Scheme employers can outsource and delegate scheme administration tasks to a third-party payroll provider. You must let us know the details of the payroll provider you use to administer the LGPS on behalf of your organisation.

If you change payroll provider, to ensure continuity of your employee pension records, you must notify us 30 days in advance of their appointment.

For data protection compliance we can only respond to employer-related pension queries received from appointed authorised payroll contacts.

Tell us about your appointed payroll provider

You can notify us and update your payroll provider details using the LGPS 53 form. 

Download the LGPS 53 Appointment of Lead Officer and Authorised Contacts form (PDF, 220.24KB).

Payroll Providers can update authorised payroll contact details using the LGPS 53  Payroll Provider form. 

Download the LGPS 53 Nomination of Third-Party Payroll provider contacts form (PDF, 138.5KB).

Download the LGPS 53 Third-Party Payroll provider supplementary guidance (PDF, 189.39KB).

Please return the form by email to the Employer Relations team at: employer_relations@bathnes.gov.uk

Failure to tell us of a change of payroll provider can result in charges for late, inaccurate or incomplete employee information.

Tasks that can be delegated to a payroll provider

You may delegate the following administrative tasks to a payroll provider:

  • i-Connect monthly returns.
  • Leaver form notifications.
  • Estimate requests.
  • i-Connect reporting.
  • Year-end queries.
  • Member data queries.
  • Contributions Reconciliation.
  • Member Eligibility and Contribution rates.
  • Payment of contributions to Fund.

You may not delegate the following administrative tasks to a payroll provider:

  • Appointment of an Independent Registered Medical Practitioner (IRMP).
  • Discretionary policies.  

Choosing the right payroll provider 

Selecting the right payroll provider is crucial because, as an LGPS employer, you remain  responsible for fulfilling your legal duties.

Key points to consider when appointing a payroll provider:

Services offered

  • List all the services you need and check if the provider covers them.  
  • Clarify which LGPS responsibilities they will handle and which you’ll carry out.

Moving to a new payroll provider

  • Scheme employers are responsible for providing data to the Avon Pension Fund. 
  • Ensure you have processes in place to retain access to historical payroll information when changing providers.  
  • Ensure they can provide monthly returns compatible with i-Connect.

Ask potential providers: 

  • Will they supply or transfer the information they hold when the contract ends? 
  • In what format will they provide the data? 
  • Will they charge for this service?

Monitoring performance  

  • Each employer in the Avon Pension Fund has an employer liaison officer who can provide performance updates.

Also interested in

Appointing an Independent Registered Medical Practitioner
Discretionary policies