Payroll & Pension Specialist - 6 month fixed term contract

at  Nationwide

We are looking for a Payroll and Pension Specialist within the People function with either substantial payroll experience, including a strong understanding of relevant legislation and the regulatory regime and / or substantial Pensions experience, ideally to have a pensions qualification and be committed to continued personal development.
This opportunity on a 6 month fixed term contract will provide an efficient and professional service that complements and supports the service provided to all employees by the Nationwide payroll team; to be the expert in all changes to legislation and regulation and be able to articulate legislation updates to the team.
The successful applicant will manage the operation of the Group Personal Pension (GPP) arrangements, payment of employees’ pension cash allowances, the death-in-service and GPP Incapacity Enhancement benefits. Being responsible for the pension administration services for employees and temporary workers in accordance with best practice and statutory rules.
At Nationwide we offer hybrid working wherever possible. More rewarding relationships are supported through our hybrid approach, bringing colleagues together across our UK wide estate, whilst also supporting generous access to home working. We value our time in the office to solve problems, to learn, and to feel connected.
For this job you’ll spend at least two days per week, or if part time you’ll spend 40% of your working time, based at our Swindon office. If your application is successful, your hiring manager will provide further details on how this works. You can also find out more about our approach to hybrid working here.
If we receive a high volume of relevant applications, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so please apply as soon as you can.

ABOUT YOU

• Substantial payroll experience, including a strong understanding of relevant legislation and the regulatory regime OR substantial experience in following process flows and administration
• Strong interpersonal skill set and ability to influence at all levels.
• Clear thinker and communicator, both verbally and in writing.
• Excellent mathematical and analytical skills.
• Tact and diplomacy.
• Organisational skills
• Competent on Microsoft Office with excellent Excel skills
• Problem solving and a high level of original and innovative thinking enabling both internal and external solutions

Our Customer First behaviours are all about putting customers and members at the heart of how we work together. You can strengthen your application by showing the behaviours that resonate with you, and how you might have already demonstrated these.

• Say it straight - This is about being honest and direct with good intent and saying what needs to be said in the room. It’s also about being clear, precise, and using language that we and, importantly, our customers and members can understand.
• Push for better - This is about aiming high and constantly looking for better in how we work together and serve our customers and members.
• Get it done - This is about prioritising what will have the greatest impact, being decisive and taking accountability for delivering on the end-to-end outcome.

We know applying for jobs can sometimes feel like you’re sending an application into a black hole. We review each application individually. So, it’s a good idea to call out your most relevant experience on your application to give yourself the best chance.

• To have a thorough understanding of all Internal Procedures to provide stakeholders with a comprehensive knowledge of Payroll and/or Pension and related benefit requirements.
• To provide statutory details to HMRC and the Contributions Agency, as and when required, it should also be in accordance with confidentiality & data protection procedures.
• To collate and produce P11D/P45/P60/payslip data and submit to HMRC accurately and in accordance with specified legislative timelines.
• To provide guidance of Payroll and Pension legislation / policy changes to the Team and any necessary stakeholders, . Including the promotion of pension messages to the membership, including by group presentation, in a clear and concise manner including providing accurate MI.
• To manage the payroll, GPP arrangements, payment of pension cash allowances, death-in-service and incapacity enhancement benefits, providing administration support for all employees, answering day to day queries and at all times ensuring compliance with Nationwide’s data protection and confidentiality policies
• Running of the Payrolls, Nationwide monthly payroll (c.18,500 employees and 8000 pensioners), and Temporary Worker weekly payroll, (c.1000), month end processing and payments to third parties, including Payroll Accounts oversight, reviewing and approving journals.
• Manage the production and completion of all the administration processes applicable to the operation of Nationwide’s GPP, death-in-service and Incapacity Enhancement arrangements, in line with Nationwide’s Pension, Healthcare and Protection Policies and agreed service levels, in an effective and cost efficient manner. Including working with the appointed insurance broker/insurers as required to process death-in-service claims, drafting Trustee Papers as required and referring to the Retained Pension Team for a Trustee decision on the beneficiaries, liaising with the appointed medical adviser when processing Incapacity Enhancement cases and referring cases to the Retained Pensions Team for a decision on eligibility for payment.
• Liaising with the Retained Pensions Team and temporary workers payroll provider, as required, to ensure the pension administration processes are compliant with the Government’s automatic enrolment and re-enrolment requirements.
• Responsibility for the pensions administration system, ensuring it is continually updated to reflect any legislation and scheme design changes, and suitable controls are in place to meet audit requirements.
• Responsibility for liaising with the Retained Pensions team to ensure Nationwide, as Trustee of the life assurance schemes, complies with all the HMRC requirements applicable to these schemes which are established as Registered Pension Schemes.
• Responsible for execution of Payroll & Reward Services Controls Frameworks, including Financial Controls Testing, Internal Audit and External Audit (Annual Report and Accounts)