Position: Payroll Advisor
Hours: Full-time 35 hours per week (Part-time hours between 21 – 35 hours would be considered)
Contract: Permanent
Location: Office-based in London with flexibility to work remotely
Salary: £35,825 per annum, plus excellent benefits (pro rata for part time)
Salary Band and Job Family: Band 2, Professional/Technical
You will start at the entry point salary of £35,825 per annum, increasing to £38,065 after 6 months service and satisfactory performance and to £40,304 after a further 6 months. (These figures are all full-time salaries and will vary depending on the number of contracted hours).
About us
We make sure people living with MS are at the centre of everything we do. And it’s this commitment that unites us across the UK.
Our strategy is based on what people affected by MS have told us is important to them. It gives us a clear and determined focus.
Our work is based on the hopes and aspirations of our MS community. Together we campaign at all levels, fund ground-breaking research and provide award winning support and information.
Our people are our greatest asset and the key to our success. We offer a vibrant, progressive working environment where you'll be able to make a difference.
About this job
Payroll is more than numbers – it’s trust. Every payslip reflects someone’s livelihood. Getting it right supports colleagues across the organisation and ultimately helps us focus on delivering our mission.
You’ll be joining a collaborative HR team that values accuracy, accountability, inclusion and continuous improvement. We’re curious, we work together, and we care about getting things right.
We see you as not just processing data, but making sense of it, improving it and advising on it.
This means you will:
- Manage monthly payroll activities – inputs, checks, reports, approvals and secure file transfers.
- Be the go-to person for first level payroll-related advice for managers and staff.
- Work closely with our outsourced payroll provider and HRIS provider to make sure everything runs smoothly.
- Keep up to date with payroll and pension legislation, spotting risks and recommending solutions.
- Process payments, cost of living uplifts and annual increments accurately.
- Liaise with third-party providers (pensions, life, childcare vouchers, union subscriptions, cycle to work and more).
- Audit payroll data and work with HR colleagues to resolve gaps.
- Respond to queries about pay, pensions and benefits with clarity and care
- You’ll also contribute to HR projects and continuous improvement work – because payroll isn’t just about processing, it’s about making things better.
You will have:
You will already have experience working in a payroll environment, giving first-level payroll advice and managing payroll processes.
You’ll also bring:
- Experience using an HRIS (for example iTrent) and strong general IT/data skills
- Brilliant attention to detail – you’re fast, but you’re accurate
- Strong organisation and time management skills
- Confidence working both independently and collaboratively
- Clear, professional communication skills (written and verbal)
- A solid understanding of confidentiality and data protection
- A genuine commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
A CIPP Level 5 qualification (or equivalent experience) would be great, but practical experience counts too.
This is a great opportunity to use your payroll expertise in a role where your work directly supports colleagues and contributes to a charity making a real difference.
Please note: This is a full-time role but applications for part-time between 21 – 35 hours would be considered. Please ensure you state the number of hours within your application you would like to be considered for if not full time.
Closing date for applications: 9:00 am Monday 23rd March 2026.
Interested?
PLEASE PRESS THE 'HOW TO APPLY' BUTTON FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Equal Opportunities
We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and or from ethnic minority backgrounds.
We’d be grateful if you downloaded and completed the equality and diversity monitoring form and submit it with your application.
Disability Confident Employer
We’re a Disability Confident Employer and we’re committed to promoting equality and diversity.
You can ask for reasonable adjustments as part of both our recruitment and new starter on-boarding processes.
If you need any help or adjustments to apply for this role, please contact us. You can also ask for the application materials to be sent to you in a different format. Such as for them to be sent to you by email or in a larger word format.
