Package Description:

Erskine Stewart’s Melville Schools are currently recruiting for a Payroll and Pensions Coordinator to join the team on a 6-month temporary basis (subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks). The role is available immediately, working 21.75 hours per week (equivalent to 0.6FTE), with a salary range of £23,305 to £25,381. If you have strong payroll and pensions knowledge are looking for your next opportunity to build internal relationships with key business stakeholders, this role could be for you.

The Payroll and Pensions Coordinator will be responsible for playing a key role in strengthening and embedding payroll operations within an outsourced model. The Payroll and Pensions Coordinator will be responsible for payroll governance, data integrity and process design and improvements. They will work closely with the Head of Finance, the wider Finance Team, the HR team, and both internal and external stakeholders, including payroll and pension providers.

The successful candidate will have experience in payroll and data management, as well as relevant pension or finance experience which demonstrates professional competency. Proficiency in iTrent/MHR HR software is essential. The post holder must have experience managing a range of stakeholders, systems and deadlines within a payroll environment. Experience working with outsourced payroll providers and SPPA pension scheme administration is preferred, although not essential. Strong communication, organisational, and IT skills are essential, along with the ability to multitask and work both independently and as part of a team. A commitment to high professional standards and continuous professional development is key.

To learn more about this role, please access the job description provided.

Eligibility	ESMS is unable to sponsor the employment of international workers in this role. International applicants will therefore be unable to apply for and secure a Skilled Worker visa. The successful candidate will only be able to take up this role if they can demonstrate an alternative right work in the UK.
Values	We are looking for individuals who can embody and promote ESMS values of Kindness, Confidence, Resilience, Integrity, and Curiosity while role modelling behaviours in line with our school pillars of Ambition, Innovation, and Community.

ESMS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Applicants must undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and Disclosure Scotland.

All staff working at ESMS have direct access to young people therefore all posts within the school are considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Any enquiries about this position should be directed to recruitment@esms.org.uk

The closing date for applications is 12pm Friday 19 June 2026. We anticipate interviews are likely to take place week commencing 22 June 2026.

About ESMS

Welcome to the ESMS, a vibrant family of independent schools, set in beautiful grounds in the heart of Edinburgh. We offer a co-educational nursery and junior school, single-sex but closely twinned secondary education, and a co-educational sixth form. 

We are a consistently award-winning School, with an educational legacy that stretches back more than 300 years. Our Schools have always been pioneers of rounded education. Children’s education is underpinned by our values: kindness, confidence, resilience, integrity and curiosity. From virtual reality headsets in the classroom to developing one of the first outdoor learning programmes in Scotland, we are always searching for new ways to develop the whole child.

The people that work for us are passionate, pioneering and strive for excellence in everything they do. We value the incredible contributions they make to school life, we invest in their careers and we support their ambitions so that they flourish professionally and personally.

Benefits

Employees get access to a range of benefits including:

Fee remission from Nursery to S6
Free school lunches
Free Sports’ Club membership, including access to pool and fitness suites
Generous holiday allowance
Generous pension
Death in service benefit
Family friendly policies, including enhanced maternity leave
Membership of the ESMS Discount and Benefits Scheme, including a range of discounts at 130,000 retail and entertainment locations
Employee Assistance Service
Cycle to work scheme
Car leasing salary sacrifice scheme
Annual professional review process
Regular salary reviews
Funding towards professional qualifications

Erskine Stewart Melville School

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