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Job summary

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) is the independent body that regulates and administers the business costs and decides the pay and pensions of the 650 elected Members of Parliament and their staff in the United Kingdom. We were created by the Parliamentary Standards Act 2009, as the world’s first independent regulator of MPs’ financial remuneration.

Part of IPSA’s role is to provide a seamless, exemplary payroll service to MP’s, their staff, as well as IPSA’s people. Our work requires patience, diplomacy and attention to detail as we interact with our stakeholders on a daily basis, ensuring the best quality service is provided.

This role is the first point of contact for all payroll enquiries into the organisation from MP’s and their staff. Payroll Services Officers need to be highly motivated and engaged when interacting with all internal and external stakeholders, so being an effective communicator is key. The role also plays an important part in inducting and educating customers on IPSA’s systems and processes and offers significant opportunity to contribute to the continuous improvement of operational activity that supports achievement of IPSA’s strategic objectives.

Job description

Ensuring MPs’ staff are paid correctly and on time through the effective monitoring of the payroll by maintaining key performance indicator target of 99.75% accuracy each month.

· Providing exemplary customer service to internal and external customers by answering calls promptly and emails within three working days to provide the best possible customer service for internal and external stakeholders, and logging calls appropriately.

· Ensuring that payroll records are maintained in accordance with “The Scheme” and HR policies, updating work procedures accordingly.

· Assisting with any payroll system testing to ensure that the software meets both operational expectations and statutory obligations.

· Adhere to all HMRC payroll legislation, ensure own knowledge and skills are kept up to date routinely.

· Understand and comply with all aspects of pensions automatic enrolment for MPs’ Staff.

· Proactively identify opportunities to improve systems and processes whilst upholding data integrity and security.

· Proactively offering and providing assistance to MPs with their staffing budget expenditure projections and forecast scenarios, contacting MPs with forecast overspends and seeking recovery of monies if overspent.

· Presenting at drop-in sessions, roadshows and other events (which may involve occasional travel outside of London), when required, and providing necessary payroll/staff budget management training to MP’s and their offices, when requested.

· Supporting the whole team to achieve results by being a team player.

· Reflecting IPSA’s values of staying connected, seeing the bigger picture, being open, doing the right thing and making a difference, through all that you do.

IPSA is a learning organisation. We constantly review our work against our strategic objectives, actively seek views from our stakeholders and assess the environment in which we operate so that we can continuously improve. Therefore, the list of key responsibilities may adapt and change over time within the spirit and nature of organisational change and the development of the role.

Person specification

If you’re passionate about delivering exceptional service and making a real impact in people’s working lives, you’ll be a great fit for this role. As a Payroll Services Officer, you’ll be the first point of contact for MPs and their staff, providing expert guidance and support on all payroll-related matters. This is a dynamic and people-focused role where your communication skills, attention to detail, and commitment to accuracy will help ensure staff are paid correctly and on time. You’ll play a key role in onboarding new users to IPSA’s systems, educating them on processes, and contributing to the continuous improvement of our operations all while reflecting IPSA’s values.

We’re looking for someone resilient who enjoys working in a challenging, demanding and dynamic environment and who loves speaking with customers and colleagues to resolve issues efficiently and effectively. You’ll work collaboratively with a supportive team, engage directly with stakeholders across Parliament, and have opportunities to present and train people as part of the role. We’d like you to be a qualified payroll technician through the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals.

You’ll be joining a diverse and knowledgeable team, passionate about making IPSA brilliant and so you’ll need to fit right in.

The experience and technical level required for the role, along with personal qualities, skills, attributes, and qualifications (where relevant) are listed below:

Essential

· Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) qualified (associate level or above).

· Demonstrable experience of payroll processing in a complex organisational environment, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and internal controls.

· Proficient in manual PAYE and National Insurance calculations, with the ability to resolve discrepancies and apply correct tax codes and thresholds.

· An understanding of pension schemes, including the principles and processes of automatic enrolment, re-enrolment, and opt-out procedures.

· Up-to-date working knowledge of HMRC legislation, including statutory payments (SSP, SMP, SPP), tax thresholds, and pension regulations.

· Exceptional accuracy and attention to detail, consistently delivering error-free outputs in high-volume, deadline-driven settings.

· Strong communication and customer service skills, with the ability to explain complex payroll and pension matters clearly.

· Collaborative and able to work as part of a team, contributing positively to team goals and supporting colleagues across departments.

· Proactive and adaptable self-starter, able to respond to shifting priorities, take initiative beyond the scope of the role, and work effectively across the organisation.

· Resilient under pressure, maintaining performance and professionalism during peak periods and when managing sensitive or complex queries.

· Advanced MS Excel skills.

Desirable

· Confident presentation skills, with experience delivering training.

· Experience using Business World (Agresso) for payroll or HR functions, including reporting and workflow management.

· Familiarity with CRM systems.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,110, Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority contributes £9,881 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• A competitive salary which is regularly benchmarked against industry.
• Hybrid and flexible working, with occasional travel to our London office for team meetings.
• Generous contributions to a Civil Service pension.
• Twenty-five days holiday entitlement (plus bank holidays), increasing by one day each year up to 30 days.
• Option to purchase additional holiday days each year.
• Access to learning and development tailored to your role with coaching opportunities.
• Working in a high-performing organisation which supports democracy with a great team ethic.
• A culture encouraging equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Time in your work to time to participate in our inclusive workplace networks.
• Mental Health First Aid network and access to our Employee Assistance Programme.
• Enhanced family leave provisions.
• Workplace awards programme for living IPSA’s values and innovative ideas.
• Season ticket/rent deposit loans.
• Cycle-to-work scheme.
• Volunteering days and "you" time.

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

If you're selected for interview this will be virtual and will take place on Microsoft Teams, so you’ll need access to a secure WIFI network and a private space.

Interview

Our interviews are competency and values-based. We’ll ask you a series of questions designed to help assess your suitability for the role and for IPSA.

The closing date for this role will be 21 July 2026 (1pm), so we encourage you to submit your application without delay. Shortlisting will take place from 22 July 2026. Interviews will take place on 27, 28 and 29 July 2026 - please make a note of these dates in your diary as we will be operating a tight interview schedule.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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.

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 : The People Team
• Email : people@theipsa.org.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : people@theipsa.org.uk

Further information

https://www.theipsa.org.uk/

Attachments

Payroll_Services_Officer_Job_Description_June26 Opens in new window (pdf, 253kB)