More about our employee benefits:
We have a wide range of employee benefits including (but not limited to):
Encouraging work life balance
- 38 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays), pro-rata for part-time
- More annual leave entitlement, based on length of employment
- Smart working options (with the opportunity to work remotely and find a smart working pattern that suits both you and us)
- Flexible working options
Caring for you and your family
- Generous sick pay entitlement
- More sick pay entitlement, based on length of employment
- Opportunity to buy and sell annual leave in each calendar year
- Free access to a GP virtually 24 hours a day/7 days a week allowing you unlimited advice, reassurance and where appropriate diagnosis
- Enhanced leave for new parents
- Free access to a confidential 24 hours a day/7 days a week helpline service for both you and your family with a specialist range of support and information
- Special leave options (such as up to 5 days paid leave for domestic or personal emergencies a year)
- 10 days paid disability leave a year, pro-rata for part-time
- 10 days paid carers’ leave a year, pro-rata for part-time
- Cycle to work scheme
- Death in service scheme
- New family-friendly benefits, including paid leave:
- In the event of miscarriage or still birth
- To support fertility treatments
- For antenatal appointments for both parents
Thinking about your finances
- Enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme
- Discounted season ticket loan and interest-free emergency loans
- Give as you earn to support other charities of your choice before tax
- New employee portal including lifestyle savings vouchers and personal wellbeing
Enriching your life at work
- Personalised development plans with a wide range of training courses and opportunities to source additional training options with your line manager
- Yearly internal apprenticeship opportunities
- New, modern offices that embrace working together both in-person and remotely
- Various opportunities to influence how we internally operate (including surveys, and focus and committee groups)
- Active and supportive internal employee networking groups for collaboration and peer support
- 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering for MS Society activities during normal working hours (such as fundraising events, or campaigning in the local community)
- 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering with other charities during normal
Safeguarding
We’re committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone who uses our services and we come into contact with.
This is regardless of Gender, Race, Disability, Sexual orientation, Religion or belief, Pregnancy, Gender reassignment.
We recognise our particular responsibility to make sure vulnerable adults and children are protected.
We have measures in place to protect everyone we come into contact with from abuse and maltreatment of all kinds.
Your right to work in the UK
You must have the right to work in the UK to work in paid employment with us. You’ll need to share documents showing you’re eligible to work in the UK if we offer you employment.
You can find the UK visas and permits granting you the right to work in the UK on the UK Government website. We currently don’t have a Sponsor Licence agreement with the Home Office and aren’t able to support you with your visa applications.
No agencies please.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
To fund world-leading research, share the latest information and campaign for everyone's rights. Together we are a community. Together we can stop MS
Thank you!
The Finance team provides finance and budgeting support to staff, managers and members of PCS. The department is about to embark on a digital transformation that will modernise how the Finance department operates for the Union. We are looking for a Head of Finance that will drive and lead this project whilst maintaining continuity of service operation to the union, members and staff and, to join a progressive union that values collaboration, integrity, and social impact.
Salary and Location
- Band 5, London Spine points 21-17 or Regional Spine points 23-19
- Starting salary: London £63,279 p.a. rising to £72,098 p.a. or Regional £58,877 p.a. rising to £67,689, in annual increments (pay award pending)
- PCS Clapham or Regional office
Successful candidates for the post of Head of FInance will be able to demonstrate:
You are a qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, ACMA, CIPFA) and or have an MBA with:
- 5 years proven experience of managing a successful finance team
- Proven experience in strategic financial leadership
- Strong knowledge of financial systems, compliance, and reporting
- Project management and delivery in a financial setting
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
- Management of internal and external audit processes
- A commitment to equality, inclusion, and the values of the trade union movement
The main duties of the Head of Finance role include:
- Strong leadership and effective management of the finance team
- Lead and manage the implementation and optimisation of a new finance system to ensure cost-efficiency through service reviews and technology adoption
- Deliver strategic financial advice to senior stakeholders
- Lead the unions financial services, focusing on complex and high-impact areas
- Support medium and long-term financial planning for the Director of Central Services and Senior Management Team
- Oversee management accounts, year-end financial reports, and budget cycles
- Ensure compliance with VAT, Corporation Tax, PAYE, and regulatory reporting (e.g., AR21)
- Provide accurate financial data and strategic insights to decision-makers
- Strengthen audit processes and investment oversight
- Ensure integrity in transaction processing and ledger management
- Maintain compliance with data protection and service level agreements
- Support supplier relationship management
Excellent people and leadership skills combined with strong analytical skills, and problem solving ability, and an understanding of up-to-date finance technology will all be essential requirements for a successful Head of Finance.
Closing date: at 12 midday on Thursday 12 March 2026
Interviews will be held in person at PCS Clapham: Wednesday 25 March 2026
About PCS
PCS is the Public and Commercial Services Union, representing many thousands of members working in the civil service and related areas.
Employer Benefits
You will have access to a generous package of staff benefits including
- flexible working (including hybrid working)
- childcare and family support
- generous maternity/paternity leave
- 32 days leave and Christmas closure
- pension scheme
- employee assistance programme
Learning and Development
The union offers a wide range of learning and development opportunities. We will work with you to support your continued professional development.
PCS Recruiting Process
We use CVMinder to manage all recruitment activities. It helps us to maintain our commitment to equality and diversity by ensuring that we are fair and compliant with our recruiting practices.
