Payroll & Expenses Apprentice

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Date: 5 Nov 2026

Location: Manchester, GB

Company: Premier Foods

Based - Manchester, M2 6DN (Hybrid)

Permanent, Full Time

Join Premier Foods — where people, brands and purpose come together.

We’re proud to be one of the UK’s largest listed food businesses, with over 4,000 colleagues across 13 sites shaping the future of some of Britain’s best‑loved brands, found in 94% of households nationwide, making us one of the UK’s top three ambient food suppliers. From much‑loved household names such as Mr Kipling, Bisto, Oxo, Batchelors and Sharwoods, to our recently welcomed brands Fuel10k and Merchant Gourmet, our portfolio is packed with iconic favourites — and continues to grow.

Payroll & Expenses Apprentice | Premier Foods, Manchester
Level 3 Payroll Administrator Apprenticeship
1st Year Salary: £23, 809 per annum
5 Weeks Annual Leave + Bank Holidays
 
The Assessment Centre will take place on Friday 4th December. You will need to be available to attend if successfully selected.
 
Ever wondered what it takes to make sure thousands of colleagues are paid accurately and on time? At Premier Foods, our Payroll and Expenses team supports around 4,000 colleagues across the business. Join us as a Payroll & Expenses Apprentice in Manchester and start building a career in payroll, finance and business services.
This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience and a recognised professional qualification while learning how weekly and monthly payrolls and colleague expense claims are processed accurately, securely and on time.
 
What You’ll Be Doing:
 
As an apprentice, you’ll work towards completing the Level 3 Payroll Administrator Apprenticeship Standard, combining structured learning with practical experience in our Payroll and Expenses team. Around 20% of your contracted working hours will be dedicated to your apprenticeship learning.
 
The 18 to 24-month programme will include one-to-one coaching, webinars, self-study, scenario-based projects, assignments and professional discussions. You’ll apply your learning in your day-to-day role, supported by experienced colleagues.
 
Throughout the apprenticeship, you’ll build knowledge and hands-on skills in areas such as:
  • Weekly and monthly payroll processing
  • Payroll legislation, including National Minimum Wage, statutory payments, pensions and holiday pay
  • Payroll compliance, controls and procedures
  • Processing and validating colleague expense claims
  • Company expense policies and associated controls
  • Accurate record keeping and supporting documentation
  • Customer service, communication and stakeholder management
  • Team objectives, service standards and KPIs
You’ll also gain practical experience through a range of responsibilities, including:
  • Supporting the processing of weekly and monthly payrolls, helping to ensure around 4,000 colleagues are paid accurately and on time
  • Processing and validating colleague expense claims in line with company policy
  • Maintaining accurate payroll and expenses records and supporting documentation
  • Following established payroll and expenses controls, processes and procedures
  • Responding to colleague and stakeholder queries and escalating more complex issues when appropriate
  • Completing apprenticeship learning activities and assignments within agreed timescales
  • Applying learning from the apprenticeship programme to your day-to-day responsibilities
  • Contributing ideas to continuously improve and simplify payroll and expenses processes
     
You’ll be supported by experienced Payroll and Expenses professionals as you build your technical knowledge, confidence and understanding of the service. You’ll also work with colleagues across HR, Tax, Accounts Payable and Treasury.
 
What We’re Looking For:
  • Maths and English at grade 4/C or above, or equivalent
  • Highly organised, with the ability to prioritise your work and meet deadlines
  • Strong attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy
  • A calm and positive approach when working under pressure
  • A willingness to learn, ask questions and develop new skills
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • The ability to work effectively as part of a team and build positive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders
  • An interest in payroll, finance or business administration
  • Good Excel knowledge, including PivotTables and lookup functions, would be an advantage
What We Offer in Return:
  • A competitive salary, increasing each year based on successful academic and practical progress
  • A recognised Level 3 Payroll Administrator qualification, with dedicated learning time and support
  • Hands-on experience in a large Payroll and Expenses team supporting around 4,000 colleagues
  • Clear progression opportunities into roles such as Payroll Associate, Expenses Associate, Payroll Specialist, Reporting & Compliance Specialist, Expenses Team Leader or Payroll Manager
  • Company pension scheme with life assurance
  • 5 weeks’ holiday + bank holidays
  • Access to a range of employee benefits, including:
  • Staff discount scheme
  • ShareSave scheme
  • Cycle to Work scheme
  • Employee assistance programme
  • BOOST – our Apprentice Skills Development Network

At Premier foods we believe in inclusion, authenticity and individuality. We aim to ensure all existing and future colleagues are given equitable opportunities and are respected, valued and encouraged to bring their true authentic selves to work no matter who they are, what they look like, who they love or what they believe in. Our culture is one where everyone is welcome.

We're proud to be a Disability Smart employer and are committed to supporting disability inclusion throughout our recruitment process. If you experience any access issues or require reasonable adjustments at any stage, please let us know so we can ensure you have the support you need.