Apprentice Payroll Administrator

WHISTL LIMITED

Marlow (SL7 1EY)

Closes in 20 days (Tuesday 30 June 2026 at 11:59pm)

Posted on 10 June 2026

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Summary

Start your career in payroll with hands-on experience in a supportive team. You’ll help with payroll processing, employee records, starters and leavers, queries and admin while building valuable skills, confidence and knowledge for a long-term career in a growing business.

• Wage:

  £26,000 a year

  Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

  Salary banding - £26K - 28K, if no previous experience, the salary will be a set at the lower end.

• Training course: Payroll administrator (level 3)
• Hours: Monday - Friday 9am - 5.30pm with a 1 hour unpaid lunch break.

  37 hours 30 minutes a week

• Start date:

  Wednesday 1 July 2026

• Duration:

  1 year 6 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

Key tasks

• Support the payroll process for monthly pay runs
• Update employee records and payroll information accurately
• Help process starter and leaver details
• Input and maintain pay, tax and statutory information
• Assist with payroll queries from employees and managers
• Support overtime and additional hours processing
• Work with HR, Finance and other teams as needed
• Help with payroll administration and filing
• Maintain confidentiality and handle data in line with GDPR
• Learn payroll systems and processes while building career skills

Where you'll work

Network House
Globe Business Park, Third Avenue
Marlow
SL7 1EY

Training

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

Training provider

SMART TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT 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 training will take place on the job in the head office in Marlow, alongside the Payroll Supervisor and HR team. Smart Training will have monthly sessions on site and remotely. 

More training information

Further information available here - https://skillsengland.education.gov.uk/apprenticeships/st0073-v1-1

https://smarttar.co.uk/programme/payroll-administrator-level-3/

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

• English Language (grade 4 or equivalent)
• maths (grade 4 or equivalent)

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
• Problem solving skills
• Administrative skills
• Number skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Initiative
• Patience

Other requirements

You will be required to pass a standard criminal records check.

You must have the right to work in the UK.

o   Occasional business travel

o   Flexibility of working hours to meet the business needs

About this employer

We are a delivery management company providing efficient, high-quality and competitively priced services across Business Mail, Parcels, Fulfilment and Doordrop Media in the UK and internationally. Distributing more than 4 billion items annually, we are market leaders in mail services handling over 50% of business mail in UK. Our mail expertise supports our continued growth in parcel delivery and ecommerce markets, combined with our unique advertising portfolio across Doordrop Media.

http://Whistl.co.uk (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

• Company pension scheme
• Potential annual bonus
• Employee assistance programme
• Staff 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

If successful, there will be a permanent position available as a Payroll Administrator, with scope to develop into other roles. 

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

SMART TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT LIMITED

recruitment@whistl.co.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000036115.

Apply now

Closes in 20 days (Tuesday 30 June 2026 at 11:59pm)