Applications must be received by the closing date and time specified.
Candidates invited for interview are required to make themselves available on the date/s specified. Interview dates cannot be changed to accommodate candidates who are unavailable to attend on the specified date.
- CVs will not be accepted. Please see the job description/person specification and follow the application process.
- PCS is working towards equal opportunities and is positive about disabled people.
- All posts can be considered on a full-time, part-time or job share basis.
Please view our guidance for applicants.
JOB DESCRIPTION: HEAD OF FINANCE
Ref: 0326
Grade: Band 5, London or Region
Salary:
London Spine points 21-17
London Starting salary £63,279 p.a. rising to £72,098 p.a.
Regional Spine points 23-19
Regional Starting salary £58,877 p.a. rising to £67,689
Location: PCS Clapham (London) or PCS regional offices
Purpose of the job:
Management and leadership of the PCS Finance Team and the provison of strategic financial advice to the National Executive Committee and other bodies.
Responsible for the management of the compilation and production of all management accounts, PCS annual audit, budgets, cash-flow and financial planning reports and annual reports.
Responsible for the integrity and completeness of the accounting records, ensuring taxation compliance.
To manage the modernisation of PCS finance system and to work with our providers to introduce digital products to support PCS primary financial accounting management system.
To engage stakeholders and drive strategic change to optimise the efficiency of the financial operations and contribute towards PCS overall strategic direction of the PCS Union.
Responsible to: Director of Central Services
Responsible for: Internal Audit & Funding Manager and Finance & Budget Manager
Contacts
External:
PCS members, elected officials and potential members. Employers, Legal, pension and other advisors. TUC, Members of other trade unions and related bodies. Senior Government Officials, Ministers, MPs, pressure groups, campaigning bodies and media, Auditors, financial institutions and Investment Managers.
Internal:
PCS staff and managers across Regions and Departments
Main duties and responsibilities
1.People Management
- Manage work allocation and workflow, future planning and support for Finance Team and Director of Central Services
- Motivate and manage individuals and the team as a whole to provide a high standard of service to develop and improve the skills and efficiency of the Finance team
- Check work standards and maintain consistent quality of delegated tasks
- Seek to continuously improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the team
- Through induction, the appraisal system and one-to-ones, identify staff training and development needs, train or organise formal/informal training for the Finance Team
- Proactively promote diversity and inclusion in line with the wider PCS approach
- Apply the staff conduct policies as and when required e.g. discipline, grievance, capability, dignity at work and IT security policies
- Provide advice and deal with complex issues related to staff management including disciplinary or grievance in consultation with line manager
- Ensure that the health, safety and welfare of staff is maintained and improved, in accordance with PCS and statutory policies
- Work effectively with lay officials. Provide advice to and lead relevant committees including the preparation and presentation of reports
- Deputise for line manager when required
2.Strategy and Advice
- Ensure the provision of strategic financial advice and guidance to a wide range of stakeholders
- Provide leadership in delivering the unions Financial Services, having direct involvement in more complex or strategic areas to support the delivery of the unions objectives
- Prepare and manage delegated budgets in accordance with the Unions overall financial policies and procedures ensuring services are delivered within the agreed budgets
- Provide medium and long term financial planning support to the Director of Central Services and Senior Management team
- Oversee reviews of service prices and providers, making proposals for savings and change, seeking to exploit changing technologies and methods to reduce costs, wherever possible, in line with budgetary and policy constraints
- Oversee statistical systems to produce reports and analyse information within the Finance department
- Monitor and report on issues and initiatives as requested
3. Strategy and Advice
- Ensure the provision of strategic financial advice and guidance to a wide range of stakeholders
- Provide leadership in delivering the unions Financial Services, having direct involvement in more complex or strategic areas to support the delivery of the unions objectives
- Prepare and manage delegated budgets in accordance with the Unions overall financial policies and procedures ensuring services are delivered within the agreed budgets
- Provide medium and long term financial planning support to the Director of Central Services and Senior Management team
- Oversee reviews of service prices and providers, making proposals for savings and change, seeking to exploit changing technologies and methods to reduce costs, wherever possible, in line with budgetary and policy constraints
- Oversee statistical systems to produce reports and analyse information within the Finance department
- Monitor and report on issues and initiatives as requested
4.Finance Systems
- Manage the introduction, implementation and continuous monitoring of a new finance system to provide effective budget management at every level of the union
- Provide detailed financial data and reporting, including management accounts and strategic advice, to the National Executive Committee/Senior Management Team
