Payroll Administrator

Main purpose of job:

The British Government’s Embassy in Washington has an exciting opportunity for a driven detail-oriented person to join the Regional Corporate Services Hub as a Pay & Benefits Officer. This opportunity is a rewarding role which supports and further develops the special relationship between the UK and the US, supporting work at the forefront of international diplomacy in order to make a real difference globally.

The US Network offers a unique career enhancing opportunity and is committed to supporting its staff through a variety of benefits including generous leave, insurance packages and a highly competitive 401k programme. It also promotes a culture of flexibility which enables people to better maintain wellness through an excellent work/life balance approach that encompasses hybrid working, including working from home and flexible hours, where possible. In this role you would be working in a diverse international environment side-by-side with UK diplomats, armed forces personnel and other country-based staff operating across the British Government’s network of Consulates and Government Offices in the United States. This network provides a platform for approximately 30 Government departments and agencies to conduct their work in the United States and is made up of over 900 staff with a rich and diverse background, skill sets, and experiences.

The ideal candidate will be a team player, have strong attention to detail with experience with utilizing ADP payroll software, Excel and deadline focused. Full training will be provided. The Pay & Benefits officer supports the processing of payroll, and reports to the Pay & Benefits Manager.

Roles and responsibilities:

• Assist the Regional Pay and Benefits Manager in managing all payroll activities for posts across the region and ensuring all payroll changes/actions are received from all posts in a timely manner allowing sufficient time for processing.
• Assist in interfacing with our customers throughout the region by responding to pay and benefits related to telephone and email enquiries, following appropriate procedures, and meeting response time frames set by our Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
• Assist in managing and organizing the Pay and Benefits central e-mail inbox and providing first level support for questions sent by Country Based Staff. Route non-relevant enquiries to other team members to ensure they are responded to in a timely manner.
• Assist the Pay and Benefits Team in compiling the Regional Payroll Manual and/or other relevant key documents and policy manuals for internal use.
• Assist the Pay and Benefits Manager in carrying out large-scale projects such as the Quarterly Activities Report, Performance Pay, Re-net exercises etc. when needed.
• Serve as backup for the Regional Pay and Benefits Manager when needed.
• Provide administrative support to the Pay and Benefits Team as assigned.
• Assist the Deputy Head of HR with data collection exercises.

Perform other job-related duties as required and assigned.

Essential on arrival:

• Experience in either payroll processing, HR functions, or managing data.
• Proven experience of delivering to deadlines and agreed timescales as part of a team.
• Ability to handle confidential employee information/issues
• Ability to multitask, strong organizational skills and flexibility to adapt and change priorities quickly
• Proficient in all MS Office applications, specifically Excel

Language requirements:

• Language: English
• Level of language required: proficiency

Desirable:

• Experience with financial reporting / payroll reporting.
• Auditing
• Experience working with ADP

Required behaviours

Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions, Managing a Quality Service

Application deadline

25 January 2026

Grade

Administrative Officer (AO)

Type of Position

Full-time, Permanent

Working hours per week

40

Region

Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories

Country/Territory

United States

Location (City)

Washington

Type of Post

British Embassy

Number of vacancies

1

Salary Currency

USD

Salary

$26.56

Type of Salary

hourly

Start Date

2 March 2026

You must have the right to live and work in the US in order to take up this role, whether in your own right or as a dependant, and be able to demonstrate that when required. If you are not a US citizen, dual US citizen or US Permanent Resident, it is your responsibility check your eligibility to work for a foreign government in the United States, and specifically to work in this role at this location, and provide proof of your eligibility via an Employment Authorisation Document or other relevant document when required. The UK Government does not routinely sponsor work visas; the job advertisement will state clearly whether sponsorship is available.

Learning and Development:

The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

Working patterns:

Requires standard working pattern at 40 hours a week with set working hours each day. It may require the successful candidate to flex their weekly schedule to accommodate payroll processing deadlines.

The British Embassy and its US Network embraces hybrid working, allowing its staff to typically work from home 2 times a week. We are an organization that also recognizes the critical value of teamwork, and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly.

Other Information

All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work.

The British Embassy and its US Network embraces hybrid working. We are an organization that also recognises the critical value of team work and we embrace and endorse collaboration by ensuring that all staff attend the office flexibly yet regularly.

Please note: The British Embassy and its US Network is committed to all employee’s ongoing learning and development needs. We offer a comprehensive platform for personalised learning for everything from soft skill development (communicating with impact, handling difficult conversations, time management) to more technical or professional skills necessary to complete your job (software training, formal qualifications etc.).

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance.

Please note that the tax arrangements imposed by the US on staff working for foreign governments, as well as those imposed by the UK Treasury on British and dual nationals working for the UK Government overseas, are atypical. The UK Government cannot withhold taxes (including FICA) on behalf of a US taxpayer. Instead, a US taxpayer is required to file taxes as if they are self-employed, and a FICA allowance is granted for those required to pay the employer contribution. Certain categories of staff (for example dual UK-US nationals and some visa holders) who work at Consulates General are not subject to US taxes. For those not subject to US taxes the UK Government reduces gross pay to a level broadly equivalent to taxed net pay. There are also social security implications for dual UK-US nationals. Please keep all this in mind when looking at the salary and the benefits package. If you are offered a job with the UK’s US Network you will be given further tax and social security information relevant to your personal circumstances and place of work; you are advised to consider this information and its impact on your circumstances carefully – potentially with the advice of a tax professional - before accepting a job.

Closing date of receiving applications is before 23:55 (Local Time) on 25 January 2026.

All applicants must fully complete the online application form, including the sections for employment and educational details, experience, and behaviour-based questions. Only those applications that contain all required information will be considered. To ensure the sift process remains anonymous, please do not include any personally identifiable information in your application form.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.

Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a ‘reserve list’. If during the reserve period of 12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.

Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position.