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Job Background: 

The primary purpose of this role is to lead the operational delivery of payroll services for approximately 6,500 police officers and 2,600 staff within the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). This includes ensuring accurate, timely, and fully compliant payroll processing in accordance with all relevant regulatory and legislative requirements.

The post-holder also serves as the organisational lead in managing the pension administration contract with Civil Service Pensions, which covers pension services for all PSNI staff members. This requires effective liaison, contract oversight, and assurance of service delivery standards.

Currently leading the Payroll Branch, the role is evolving as part of an internal reorganisation of PSNI’s Finance functions. The post-holder will assume additional responsibility for Pay functions within the Finance Hub. Once the transition is complete, the role will have leadership responsibility for a team of approximately 25 staff members.

Hours of Work: Monday – Friday 37 hours per week.

Salary: £47,304 – £49,515 plus £1365 environmental allowance.    

Main Activities:

The main duties and responsibilities associated with the role include the following:

• Lead and manage the Payroll team ensuring the provision of timely and accurate salary, overtime, and allowance payments for both police officers and staff. 
• Ensure clear and effective communication of all updates related to staff pensions, Department of Justice Circulars, and legislative or statutory changes.  Interpret and distribute this information across the organisation in a format that enables all staff to easily understand the guidance provided.  
• Operate as Subject Matter Expert by providing advice, guidance and support to senior leaders and staff on payroll, pensions, and the payroll impact of employment terms and conditions.  Take responsibility for resolving complex issues as they arise.  
• Deliver training on relevant topics when required, or coordinate training provision where appropriate.  
• Maintain strong financial controls and ensure effective data governance of payroll information in line with GDPR.  Uphold high standards of governance, clear audit trails, and full compliance with regulatory ad statutory financial reporting requirements, including data protection and security matters.  
• Lead on internal and external audits for the payroll function, addressing and following through on all recommended actions to ensure continuous improvement and compliance.   
• Represent PSNI on national and local committees, regularly engages with HR colleagues, Civil Service Pensions (CSP), staff associations and trades unions.
• Assess and manage budgetary requirements to inform monthly and annual budget forecasts and profiles.
• Develop complex costings to support organisational business cases.  
• Manage financial systems related to pay and pensions, including undertaking development work and handling a range of ad hoc and corporate responsibilities.
• Sign off on required systems work and chair a cross-branch working group focussed on the organisation’s external IT system provision.  

This Job Description reflects the main duties and responsibilities associated with this position. It is not intended to be exclusive or exhaustive. 

Person Specification: 

Essential Qualifications

• 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) at A*–C grade
• Full Member of the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP)

Essential Skills and Experience 

• Demonstrate knowledge of UK sector payroll, including pension scheme rules, relevant legislation, and tax regulations related to pay and pensions, with the ability to ensure compliance in practice.  
• Demonstrate experience of leading, managing and developing people. 
• Proven interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present complex information clearly and effectively to a range of audiences, including colleagues at all levels inside and outside the organisation.  
• Well-developed analytical skills, including strong numeracy and IT literacy, with the ability to interpret and work with date effectively.  
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to plan and prioritise personal workload and support effective team performance, ensuring deadlines are consistently met. 
• The ability to work autonomously in ensuring continuing compliance with all legislative demands, and the provision of robust controls/risk management procedures, including when implementing new ways of working.

Essential Other   

• The successful candidate must have access to a form of transport which will enable them to fulfil the responsibilities of the job in full.
• IT literate specifically in the use of the Microsoft Office suite (including MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Excel and MS Outlook).

Successful applicants will be retained on a merit list for future opportunities arising.

We would encourage you to check the spam within your email system for any relevant correspondence.

Selection Methodology 

PSNI uses the Competency and Values Framework (CVF) which sets out nationally recognised behaviours and values to support all policing professionals. You will be assessed against the values and at the competencies level as indicated below. This will include both past and future focused questions.  Further guidance and information about the Competency and Values Framework (CVF) is available here on our website. Please use the 2024 CVF for this role. 

Applicants meeting the eligibility criteria and essential qualifications, skills and experience will be required to demonstrate their experience for the following criteria:

Competency and Value Based Assessment 

Values  

• Integrity and Courage
• Public Service

Competencies – Level 2  

• We Support and Inspire
• We Take Ownership
• We Collaborate