- Provide straightforward access to budgets for all budget holders to facilitate better planning and cash flow management
- Ensure resources are optimised to enable good decision-making across each command area
- Review and update where necessary current audit processes to ensure compliance with the Trade Union Certification Officer
- Provide investment oversight, forecasting, and asset management to the Director of Central Services, and produce relevant information to support spending and investment decisions
- Ensure controls are in place and adhered to, to manage management override risks
- Maintain professional financial relationships with suppliers and customers
5.Operational Management
- Oversee and ensure the integrity of the unions transaction processing at all times
- Ensure all liabilities are recorded, payments made, receipts banked and ledgers managed in line with best practice
- Ensure all service level agreements are adhered to by the Finance department, and developed where necessary
- Ensure data protection adherence and finance systems are secure
- Assist the Director of Central Services in managing relationships with suppliers
6. Group and Branch Funding
- Oversee PCS work with Special Member Auditors to ensure the completion of union group and branch audit procedures in line with rules and Finance Committee requirements
- Provide assistance to group and branch treasurers, including training courses
- Provide reports as required for the Finance Committee
- Ensure expenses are paid in line with Service Level Agreement requirements
7. Finance Training and good practice
- Participate in the dissemination of financial knowledge across the union. Organise and participate in periodic financial training programmes for budget-holders, treasurers and members
8. Communication
- Draft complex communications including briefs, reports, business cases, for internal and external stakeholders
- Draft papers, policies and regulations in relation to financial management
- Communicate with members by producing circulars and briefings, and by addressing meetings and conferences etc
- Represent PCS where necessary and liaise with outside professional bodies such as auditors
- Provide financial information as required by other areas of the Union, in particular treasurers, or other bodies
9. Team Working
- Proactively promote team working and collaboration
- Initiate, organise, lead and participate in team meetings as appropriate
- Maintain high levels of confidentiality of sensitive issues at all times
- Provide assistance to team members
- Manage and co-ordinate staff on issues arising from new working practises, one off projects, or annual projects such as conference
10.Equality
- Contribute to PCS policies on equal opportunities by developing innovative workplace strategies to tackle inequality and discrimination
11.General
- Contribute to the strategic development of the Unions policy objectives including the PCS planning process
- At all times implement and promote the PCSs equal opportunities policy adhering to the PCS Values
- Take due and reasonable care of self and others in respect of health and safety at work
- Participate in appraisal, training and development systems
- Act in a manner that enhances the work of the PCS and its overall public image
- In all work activities, comply with data protection legislation and PCSs requirements for the protection of personal information and the privacy of individuals
- Such other duties that may reasonably be required and that are within the level of the responsibility of this post
- Willing to work outside normal office hours and location on occasion. (e.g. attendance at Annual Delegate Conference)
Person Specification: HEAD OF FINANCE
Ref: 0326
Date: January 2026
Location: London or Region
ESSENTIAL FACTORS
QUALIFICATION
- Qualification in Finance and/or Business Management (ACA,ACCA,ACMA,CIPFA,) and/or MBA with minimum of 5 years' proven management experience in finance
EXPERIENCE
- People management including induction, work allocation, appraisal and conduct
- Experience of working at strategic management level in finance
- Management accounts production and compilation of year end accounts, external reports and audit processes
- Management of payroll and pensions administration
- Project management and delivery in a financial setting
TRAINING
(including continuous professional development)
- Evidence of ongoing training and continuing professional development
- Commitment to undertake job-related training
- Commitment to participation in appraisal and development review process
- Commitment to staff development
KNOWLEDGE
- Management Accountancy
- Financial management and taxation including VAT, Corporate tax and PAYE compliance
- Contract and regulatory compliance management
- Impact and use of Financial Digital and IT applications
- An understanding of and a commitment to trade unions
SKILLS
- Ability to communicate effectively using written and oral channels, including reports and presentations, with a variety of audiences
- Ability to negotiate and form effective working relationships internally and externally
- Ability to provide strategic and policy implementation advice and guidance
- Proficient with Reporting, Data Analytics tools and performance metrics
- Ability to deliver and adapt financial training to audiences without financial knowledge/expertise
OTHER
- Commitment to the application of Equal Opportunities policies and practices at work
- Understanding of own role in maintaining legal compliances within PCS (e.g. data protection; health and safety)
- Flexible approach to work and willing to work outside of normal office hours and location on occasions