Payroll Officer Jobs at Crown Prosecution Service – £30,700 to £32,430
Payroll Officer Job Overview
Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is recruiting 2 Payroll Officers for permanent positions within its Pay and Benefits Team. The roles are based in Nottingham, Wakefield or York and offer full-time, flexible working and job-share options.
Important: The CPS explicitly states that visa sponsorship is not available for this vacancy. Applicants who require UK visa sponsorship will not meet the eligibility criteria.
Job Details
▫️ Job title: Payroll Officer
▫️ Employer: Crown Prosecution Service
▫️ Reference: 472976
▫️ Salary: £30,700 – £32,430 per year
▫️ Grade: Executive Officer (B1)
▫️ Contract: Permanent
▫️ Job type: Finance / Payroll
▫️ Working pattern: Full-time, flexible working, job share
▫️ Number of vacancies: 2
▫️ Location: Nottingham, Wakefield or York
▫️ Closing date: 30 August 2026 at 11:55 PM
About the Job
The Payroll Officer will join the CPS Pay and Benefits Team, gaining valuable experience in payroll operations and CPS HR and finance systems.
The successful candidates will manage an important team workstream, ensuring payroll-related actions are completed accurately and within required deadlines.
The role also involves providing advice and guidance to colleagues and employees while supporting Payroll Managers with process improvements, controls and compliance with legislation and policy.
The role can be based in Nottingham, Wakefield or York, although frequent travel to Nottingham will be required when starting. Occasional travel to other CPS locations may also be required.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide advice and guidance on HR processes, legislation, payroll processes and HR policy.
- Ensure work is accurate and prioritised according to deadlines and milestones.
- Escalate issues that could affect delivery deadlines.
- Support the delivery of monthly payroll.
- Assist with quarterly Oracle update testing and defect resolution.
- Manage assigned incidents and ensure timely resolution within agreed SLAs.
- Participate in team meetings and planning activities.
- Support day-to-day end-user issues.
- Work collaboratively with the wider support team.
- Help improve payroll processes and controls.
Essential Skills and Experience
Applicants should have:
- Experience using Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Word and Excel.
- Strong work, time and resource management skills.
- Good communication skills.
- Ability to organise and prioritise work.
- Ability to work accurately to deadlines.
- Ability to provide clear advice and guidance.
Desirable Experience
Experience in financial systems and operations is desirable but not essential.
Civil Service Behaviours
Candidates will be assessed against:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
Salary and Pension
The salary is £30,700 – £32,430 per year.
The CPS also provides a Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension Scheme with a substantial employer contribution.
Successful employees typically join the Executive Officer grade on the developing rate and may move to the maximum spot rate after completing a 15-month development period, subject to satisfactory performance.
Employee Benefits
Benefits include:
- Civil Service pension with employer contributions of up to approximately 28.9%.
- 25 days’ annual leave, increasing to 30 days after five years.
- £350 annual personal development allowance.
- Additional privilege day for the King’s birthday.
- Competitive maternity, paternity and parental leave.
- Flexible working and flexitime.
- Family-friendly working arrangements.
- Cycle2Work scheme.
- Employee savings.
- Wellbeing support.
- Staff development opportunities.
- Inclusive staff networks.
Hybrid Working
The CPS operates a hybrid working policy.
Employees must spend at least 40% of their contracted hours over a four-week period at a court, office or another official workplace, depending on business needs and the nature of the role.
Personal Statement
Applicants must provide a personal statement of no more than 1,250 words.
The statement must address:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
Applicants must also demonstrate:
- Microsoft Teams, Outlook, Word and Excel experience.
- Work, time and resource management skills.
- Communication skills.
- CPS or Civil Service values.
The panel may assess Managing a Quality Service first. Failure to meet the required standard for this lead behaviour may prevent the remaining behaviours from being considered.
Interview Process
The recruitment process consists of an online application and interview.
Interviews are expected to take place during the week commencing 14 September 2026 through Microsoft Teams.
Candidates should keep this period available.
The interview will assess:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Delivering at Pace
- Communicating and Influencing
Strengths will also be assessed at interview.
CV Requirements
A conventional CV upload is not required.
However, applicants must provide their employment and/or academic history for the previous three years in the CV section of the application.
If an applicant cannot provide three years of employment or academic history, a character reference may be required for clearance purposes.
Visa Sponsorship
Visa sponsorship is NOT available for this position.
The CPS states that applicants who require visa sponsorship to work in the UK will not meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants should therefore have the appropriate existing right to work in the UK before applying.
Security Clearance
Successful candidates must complete the required pre-employment checks, including:
- Disclosure and Barring Service check.
- Security Check (SC) clearance.
- Nationality and immigration checks.
- Relevant pre-employment screening.
A current valid UK address is required for the relevant clearance process.
Candidates must also satisfy the applicable residency requirements for SC clearance.
Location
The role is available in:
- Nottingham
- Wakefield
- York
Frequent travel to Nottingham will be required at the beginning of the role, with occasional travel to other CPS locations.
Eligibility
The vacancy is broadly open to eligible UK nationals, Irish nationals, qualifying Commonwealth nationals and other individuals who meet the Civil Service nationality and right-to-work requirements.
Applicants must satisfy all applicable UK immigration and Civil Service nationality requirements.
Artificial Intelligence
Applicants may use AI tools to support their application, but all examples and statements must be truthful, factually accurate and based on their own experience.
Applicants should not submit AI-generated examples that misrepresent their actual experience.
Reserve List
Candidates who are recommended but not appointed may be placed on a 12-month reserve list.
They may subsequently be considered for another Payroll Officer vacancy or another suitable CPS position.
Application Deadline
Sunday 30 August 2026 at 11:55 PM
Applicants are encouraged to apply before the closing deadline.
How to Apply
Applications should be submitted through the official Civil Service Jobs vacancy.
Reference: 472976
Position: Payroll Officer
Employer: Crown Prosecution Service
Locations: Nottingham, Wakefield or York
Contact Information
Job contact:
Ben Savage
ben.savage@cps.gov.uk
Recruitment team:
strategic.resourcing@cps.gov.uk
Important Notice
This is a permanent Civil Service Payroll Officer position offering £30,700–£32,430, pension benefits and flexible/hybrid working.
Visa sponsorship is not available.
Application deadline: 30 August 2026 at 11:55 PM.