School Leaver Payroll Trainee (CIPP) - Peterborough - September

This is an opportunity to start your career in Payroll, helping businesses by providing a full and integrated payroll service. You will be studying towards the CIPP qualification.

About Saffery

Saffery is a partner-led and people-focused firm of chartered accountants, tax and business advisers with a history dating back to 1855. As a member of Nexia, a worldwide network of trusted member firms, Saffery offers local insight on a global scale. The firm prides itself on an informal and inclusive culture, building an environment where people can enjoy challenging, interesting, and rewarding careers.

About the Programme

This training contract takes 18 months to complete with full support and access to first-class tuition centres. You’ll follow a structured development programme combining professional study with on-the-job learning. As your knowledge and confidence develop, you’ll take on more complex work, contribute to projects and build your expertise as a trusted advisor.

What You'll Do

• Process all payrolls from start to finish, including processing starter, leavers and permanent data changes
• Manage multiple deadlines for variable data and managing clients throughout their pay cycle
• Manage report processing
• Liaise directly with clients and HMRC on any salary queries
• Complete monthly pension returns
• Process and calculate statutory payments, including Statutory Maternity Pay and Statutory Sick Pay
• Manually calculate pro-rata payments such as holiday pay and hourly/daily rates of pay
• Keep abreast of new legislation, supporting the team to implement new procedures

What You'll Learn

• Core payroll principles across UK payroll legislation and compliance
• Income tax, National Insurance and HMRC regulations
• Workplace pensions and auto-enrolment
• Holiday pay and other employment-related payments
• Statutory payments
• Managing client relationships and delivering excellent customer service
• Payroll systems, reporting tools and data management processes
• The practical application of your professional qualification studies in real-world scenarios

Support will be provided through mentorship and structured training, as well as regular social events.

What You'll Need

• A minimum of 112 UCAS points from your top 3 A Levels or Highers (or equivalent), excluding General Studies and AS Levels.
• A minimum of 5 (or C) in GCSE or National 5 Maths and English Language (or equivalent).

About You

Saffery looks for individuals who are collaborative, responsible, progressive and act with integrity, whilst always striving for excellence. You'll be approachable, committed and ready to take ownership of your work, with a proactive and curious mindset and a genuine interest in how businesses operate. The firm values people who are organised, pay close attention to detail, enjoy working with financial data, and can manage their time effectively. You'll thrive in a close-knit team environment, working collaboratively with others while taking responsibility for your own development. The firm wants people who are willing to learn, ask questions, speak up when something could be better, and help make improvements happen.

What We'll Offer You

• Financial support & flexibility
  • Competitive salary
  • Profit-sharing scheme (approx. £1,000 per year)
  • Generous annual leave & flexible work arrangements
  • Contributory pension plan (5% salary match)
• Work life balance & wellbeing
  • Buddy scheme and/or line manager support
  • Agile working policy (up to three days working from home, however in your first few months we do encourage up to 4 days in the office to reap the benefits of training around your managers and colleagues)
  • Health assessments, GP access, & cancer screenings
  • Access to mental health & wellbeing resources
• Personal development and belonging
  • Mentorship & career progression opportunities
  • Participation in our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) programme
  • Volunteer to join one of our People networks, including Accessibility, Cultural Heritage, Faith, LGBTQ+, Social Mobility and Gender Equality

Before You Apply

• Familiarise yourself with Saffery's recruitment process by visiting How to apply - Saffery. Guidance on using AI in your application is also available.
• Practice psychometric tests and learn more about competency-based interviews.
• You can apply to just one programme per recruitment season. If unsuccessful, you can reapply next September.
• If you’ve experienced extenuating circumstances that may have impacted your academic performance, please reach out to EarlyCareersTalent@saffery.com before submitting an application.
• If you require any reasonable adjustments, look out for further details throughout the assessment process.
• If selected for an in-person interview, travel expenses will be reimbursed.
• If offered a place, hold off on booking annual leave around your expected start date to ensure you don’t miss out on important training and onboarding sessions.