About This Apprenticeship

The Payroll Assistant Manager ensures accurate and timely payment of employees in compliance with contractual and UK regulatory requirements across various sectors and industries. They lead a team of junior Payroll Administrators, handle complex payroll cases, and maintain current knowledge of legislation, guidance, and technology. They interact with internal stakeholders, external clients, and government departments like HMRC and DWP. Their responsibilities include team performance, recruitment, making critical payroll decisions, and providing technical expertise and recommendations on payroll systems and processes. Reporting to a senior leader, they may also deputise in their absence and contribute to discussions on complex payroll issues. 

Tell Me More About The Details

Typical Job Titles:

  • Assistant pay and benefits manager 
  • Assistant payroll manager 
  • Deputy payroll manager 
  • Payroll assistant manager 
  • Payroll supervisor 
  • Payroll team leader 

 

Delivery Model: Our comprehensive approach involves tailored online content, virtual workshops, specialised interactive classroom sessions, personalised one-on-one coaching, and additional customised learning, all crafted to suit individual needs within our blended delivery model. 

Typical Duration to gateway: 21 Months​

Typical EPA period: Up to 4 Months 

This EPA has 3 assessment methods. 

The grades available for each assessment method are: 

Assessment method 1: Multiple-choice test: 
fail
pass
distinction

Assessment method 2: Professional discussion underpinned by portfolio: 
fail
pass
distinction 

Assessment method 3: Project report with presentation and questioning: 
fail
pass
distinction 

The result from each assessment method is combined to decide the overall apprenticeship grade. The following grades are available for the apprenticeship: 

fail
pass 
distinction 

EPAO: The apprenticeship End-Point Assessment is conducted by IPP Education Ltd. IPP Education Ltd is a subsidiary of the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) and is the company through which the CIPP’s learning and development programmes are delivered. IPP Education are an Ofqual registered awarding organisation. As such, you can be assured that the final stage of your apprenticeship will be in safe hands.

Extras: Learners gain free associate membership to CIPP for 2 years. This supports CPD in payroll management and links to a payroll community. Learners will have access to webinars and other relevant industry materials to stay ahead in their field.​

Modules covered:

Foundations of Payroll Management (3 Months)​
Payroll Legislation and Compliance (3 Months)​
Payroll Financial Management and Analysis (3 Months)​
Technological Innovations in Payroll (2 Months)​
Advanced Payroll Operations (3 Months)​
Stakeholder and Customer Relations in Payroll (2 Months)

Managing Payroll Operations and Teams (2 Months)

Strategic Payroll Leadership (2 Months)​

Careers to lead to: Senior payroll advisor, Senior payroll assistant, Senior payroll executive, Senior payroll officer, Senior payroll specialist.

If you’re ready to go further, be an apprentice and be the future with Academy Training.

Payroll Assistant Manager L5 Course Contents

Below you will find the full course itinerary
Launch Training/Onboarding

What’s Covered:

Understanding the programme, what’s involved and expectations. Activities from day 1 towards the standard and functional skills to support the apprentice journey and foster development to kick start the payroll assistant manager journey. 

Delivery: Workshop

Duration: 1 Day

Foundations of Payroll Management

What’s Covered:

Payroll Provider/Customer Models and Stakeholders

Impact of Organisational Mission, Objectives, and Values

Payroll Administrative Procedures and Guidance

Employment Allowance Eligibility

Employer Liability for UK Taxes

Creation of Legislation and Guidance

Data Protection Legislation

Managing Fraud and Criminal Activity

This module equips learners with the foundational knowledge necessary to manage payroll effectively, navigate legal and compliance requirements, and maintain integrity in payroll operations. 

Delivery: Interactive classroom sessions: 1 day + 2 x 0.5 days

Duration: 3 Months

Payroll Legislation and Compliance

What’s Covered:

Statutory Requirements for Leave Payments

Recording New Starter Information

Payroll Lifecycle and Business Change

Communication Techniques

Analysing and Determining Complex Payroll Cases

Identifying and Sourcing Data

Manual Payroll Calculations

Managing Off-Payroll Workers (IR35)

Current Legislation and Caselaw

Quality Assurance in Payroll

This module equips learners with comprehensive knowledge of payroll legislation and compliance. It emphasises practical skills in interpreting regulations, managing complex cases, and maintaining accuracy in payroll operations. Learners will develop behaviors crucial for professional integrity, adaptability to legal changes, and proactive problem-solving in payroll management. 

Delivery: Interactive classroom sessions: 1 day + 2 x 0.5 days

Duration: 3 Months

Payroll Financial Management and Analysis

What’s Covered:

Employer Liability for UK Taxes

Tools and Techniques for Analysing Complex Payroll Cases

Data Identification and Sourcing for Financial Analysis

Processes and Manual Calculations in Payroll Financial Management

UK Pension Scheme Tax Relief Mechanisms

Benefits-in-Kind and Payrolling Techniques

Payments to Leavers and Termination Payments

Payroll Financial Analysis and Quality Assurance

This unit equips learners with the skills and knowledge necessary for payroll financial management and analysis. It emphasises compliance with tax regulations, accurate financial calculations, and effective financial decision-making within payroll operations. Learners will develop behaviors essential for probing financial issues, anticipating challenges, and ensuring financial accuracy and integrity in payroll management. 

