HR, Systems & Payroll Officer

Are you an HR & Payroll specialist with a passion for MIS software?

Apply today to join the SRWA people team and make a difference!

HR, Systems & Payroll Officer

(permanent, full time: all year round/52 weeks)

37 hours per week: Monday to Friday

8 hours per day (including a daily 30 min unpaid break)

Actual Starting Salary: £31,015 p.a.

Annual leave: 28 days plus public holidays

Join a "warm and welcoming" school

where 95% of staff recommend SRWA as an employer

(June 2026 All Staff Survey)

The School:

The Sir Robert Woodard Academy, one of the ‘happiest’ schools in the country (The Sunday Times, 2025) and part of the Woodard family of schools, is a thriving 11-18 Academy serving primarily the students of Lancing, Sompting and West Shoreham, though we welcome students from all surrounding areas. We are committed to ensuring that every student is known and nurtured and is provided with teaching and learning experiences that allow them to fulfil their potential. Every member of staff plays a part in this. In January 2026, the Academy was proudly evaluated under the new Ofsted toolkit as being at ‘Strong Standard’ in four areas and ‘Expected Standard’ in three, further building on the Academy’s 2021 rating of ‘Good’ in all areas.

The Position:

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a proactive, personable and technical HR, Systems and Payroll Officer to join our People and payroll team. Reporting to the People (HR) Manager, this pivotal role is essential to maintaining smooth staff lifecycle administration, accurate employee data systems, and seamless payroll delivery across the Academy.

We are specifically seeking an individual with strong people skills, comprehensive strength in processing payroll and an excellent working knowledge of Management Information Systems (MIS) (such as Arbor, MyView, or similar platforms). As the HR, Systems & Payroll Officer, your role is to provide excellent staff customer service and be able to bridge the gap between school staff, system platforms, and external help desks to ensure high data accuracy and streamlined digital workflows.

• HR Lifecycle Administration: Support the People (HR) Manager in providing excellent first-line HR and payroll advice to staff, manage online recruitment advertising and applicant tracking systems, support interviews, issue onboarding and probation paperwork, and maintain confidential personnel files in line with data protection principles.
• Operational Excellence: Proven ability to manage high-volume workflows by effectively prioritising tasks and adapting to shifting daily demands.
• Data Protection & Confidentiality: Operate beyond reproach when handling sensitive employee and financial data, exercising a discreet, tactful approach at all times and maintaining a robust working understanding of data protection principles, GDPR compliance, and statutory privacy regulations.
• Payroll Operations & Reconciliation: Assist the Finance and Operations Manager with day-to-day payroll administration, maintaining up-to-date employee details, processing monthly payroll changes. Crucially, to deputise for the Finance and Payroll Manager in the monthly reconciliation of payroll, checking report changes from the provider, resolving discrepancies, and assisting with year-end payroll returns and audits.
• MIS Management & User Support: Maintain accurate staff records across all academy databases. Identify, prepare and and maintain digital HR workflows for absence tracking and probation reviews, manage staff CPD and performance management administration and maintain mandatory statutory staff training records, create quick user guides, and provide software troubleshooting advice for academy staff across data platforms.
• Statutory Returns & Data Reporting: Collate and analyse accurate staff data for statutory submissions, as well as internal management reporting and Trust requirements. Run regular system reports to analyse workforce trends and ensure the Single Central Record (SCR) matches live staffing contracts.

Quote from a current support staff employee at SRWA:

"Working at SRWA is incredibly rewarding. We pride ourselves on our collaborative culture, where staff truly support one another. Our students are inspiring and, because no two days are ever the same, it is such a fulfilling environment."

This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role in a vibrant educational community.

Only candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role will be considered as part of the shortlisting process; please ensure you review the Job Description and Person Specification and evidence clearly in your application how you meet the role requirements.

Role type: Permanent and full time all year round: 52 weeks

Hours: 37 per week, Monday to Friday, 8am-4pm (3.30pm finish on Fridays)

Salary: Actual starting salary £31,015p.a.

Benefits:

• modern and spacious working environment
• free use of the Academy’s fitness suite
• free employee wellness programme and onsite wellbeing support
• generous employer contribution pension scheme of 15%
• free on-site parking and easy access to local public transport
• cycle to work scheme.

The Person:

At SRWA, our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with wellbeing support, coaching, mentoring and a wide range of top-quality training and CPD programmes delivered at every level up to senior leadership.

From the June 2026 All Staff Survey Report:

"I would recommend SRWA as an employer" (95% staff)

"I am proud to be a member of staff at this school" (96% staff)

"There is strong support from colleagues across the Academy" (93% staff)

"Staff are treated fairly and treat each other with dignity and respect" (91% staff)

"The school is well led and managed" (95% staff).

The successful candidate will:

• Demonstrate comprehensive experience in processing payroll and undertaking payroll reconciliations.
• Possess a strong working knowledge and experience of MIS and databases, with the ability to act as an efficient system administrator or super-user.
• Excellent ICT and Office skills, including advanced Excel capabilities (e.g., pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, or data analysis) and digital fluency - comfortable configuring digital workflows, creating user guides and explaining technical features to non-technical staff.
• Able to analyse and interpret data, prepare statutory returns and maintain the Single Central Record.
• Evidence of a good standard of education (GCSEs or higher) and recent and relevant CPD.
• Be an effective communicator with well-developed interpersonal skills and able to relate well to a wide range of people.
• Be able to demonstrate a calm, positive, ‘can-do’ attitude, including suggesting solutions.
• Hold a dedicated commitment to safeguarding and the need for confidentiality.
• Be beyond reproach in dealing with sensitive and confidential data, displaying a discreet, tactful approach and a clear, practical understanding of data protection laws and GDPR principles.

Our commitment to Safeguarding:

The Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share in this commitment. All posts will be