Payroll Apprentice
Devon County Council
Exeter (EX2 4QD)
Closes in 21 days (Sunday 19 April 2026)
Posted on 25 March 2026
Contents
Summary
You’ll be part of our friendly Payroll team, helping make sure everyone gets paid correctly and on time. Don’t worry if you’ve never done payroll before — you’ll learn everything you need.
- Wage
-
£25,583 a year
Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
£25,583 - £26,403 per annum.
- Training course
- Payroll administrator (level 3)
- Hours
-
Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm, though we offer flexible working.
37 hours a week
- Start date
-
Monday 1 June 2026
- Duration
-
1 year 10 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
- Helping people with payroll queries
- Keeping records up to date in our payroll system
- Assisting with monthly payroll and pension processes
- Checking reports and analysing data
- Working with HR, recruitment and other teams to make sure information is accurate
- Learning how payroll works from start to finish
Where you'll work
Devon County Hall
Topsham Road
Exeter
EX2 4QD
Training
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
MBKB LTD
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
Training will take place virtually with Training Provider MBKB. You will have protected study time once a work week where you will complete assignments, attend sessions with your tutor or work on your off-the-job hours.
Requirements
Essential qualifications
GCSE in:
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
- Organisation skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Team working
- Initiative
About this employer
At Devon County Council, we work together to improve life across Devon for everyone. We want to create a place that people enjoy living in, as well as a place that you enjoy working.
https://www.devon.gov.uk/workingfordevon/ (opens in new tab)
Company benefits
- Highly competitive salary - £25,583 in your first year
- Join a workplace that supports you every step of the way
- Plus: 26 days’ holiday, bank holidays off, great pension, and discounts
Disability Confident
A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.
You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.
After this apprenticeship
Devon County Council has a great track record of retaining apprentices so there’s a good chance of a long-term career here.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
Devon County Council
Sarah Groom
sarah.groom@devon.gov.uk
01392 385890
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000023206.
Apply now
Closes in 21 days (Sunday 19 April 2026)
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.