Payroll Specialist

£24,570 to £27,500 pro-rata plus great benefits including 28 days holiday and up to 10% pensions contribution (Work Level 6C). Fixed-term contract until June 2026. Manchester city centre – in this role you'll work in a hybrid way splitting your time between home and the office (find out more about our hybrid working policy at

We're looking for a Payroll Specialist to join the Payroll Operations team within our wider Co‑op Business Services (CBS) organisation on a fixed-term contract until June 2026. CBS is made up of a number of diverse teams dedicated to delivering high‑quality, reliable and cost‑effective business services across our Co‑op. You'll play a key role in helping CBS to support and realise our group vision of ‘co‑operating to build more value for member‑owners every day’.

Why this role matters

Payroll Operations is a busy team; they process the salaries for approximately 70,000 Co‑op employees and pensioners on a 4‑week cycle, and their goal is to make sure that every colleague is paid the right amount at the right time. In this role, you'll be working in a high‑volume environment, with a seriously complex payroll that covers the entire Co‑op family of businesses. If you have the payroll experience and team working skills that we need, then we can offer you the opportunity to build your knowledge and develop your skills with a business that puts people at the heart of its strategy.

What you’ll do

Use the Oracle Fusion system to process payroll data to tight deadlines
Process starters, leavers, absences and ad‑hoc payments
Perform manual calculations and analysis to make sure payroll is completed in line with high Co‑op standards
Check key payroll control reports to make sure they’re accurate and compliant to government legislation
Spot opportunities for continuous improvement, identifying ways to further streamline our payroll service

What you’ll bring

Some previous payroll experience with the ability to confidently complete manual calculations
A high level of accuracy and attention to detail
The ability to confidently use Microsoft Word and Excel
Good team working skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with others but also to work autonomously with support
Good organisational skills, with the ability to manage a large caseload and prioritise your work

Why Co‑op?

An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
30% discount on Co‑op products and 10% off other brands
Stream – early access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it
Virtual healthcare including GP appointments, mental health support, nutrition and fitness advice
24/7 colleague support service
Training and support for your development and career progression
Cycle‑to‑work scheme

A place you’ll belong

We’re building diverse teams that reflect the communities we serve. We welcome applications from everyone, and our support centre is an inclusive environment where all our colleagues can thrive. If you have a disability, we’ll make reasonable adjustments to support you through the recruitment process. We’re also proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme – if you’re disabled and you meet the minimum criteria for this job, we’ll guarantee you an interview.

Learn more about our recruitment process at

Explore our commitments to diversity, inclusion and wellbeing at

Please be aware we may close the application window for this role early.

As part of your application, you’ll need to complete an online assessment. This assessment typically takes up to 50 minutes. If you’re a current Co‑op colleague, this does not need to be completed.

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Payroll Specialist