Pensions and Payroll Advisor

Job summary

At Government Legal Department we have a vital, single-minded purpose: to help the Government govern well within the rule of law. This is complemented by our exciting vision to be an outstanding legal organisation, committed to the highest standards of service and professionalism and a brilliant place to work where we can all thrive and fulfill our potential.

Our work touches almost every aspect of public life. We are the largest provider of legal services across government, working on high profile matters. Our respected professionals are involved in everything from regulation and litigation to advice on drafting legislation. They provide expertise to the full range of government departments. We are at the heart of delivering the government’s priorities and our success depends on our people.

GLD is a non-ministerial government department headed by the Treasury Solicitor, our Permanent Secretary, and employs nearly 4000 people, including nearly 3000 legal professionals. We have offices nationwide, in Bristol, Leeds, inner and outer London and Manchester. Our lawyers can also be located within other departments and overseas. GLD also depends on a range of cross-functional professionals to provide our corporate services. There are nearly 1000 colleagues playing an essential part in helping GLD to achieve its purpose and truly deliver much more than law. This is an exciting time to join GLD, with cutting edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service.

To find out more about what we do you can view our introductory film. On our website you can hear from team members, find out how to apply and learn about the benefits of working for GLD. You can also read more about the future vision for GLD in our GLD Strategy 2024 – 2027.

Job description

Forming part of our Chief Operating Officer Group, the SPC Directorate advises, supports and enables GLD lawyers to help the government to govern well within the rule of law. There are five principal teams within the Division: Human Resources (HR), Project Delivery, Communications, Strategy & Business Management and Private Office & Governance. Our purpose is to support GLD’s people strategies and enable the department to be the best employer for our people.

GLD’s HR team’s ambition is to build on our commitment, professionalism and expertise so that we can provide first class, customer focused HR services. We want to support all GLD staff, promoting a diverse and inclusive culture, and developing inspiring and confident leaders and managers. By doing this we will provide a strong foundation underpinning the delivery of legal services to the government.

The HR Function provides a full range of services to GLD including HR business partnering, learning and development, resourcing and transactional processing, including payroll, along with teams focusing on Policy, Pay and Employee Relations and Workforce Strategy. This means our people have opportunities to develop their capability across a broad range of HR work and contributes to a highly engaged team where we are passionate about supporting each other to succeed.

Our purpose is to support GLD’s people strategies and enable the department to be the best employer for our people. We work with colleagues across GLD to:

• Attract, develop and retain a talented and motivated workforce
• Nurture talent and build career paths
• Develop inspiring, confident and empowering leaders and managers
• Support employees’ health and wellbeing
• Promote a diverse and inclusive culture. We do this through:
• Our expertise and professionalism
• Providing business focused advice on workforce and employee issues
• An effective HR Service striving to get the basics right and offering first class, responsive and consistent customer service
• Working in partnership with our customers
• Developing and delivering a range of resourcing policies and processes
• Establishing cost effective and flexible reward structures
• Effective systems, policies and processes

This role sits within HR Operations and will be part of the Pay and Pensions sub team. The Pay and Pensions team ensure accuracy across payrolls, dealing with complex pay queries and all pension queries.

The wider HR Operations team provides in-house HR, payroll and pension services to GLD, Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCSPI) and is the first point of contact for related queries. The team responds to around 2000 enquiries a month via Service Now or the HR Helpline.

The Role

GLD HR Operations provides in-house HR, payroll and pension service to GLD, AGO and HMCSPI. As the first point of contact for related queries, the team responds to up to 2,000 enquires a month via ServiceNow and our HR Helpline.

We are looking for someone to join our HR Operations team as a subject matter expert for enquiries and support relating to pay and pension matters within GLD. This is an exciting opportunity for someone wishing to develop a career in HR and build upon or develop knowledge and expertise predominantly in pensions, but with the opportunity to work across the wider payroll space.

Reporting to our Pay, Pension and Benefits Manager, you will support the team to ensure GLD meets its Civil Service Pension Scheme (CSPS) employer responsibilities. You will be the first point of contact for all pension related queries and will be expected to deal with cases in a consistent, understanding and professional manner.

You will utilise your excellent numerical skills by supporting the team with pension and pay related queries, including calculations, whilst taking into consideration the information received and adhering to GLD’s processes and policies.

You will be part of the wider HR Operations team and will work to deliver excellent customer service within a fast-past environment. In return, you will receive ongoing training and support, with the opportunity to develop your career and gain a deep understanding of HR, pay, and pension processes and policies.

Key responsibilities :

• Provide professional advice and guidance on pension related queries , including but not limited to retirement, death in service, efficiency dismissals and contribution changes
• Provide pay explanations and calculations as required, including but not limited to, salary breakdowns, overpayments and deductions
• Take responsibility for the processing of pension related activities and associated pay requests, interpreting and following GLD and CSPS guidance, including escalating incidents where appropriate
• Be responsible for the completion of queries from CSPS via their DR1 process
• Support with monthly payroll checking activities
• Manage, plan and prioritise own workload effectively on a daily basis ensuring you meet deadlines
• Support our Pay, Pension and Benefits Manager in keeping pay and pensions guidance up to date and with the management of GLD’s Employee Benefits provision
• Develop a good level of knowledge of current and new pay and pension policies and support colleagues by sharing best practice and providing feedback
• Maintain and develop effective relationships with other HR Colleagues
• Ensure all personal data is managed and stored in line with the Department’s data protection procedures

This is an outline description of the key responsibilities and accountabilities involved and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. The post-holder may be required to undertake other duties across HR, commensurate with their grade and experience.

