’re valued for who you are. We want your personality and style to shine, because we believe in caring more and letting egos take a back seat. We work hard, we support each other, and we enjoy the journey together. You’ll thrive in a close-knit team that takes pride in delivering high quality work.

There’s real mutual respect here and a two-way relationship where we bring out the best in each other.

We’ll help you get to know our clients, but it’s even better if you’re already curious about the broader economic landscape they operate in. Do your research. Ask questions. Be inquisitive.

We know the CIPP exams are demanding, and we’ll be right there to support you every step of the way. Your commitment will play a big part in our continued success.

You’ll be surrounded by people who value you, your contributions, and your potential.

We understand that…