Network Rail
Who We Are
Join Network Rail! Where People and Connections Matter
At Network Rail, we’re dedicated to keeping passengers and freight moving safely and efficiently across the country. When you join us, you’re not just part of a team—you’re part of something that matters to millions.
We believe that our people are at the heart of what we do, and every role plays a vital part in building a better, more connected railway. We’re committed to creating a diverse, inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve.
We value flexibility and understand the importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a Disability Confident Leader, we’ll do everything we can to accommodate any needs throughout the recruitment process. Safe behaviour is a requirement of working for Network Rail.
About the role
Contract type: This is a 9-month fixed-term contract but has the potential to be extended or become permanent.
Number of opportunities: Two
Salary: £27,960.00 Per annum – Band 5
Location: Manchester
Key responsibilities:
- Responsible for delivering accurate and compliant payroll services, acting as a subject matter expert on payroll processes, legislation, and systems, and supporting both internal teams and customers to ensure high-quality service delivery.
- Familiar with performing complex calculations (for example payroll, pensions, statutory/legislative payments).
- Supporting Team Manager and wider payroll function with delivery of projects which may include data analysis/manipulations, stakeholder engagement, communication, meeting deadlines, identifying areas for opportunity.
- Work closely with the service team to review performance, provide feedback, and highlight any concerns to the Team Manager when needed.
- Build a strong understanding of your area, document processes clearly, and support standardisation.
- Help team members follow processes and identify opportunities to improve them.
- Develop a broad understanding of the wider shared services operation, working with other analysts to share knowledge and continuously learn from each other.
- Collaborate with fellow analysts across the centre, contributing to knowledge sharing and supporting key initiatives that benefit the wider service.
- Promote an inclusive and supportive environment where people feel comfortable being themselves and confident in suggesting improvements.
- Encourage personal ownership and accountability within the team.
- Work within agreed control frameworks, promoting a strong controls mindset.
- Regularly review processes, identify any gaps, and take ownership of improvements to help reduce risk and improve efficiency.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, supporting a customer-focused approach where team members understand and consider customer needs.
- Encourage continuous improvement, coaching team members, and helping drive positive change across the department and wider organisation.
Skills and experience:
- Oracle E-BUSINESS experience
- High volume processing
- End-to-end payroll processing knowledge
- Customer service and stakeholder management experience
- Project delivery
- Proficient in MS applications including MS Excel – data manipulation and analysis
If you’re ready to make a real difference, we’d love to hear from you!
Hybrid working: This role permits hybrid working; employees are expected to work from a Network Rail location for 60% of their weekly hours, typically 3 days for full-time roles, pro-rata for part-time.
This is a 9-month fixed-term contract but has the potential to be extended or become permanent.
Your experience and skills
What’s in it for you?
Here are a few of the benefits we offer:
- 28-day annual leave with the option to buy and sell days
- Choice of pension schemes
- 75% discount on leisure travel for you and your family
- Private Healthcare
- 5 days paid volunteer or carers leave
- Up to 75% subsidised Rail and Underground travel
- Gym Pass – access to gyms across UK
- My Benefits platform—giving national and local retail discount
To find out more, explore Working for Network Rail.
Our aim is to ensure your candidate experience is as positive as possible. If you require reasonable adjustments at any point, simply let us know and we’ll do our best to assist you.
Some of our roles require face-to-face Drugs & Alcohol testing. We will share further details with you as part of your formal offer.
All offers of employment are conditional upon satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks.
