Payroll Specialist Apprentice

Mortgage Advice Bureau

Derby (DE24 8QR)

Closes in 21 days (Monday 18 August 2025 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 28 July 2025

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Contents

Summary

An opportunity has arisen for a Payroll Specialist to join our collaborative and high-performing Finance Team at Mortgage Advice Bureau. In this vital role, you’ll support all payroll activity across the Group to ensure accurate and compliant payroll processing for our growing organisation of circa 1,000 employees.

Wage

£19,000 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Training course
Payroll administrator (level 3)
Hours
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. 3 days a week in the office, 2 days working from home (including your online delivery day for the apprenticeship training).

37 hours 30 minutes a week

Start date

Monday 1 September 2025

Duration

1 year 4 months

Positions available

1

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

You’ll play a hands-on role in maintaining up-to-date records, reconciling accounts and providing clear, proactive support to employees. Working closely with the Payroll Manager and People & Culture Team, you’ll ensure a seamless, compliant, and people-focused payroll experience.

Duties include: 

  • Process monthly payrolls in accordance with internal policies and UK statutory requirements
  • Maintain and update payroll records (e.g. new starters, leavers, pay changes, and benefit adjustments)
  • Ensure payroll compliance with HMRC, pension schemes, and relevant employment legislation
  • Prepare and submit all required payroll tax filings and statutory reports
  • Reconcile payroll accounts, investigate variances, and resolve discrepancies
  • Respond to employee queries on pay, deductions, pensions, and tax with professionalism and care
  • Produce monthly and ad hoc payroll reports for internal stakeholders and auditors
  • Stay current with changes in payroll laws, best practices, and reporting requirements
  • Support process improvements and system enhancements to drive payroll efficiency

Where you'll work

Capital House
Pride Place Pride Park
Derby
DE24 8QR

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

EMA TRAINING LIMITED

Training course

Payroll administrator (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • gather, analyse and process payroll data and information
  • resolve different types of queries that may be presented from payroll customers such as employees, clients, management, explaining and documenting responses
  • deal with complaints, following processes and escalating complex situations
  • meet client or customer needs in line with service level agreements
  • provide customer service using agreed systems and processes, taking ownership for work applying agreed processes for checking
  • adhere to deadlines and process schedules both internal and statutory, mitigating the impact on the business, employees and clients of deadlines not being met by reprioritising tasks when dealing with conflicting or changing demands
  • select appropriate media for communication etc recognising the advantages and risks related to each method
  • escalate concerns relating to deadlines in a timely manner, suggesting solutions
  • use the appropriate communication media for each stakeholder for each situation. Examples may include ‘phone, face-to-face, email and letters, communicating and engaging professionally, accurately and appropriately, respecting the principles of data protection and confidentiality
  • Build and maintain trust and sound relationships with stakeholders to deliver quality payroll services
  • develop and maintain strong working relationships with team colleagues, supporting and collaborating to achieve results, seeking advice when appropriate within parameters of the role
  • use computerised payroll software and spreadsheet packages such as MS Excel
  • use systems and processes to support the payroll function. Examples may include the provision of accounting information and the Real Time Information submissions to His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
  • gather, analyse and process payroll data and information
  • resolve different types of queries that may be presented from payroll customers such as employees, clients, management, explaining and documenting responses
  • deal with complaints, following processes and escalating complex situations
  • meet client or customer needs in line with service level agreements
  • provide customer service using agreed systems and processes, taking ownership for work applying agreed processes for checking
  • adhere to deadlines and process schedules both internal and statutory, mitigating the impact on the business, employees and clients of deadlines not being met by reprioritising tasks when dealing with conflicting or changing demands
  • select appropriate media for communication etc recognising the advantages and risks related to each method
  • escalate concerns relating to deadlines in a timely manner, suggesting solutions
  • use the appropriate communication media for each stakeholder for each situation. Examples may include ‘phone, face-to-face, email and letters, communicating and engaging professionally, accurately and appropriately, respecting the principles of data protection and confidentiality
  • Build and maintain trust and sound relationships with stakeholders to deliver quality payroll services
  • develop and maintain strong working relationships with team colleagues, supporting and collaborating to achieve results, seeking advice when appropriate within parameters of the role
  • use computerised payroll software and spreadsheet packages such as MS Excel
  • use systems and processes to support the payroll function. Examples may include the provision of accounting information and the Real Time Information submissions to His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC)

Training schedule

The Payroll Administrator standard is delivered in two elements; the CIPP (Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals) knowledge units and work-based projects designed by the provider to meet employer needs.

The knowledge units outlined below are delivered via the CIPP online learning platform:

  • National Insurance
  • PAYE
  • Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
  • Statutory Parental Leave
  • Statutory Deductions

You will complete a knowledge check at the end of each unit, which will test your skills. The projects issued by the provider are as follows:

  • Business and Customer Awareness
  • Payroll (Core)
  • Payroll (Pensions for payroll)
  • Payroll (Technical)
  • Regulation and Compliance
  • Systems and Processes

The last three months of the qualification will entail completing the following as part of the EndPoint Assessment:

  • Multiple-Choice
  • Role Simulation
  • Professional Discussion

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

5 GCSE's including Maths and English (grade 5/B or above)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • IT skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Customer care skills
  • Problem solving skills
  • Administrative skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Logical
  • Initiative
  • Non judgemental
  • Highly trustworthy

About this employer

At MAB we value different experiences and perspectives which adds diversity and value to our culture. As an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels welcomed, included and heard for who they are. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join us. ESG Responsibilities Our ‘DNA’ Values are at the heart of everything we do. They underpin our culture and influence the decisions we make and the actions we take every day. By living and breathing our ‘DNA’, we meet our financial and regulatory responsibilities, as well as our commitment to our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy. In line with this you commit to: • Be Awesome: take pride in who you are and feel safe to show it, encouraging others to do the same. • Break the Mould: think differently and shake things up, looking for opportunities to change and improve things for the benefit of our people and the communities around us, our business and our planet. • Share the Love: look out for your colleagues and unite as a team. • See Things Through: do what you say you will, checking in along the way, to make sure you’re on the right track. You will ensure that your team knows and understands the regulations and ESG priorities that are relevant to them, so there is a clear expectation of what’s required of them in their role. • Use Your Voice: talk openly and listen, so we’re all in the know. • Deliver Wow: you know who your customer is and make sure you achieve the right outcomes for them – using your expertise to achieve brilliance, often going the extra mile to do so. You set high standards for the quality of your own work and have conversations with your teammates and colleagues to ensure that the same high standards are met, always acting with integrity, due skill, care and diligence. Across our business, regardless of whether you deal with customers directly or indirectly, we all play a part in the customer journey, and as such you have a duty of care to fully understand and embrace our commitments to Consumer Duty.

https://www.mortgageadvicebureau.com/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

25 days holiday, rising to 28, going up with each complete year of service. Birthday annual leave. Private medical insurance. Free parking. Regular social events. Free fruit and subsidised tuck shop. Cycle to work scheme.

After this apprenticeship

Opportunity for a full-time position within the team upon completion of the apprenticeship programme.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

EMA TRAINING LIMITED

Jess Mitchell

apply@ematraining.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000333013.

Apply now

Closes in 21 days (Monday 18 August 2025 at 11:59pm)

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