Delivery: Interactive classroom sessions: 1 day + 2 x 0.5 days

Duration: 3 Months

Technological Innovations in Payroll

What’s Covered:

Impact of Technological Advances on Payroll

Negotiation Techniques for Stakeholder Management

Team Management and Motivation

Personal and Team Development Principles

This unit equips learners with skills to balance automated and manual payroll approaches, evaluate and utilise technological platforms effectively, ensure accuracy and compliance in team payroll calculations, and represent the payroll profession with integrity during technological advancements. It emphasises adaptability to changing priorities and deadlines in payroll technology implementations, and the ability to anticipate and manage setbacks in technological innovations and team dynamics. Learners will enhance their proficiency in leveraging technological innovations for enhanced payroll operations and continuous improvement in the payroll profession. 

Delivery: Interactive classroom sessions: 2 x 0.5 days

Duration: 2 Months

 

Advanced Payroll Operations

What’s Covered:

Stakeholder Negotiation and Influence Techniques

UK Pension Scheme Tax Relief Mechanisms

Benefits-in-Kind and Payrolling Techniques

Payments to Leavers and Termination Payments

Impact of Technological Advances on Payroll Operations

Team Management and Motivation

Recruitment and Selection Lifecycle Impact

This unit focuses on advancing skills in stakeholder management, pension scheme tax relief, benefits-in-kind processing, payments to leavers, technological integration, team management, recruitment strategies, and continuous professional development. Learners will develop proficiency in matching payroll decisions with team capabilities, ensuring accuracy and compliance in payroll operations, and adapting leadership styles for effective team management. Continuous reflection and professional development are emphasised to enhance performance in advanced payroll operations. 

Delivery: Interactive classroom sessions: 1 day + 2 x 0.5 days

Duration: 3 Months

Stakeholder and Customer Relations in Payroll

What’s Covered:

Payroll Provider/Customer Models and Stakeholders

Organisational Impact on Payroll Delivery

Stakeholder Negotiation and Influence

Communication Techniques

Team Skill Matching and Risk Management

This unit equips learners with essential skills in stakeholder management, effective communication, negotiation, and team deployment in the context of payroll operations. Key skills include identifying service delivery risks, managing stakeholder relationships aligned with organisational goals, and communicating complex payroll concepts across different organisational levels. Behaviours foster openness to stakeholder needs, proactive problem-solving, and adaptive leadership in payroll management. 

Delivery: Interactive classroom sessions: 2 x 0.5 days 

Duration: 2 Months

Managing Payroll Operations and Teams

What’s Covered:

Organisational Payroll Lifecycle and Business Impact

Team Management and Motivation

This unit equips learners with essential skills in managing payroll operations and teams, including understanding the payroll lifecycle, adapting to business changes, and effectively managing diverse teams. Key skills include coordinating team workload, adjusting leadership styles, making informed recruitment decisions, and fostering team cohesion. Behaviours emphasise adaptability to changing priorities, proactive team management, and a commitment to continuous personal and team development. 

Delivery: Interactive classroom sessions: 2 x 0.5 days

Duration: 2 Months

Strategic Payroll Leadership

What’s Covered:

Impact of Technological Advances on Payroll

Staffing Forecasting and Recruitment Lifecycle

Leadership Adaptability and Team Coordination

This unit equips learners with strategic leadership skills essential for payroll operations, emphasising the impact of technology, effective staffing forecasting, recruitment strategies, adaptive leadership styles, and team coordination. Key skills include communicating complex concepts, aligning payroll decisions with team capabilities, adapting leadership for team success, and managing workload to meet objectives. Behaviours focus on upholding integrity, flexibility in adapting to change, openness in interpersonal interactions, and continuous personal and team development. 

Delivery: Interactive classroom sessions: 2 x 0.5 days

Duration: 2 Months

EPA Preparation & Support

What’s Covered:

One-to-one coaching sessions tailored to support apprentices through assessment, giving the best backing for an effective achievement.

Delivery: Workshops, One to one coaching, Mock assessments 

Duration: 1 Month

Functional Skills

What’s Covered:

If required, Functional skills level 2 qualification in English & math’s. 

Delivery: Specialised support, online workshops, tailored online content  

Duration: From commencement: 6 Months

Gateway

What’s Covered:

Agreement from all parties that the apprentice is working to the required occupational standard.

English & math’s L2 achieved (or RPL in place).

OTJ required hours met.  

Submission of portfolio evidence. 

Delivery: Tri party Meeting  

Duration: 1 Day

EPA

What’s Covered:

This requires three assessments: 

Assessment method 1: Multiple-choice test.

Assessment method 2: Professional discussion underpinned by portfolio.

Assessment method 3: Project report with presentation and questioning.

Apprentices have a maximum of 12 weeks to complete and submit the project report to the EPAO. 

Delivery: Assessments

Duration: 4 months

General Notes

Throughout the programme, apprentices will also have access to tailored on demand content, 121 coaching from a designated skills coach and a variety of learning collateral to support the apprentice journey.

Reviews will take place every 4-6 weeks to monitor progress and formals being every 10-12 weeks with the employer and coach as part of a tri party process. 

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