Lead Pay and Reward Adviser - 12 month FTC

Reporting into the Pay and Reward Manager you will be required to provide a professional, proactive and effective service to all staff within the ICO, ensuring that payroll, pensions and benefits are accurately processed. You will also provide appropriate advice and support to staff and managers in the implementation and execution of relevant pay and pensions policies and procedures., As part of a small team working closely with People Services colleagues, the postholder will support the delivery of a high quality service.
The Lead Pay and Reward Adviser will be responsible for the daily implementation of all relevant policies and procedures. This will include execution of payroll processes within our ERP system, validation of HR data and the checking and auditing of information exchanged with pension and benefits providers., + Ensure that appropriate policies and procedures are followed and implemented to meet pay and pension schedule requirements within structured time frames.
+ In conjunction with the People Services operational team, ensure that managers and staff receive appropriate advice and support on the resolution of pay and pensions queries, providing the first point of contact for queries from team members and wider department.
+ Respond to enquiries from employees and external stakeholders, such as pensions administrators, regarding pay and benefits issues. This may include the research and checking of historical pay data.
+ Support the Pay and Reward Manager to ensure the ICO has effective relationships with external suppliers and organisations involved in the pay, pensions and benefit process e.g. Civil Service Pension Scheme, and suppliers of staff benefits.
+ Work with operational People Services colleagues to ensure that HR data is effectively managed and used by team members and its use is maximised to improve efficiency in relation to the payroll and pension process.
+ Produce detailed management information reports for internal and external stakeholders including requests received from our Trade Unions.
+ Maintain accurate and up to date electronic and manual records which are compliant with legislation and the ICO’s retention and records management policies.
+ Take responsibility for pay, pensions and reward processes ensuring the department is compliant with ICO internal policies and procedures; legal requirements; Treasury Guidance; and HMRC rules.
+ Support process review and continuous improvement initiatives working collaboratively with the wider People Services Team to improve efficiency and service delivery.

+ Experience relevant to the role requirements, as described in the role responsibilities and person specification, and accumulated through any combination of academic or vocational qualifications or experience.
+ Significant experience of service provision within a payroll function
+ Experience of providing advice and support on pay and pension policies and procedures.
+ Experience in managing and analysing sensitive HR or Payroll data
+ Up to date knowledge of relevant legislation and/or payroll practice
+ Effective written communication skills
+ Excellent numerical skills
+ Ability to work under pressure and flexibly in order to meet a varied, wide ranging and demanding workload which is often time-critical
+ Excellent team player skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with both internal and external stakeholders
+ Understanding of the need for strict confidentiality and the need to follow internal policies and procedures
Essential criteria assessed at interview stage
+ Excellent verbal communication skills
+ Excellent organisational and planning skills
+ Significant experience of service provision within a payroll function
+ Experience of providing advice and support on pay and pension policies and procedures.
+ Experience in managing and analysing sensitive HR or Payroll data
+ Up to date knowledge of relevant legislation and/or payroll practice
+ Ability to work under pressure and flexibly in order to meet a varied, wide ranging and demanding workload which is often time-critical
+ Understanding of the need for strict confidentiality and the need to follow internal policies and procedures
+ Excellent team player skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with both internal and external stakeholders

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the UK’s independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.
As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful., The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.

Contracted to our Wilmslow office, however, through hybrid working we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need.
Why work for the ICO?
+ Pay progression scheme.
+ Hybrid and flexible working options.
+ 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays.
+ Flexi leave (up to 26 additional days leave per year).
+ Pension (employer contribution around 26.6%).
+ Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more.
+ Health Cash Plan.
+ Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.
Further details can be found on the benefits section of our website ., Alongside your salary of £31,689, Information Commissioner's Office contributes £8,556 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides., If you have a disability or impairment and have difficulty using our online application system, please email the HR team who can arrange for you to submit an application via an alternative method.
Closing Date
Please submit your CV by 23:59, Sunday 12th May 2024
We reserve the right to close this vacancy before this date should we receive sufficient applications. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered.
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.