Person specification

Behaviours

Below are details of the Success Profiles that make up this role. Demonstrating all the behaviours listed below is essential at either application or interview. You can read more about Success Profiles and how they are used as an assessment method before completing your application.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a quality service (Lead Behaviour)
• Communication and influencing
• Delivering at pace

Key skills and Experience

Essential – must be demonstrated at application and interview

• Excellent numeracy skills and confidence in providing clear explanations
• Ability to follow, apply and relay standard processes and procedures
• Good level of attention to detail and problem-solving skills
• HR administrative/ advisory or general administrative experience
• Customer service experience including resolving and escalating enquiries
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Proven and effective organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise own workload effectively in a fast-paced, deadline orientated, environment
• A pragmatic approach to supporting the wider HR Operational Team, with a flexible mindset and willingness to support others when required

Desirable

Desirable criteria will be used when there is a need to distinguish between candidates who are closely tied or the same score after the initial consideration of essential criteria, at interview.

• Pensions administrative/advisory experience

Security Clearance Level

All GLD employees must hold BPSS. More information can be found about the vetting and clearance levelsbefore completing your application.

Sponsorship and Visas

Visa sponsorship will not be given to candidates except where they are existing civil servants employed by GLD and currently sponsored by GLD, who meet the HO/UKVI requirements for sponsorship. If you are an existing civil servant employed by GLD who requires sponsorship or already holds it, you should confirm your eligibility for sponsorship for this role prior to submitting an application. If you have limited leave to remain on any other visa type GLD will not be able to sponsor you for this role

Applicants currently not employed by GLD and who hold limited leave to remain are unable to apply for this role. You will be asked to confirm your visa type as part of the application process. If you do not hold a skilled worker visa currently sponsored by GLD your application will be sifted out of the process and you will be rejected for the role.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,891, Government Legal Department contributes £8,949 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Learning and Development at GLD

GLD has a comprehensive learning and development offer for all employees.

We offer a programme of in-person/hybrid and virtual sessions providing learning on profession-specific, soft skills, technical skills, and different topics. We also support colleagues through a range of different professional qualifications.

Cross-Functional Professional

We support all Professions with building their careers and capability aligning with the wider Civil Service offerings for each Profession.

There are also talent and development opportunities offered throughout the year these include:

• Senior Leaders and Future Leaders Schemes – cross Civil Service accelerated development schemes.
• Beyond Boundaries – cross government development programme designed to help participants develop the knowledge, skills and networks required to build a satisfying and effective career in the Civil Service.
• Mentoring and Coaching – we encourage all colleagues to share their knowledge, capability, and experience.
• Apprenticeships - We have a range of apprenticeships on offer across all professions with the opportunity for all employees to explore a profession specific apprenticeship to support their development in role.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Ability and Experience.

Application

To apply for this post you will need to complete the online application on Civil Service Jobs, searching the reference below. The deadline for this application is 12:00 Midday on 1st June 2026.

In your application you will be assessed on the following:

• A CVsetting out your career history, with key responsibilities experience and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years, as part of the online application form. The CV will be used to assess key skills and experienceas set out in the Person Specification slide,as a first stage sift.
• Provide an example in no more than 250 words for the behaviour listed against the essential criteria: Managing a quality service

Civil Service Tests Online

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete one Civil Service Online test: a Numeracy Test. You can find out more information and guidance on the tests, including options to take practice tests.

If you are unsuccessful in passing this test you will be unable to continue any further in the application process. If you successfully pass the test, you will then automatically progress to the next stage of completing the full application. We suggest you allow enough time to complete the full application online, prior to the closing date and time, 1st June 2025 at 12:00 Midday as once the application is closed you will no longer have access to the ability tests and the application.

There will be maintenance for online tests on Sunday 31st May 2026. This means you will be unable to access the online tests between 4pm and Midnight. Your progress will be saved, and you will be able to continue once the tests are available again.

Application Errors

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. We understand mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we will not be able to reopen your application for you. If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, please contact us via: activecampaigns@governmentlegal.gov.uk .Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example – ‘Please re-open my application – [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]’.

Selection Process

After the closing date, the appointing panel shall assess candidates’ suitability for the role based on evidence provided in their application against the behaviours and experience outlined in the person specification.

STAGED-SIFT: If there are a large number of applications the panel will conduct a staged sift. The initial sift will be on CV alone. If you meet the minimum criteria for the CV you will then go to the full sift on your behavior example.

In the eventuality that there are a high number of applicants successful at sift, GLD may operate a longlist, whereby applicants who have been shortlisted and met the minimum pass mark but are not selected for interview will have their application placed on hold. After the initial interview round candidates on the longlist may be offered an interview, should there still be posts available.

Interview

If you are invited to interview, you will be assessed on your performance in the criteria listed in the Person Specification, behaviour and strength-based questions. These criteria are:

• Communication and influencing
• Managing a quality service
• Delivering at pace
• Experience

Your interview will take place online

Offer

The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made, and all shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.

All communications regarding your application will be made through Civil Service Jobs. All candidates will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible after the interview. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

We appoint in strict order of merit. If you meet the minimum criteria for this position but are not successful for a post, you will be placed on the reserve list. We may contact you to see if you are interested in a post at the same, or a lower grade, in GLD should one arise.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Kate Smurthwaite
• Email : kate.smurthwaite1@governmentlegal.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : activecampaigns@governmentlegal.gov.uk

Further information

You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application hasn’t been treated in accordance with these Principles and wish to make a complaint, please contact recruitment_feedback@governmentlegal.gov.uk in the first instance. Please title your email as follows: Job Reference Number – Job Title – Recruitment Complaint. Complaints must be submitted in writing within 30 days of the incident or the decision which has caused the complaint. To fully engage with the issues raised GLD require that you submit evidence of your complaint.

Attachments

Pensions and Payroll Advisor Opens in new window (pdf, 784kB)