**This post is restricted to internal applicants only**
We are looking for a manager to lead Pembrokeshire County Council’s Direct Payments Administration and Payroll Service. This is a varied role combining team leadership, service development, financial oversight and specialist payroll management.
Our team supports people across Adult and Children’s Services to arrange their own care and support through a Direct Payment. We help recipients and their representatives get started, understand their responsibilities and manage their arrangements over time. We also operate a managed banking service and a payroll bureau for recipients who employ Personal Assistants.
You will lead the team that brings these services together. On any given day, that could mean helping colleagues resolve a complex employer query, reviewing a concern identified through account monitoring, improving a process with social workers, or ensuring that payroll and payment deadlines are met. You will have the scope to develop the service as demand grows while maintaining the personal, responsive support that recipients rely on.
What you will do
- Manage, support and develop the Direct Payments Administration Team, including supervision, training, workload planning and performance management.
- Oversee the four-weekly payroll bureau for multiple individual employers, including payroll accuracy, statutory payments, HMRC requirements, pensions and timely payment of Personal Assistants.
- Oversee managed banking, including payments to Personal Assistants and care providers, contributions, reconciliations and the recovery of unspent funds.
- Lead the monitoring of non-managed Direct Payment accounts, ensuring financial information is reviewed and concerns are followed up appropriately.
- Provide guidance on complex Direct Payment arrangements and Personal Assistant employment matters, working closely with recipients, representatives and social care colleagues.
- Lead improvements to procedures, systems and customer communication, and manage complaints and escalated enquiries.
- Work with Adult and Children’s Services to promote Direct Payments, support practitioners and help more people access this option where it meets their needs.
- Provide senior managers with advice, performance information and assurance on the service’s financial and operational risks.
About you
You will be a confident people manager who enjoys developing a team and taking ownership of a broad service. You will be able to balance the need for accurate financial and payroll processes with a supportive approach to people who may be arranging care for the first time.
Payroll experience is essential, preferably in a bureau environment where you have worked across multiple employers or payrolls. You will also bring strong organisational and problem-solving skills, sound judgement, and the ability to explain complex matters clearly to customers and colleagues. Experience of financial administration, social care or Direct Payments would be helpful, but you do not need to have worked in a Direct Payments service before.
What we offer
- A supportive senior leadership team
- Opportunities for professional development and career progression within the Authority
- Flexible hybrid working
- 26 days’ annual leave, rising to 31 days after five years’ continuous service, plus eight public holidays
- The option to purchase additional annual leave
- Up to three paid volunteering days per year
- Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
This is an opportunity to lead a service with a direct impact on people’s independence, choice and control, while shaping how the team responds to growing demand across Pembrokeshire. Apply to help make Direct Payments work in practice for the people who rely on them.
Employee Benefits
Our employee benefits are designed to help invest in your future and are in addition to living and working in Pembrokeshire, one of the most beautiful and desirable counties in the UK.
The Visit Pembrokeshire website https://www.visitpembrokeshire.com/ is an excellent source of information, and showcases the wide variety of activities, amenities and adventures that await you.
Please refer to the job description above for more details on this vacancy and the person specification.
Employment Checks
This post is subject to a DBS disclosure check.
Where it is appropriate for your role and responsibility, the personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by visiting https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.
Applicants should ensure they have the right to work in the UK before applying for a vacancy.
Please note that at this point, Pembrokeshire County Council is not accepting applicants who require a Skilled Worker visa as a prerequisite to a right to work in the UK. Applicants should ensure they have the right to work in the UK before applying for a vacancy.
Guidance Note: Use of AI and Accuracy of Information:
- We understand that applicants may choose to use tools such as generative AI to support the preparation of their application. While the use of such tools is permitted, it remains the applicant’s full responsibility to ensure that all information submitted is factually accurate, truthful, and representative of their own skills, experiences and qualifications.
- Providing information that is false, misleading, or exaggerated, regardless of whether it was generated by AI or not, may result in disqualification from the recruitment process or dismissal if discovered after appointment.
- By submitting this application, you confirm that all content provided is accurate and submitted in good faith.
The Supported Employment Programme is a group of local authority based enterprises that employs over 75 people with a disability or work limiting health condition, please visit the link below for further information: Pembrokeshire Supported Employment Programme - Pembrokeshire County Council
Safeguarding
Safeguarding and protecting children and adults at risk is a high priority for Pembrokeshire County Council. We aim to support vulnerable children and adults at risk to ensure they are as safe as they can possibly be. We are committed to ensuring their safety and will take action to safeguard their well-being. The Council’s Corporate Safeguarding Policy provides a framework for every member of staff and Service within the Council, setting out responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and protecting children and adults at risk as well as the methods by which the Council will be assured that it is fulfilling its duties.
This policy applies to all Council employees and workforce, councillors, volunteers and also service providers that are commissioned by the Council. Safeguarding is everyone's business whether they work for, or on behalf of, the Council.
Support & Additional Info
- Please contact the HR Systems Team as early as possible if you're unable to apply online by emailing hrsystemsteam@pembrokeshire.gov.uk.
- Please contact the Recruitment Team if you have any queries relating to this vacancy by emailing Recruit@pembrokeshire.gov.uk.
- Local Government Employees on National Joint Council (NJC) terms are subject to national pay bargaining; all salaries currently stated in our adverts are as 01/04/2025.
- Please note, we have a legal obligation to consider employees for suitable alternative employment if their posts are at risk; therefore prior consideration will be given to existing employees who meet the person specification and are registered on our redeployment pool.
Welsh language skills are desirable. Applications may be submitted in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.