Payroll administrator
Level 3 · AdvancedLegal, finance and accounting 1.5 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
This Level 3 apprenticeship develops your ability to process payroll accurately and compliantly for organisations of varying sizes in the UK. You will calculate pay, deductions, tax, and National Insurance contributions, and deal with statutory payments and employee queries. It can lead to senior payroll roles, payroll team leader positions, or chartered membership of professional payroll bodies.
On the job
What you’ll learn
UK payroll legislation including PAYE, NI, and statutory payments
Using payroll software to process weekly and monthly pay runs
Calculating tax codes, deductions, and net pay correctly
Processing starters, leavers, and changes to employment terms
Statutory payments such as SSP, SMP, and SPP
HMRC reporting and Real Time Information (RTI) submissions
Pension auto-enrolment and contribution calculations
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Process payroll for employees on a weekly or monthly cycle
Calculate and apply tax codes, NI categories, and deductions
Submit Real Time Information returns to HMRC on time
Administer starters, leavers, and mid-period pay changes
Calculate statutory sick pay, maternity, and paternity pay
Respond to employee queries about pay slips and deductions
Reconcile payroll data and prepare end-of-year P60 forms
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 3 (Advanced) - roughly A-level level. Employers usually look for some GCSEs (often English & maths around grade 4/C) or a Level 2 apprenticeship first. English & maths can sometimes be finished during training.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 4/5 (Higher) apprenticeship, or straight into the role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
No employer videos yet for this apprenticeship. Employers offering it can add one to show young people what the role is really like.