Manager, Payroll
An experienced Payroll Manager is sought to join the team in Manchester. This role involves leading payroll operations across a complex EMEA landscape, overseeing payroll delivery for 1,000 employees across 15 countries and 19 legal entities.
The successful candidate will work closely with People Capabilities, Finance, In-Country Partners (ICPs), and the payroll provider, ADP, to ensure payroll is delivered accurately, compliantly, and on time, while driving continuous improvement across processes and systems.
As a member of the Regional Finance Leadership Team, the Manager will have the opportunity to influence broader business initiatives, build strong stakeholder relationships, and help shape the future of payroll operations across the region. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced international environment, enjoys solving complex challenges, and is passionate about delivering an exceptional employee experience.
- Lead the end-to-end monthly payroll process across 15 European countries, including the UK, Spain, Greece and Bulgaria.
- Build strong partnerships between People Capabilities, Finance, In-Country Partners and external payroll providers to ensure seamless payroll delivery and timely issue resolution.
- Act as the primary point of contact for outsourced payroll providers, including ADP, managing service delivery and ensuring payroll processing is completed accurately and on schedule.
- Ensure payroll queries are effectively managed and resolved through established service processes, maintaining accurate Jira records, monitoring trends and driving improvements to enhance employee experience and service delivery.
- Collaborate with In-Country Partners across each supported country to ensure compliance with local legislation, regulatory requirements and payroll best practices.
- Ensure payroll activities are completed accurately, efficiently and in compliance with local legislative requirements.
- Oversee the production, review and verification of payroll data and payslips for more than 500 employees across the region.
- Validate payroll outputs provided by ADP Celergo and support payroll-related balance sheet reconciliations.
- Monitor payroll controls, identify risks and implement improvements to strengthen accuracy, compliance and efficiency.
- Support Regional Finance initiatives as a member of the Regional Finance Leadership Team.
- Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, systems and ways of working across the region.
- Coach, mentor and develop team members, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture.
- Significant payroll management experience across multiple European countries (required).
- Experience managing payroll operations within a complex, multi-entity international organisation supporting a geographically dispersed workforce (required).
- Proven experience overseeing payroll delivery across multiple countries, legal entities and employment models within the EMEA region (required).
- Experience working with outsourced payroll providers, including ADP Celergo, and coordinating payroll activity through In-Country Partners (required).
- Proven knowledge of UK and European payroll legislation, compliance requirements and payroll governance (required).
- Experience processing off-cycle payrolls, salary adjustments and payroll corrections (required).
- Knowledge and experience of Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) processing and associated payroll and tax implications (required).
- Understanding of UK pension administration, reporting and compliance requirements (required).
- Excellent communication skills with a proven ability to build effective relationships and influence stakeholders across Finance, People Capabilities, external providers and senior leadership teams (required).
- Analytical and problem-solving skills, with a structured approach to identifying and resolving issues (required).
- Experience creating, maintaining and continuously improving Standard Operating Procedures and payroll process documentation across multiple countries (required).
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including reporting, reconciliations, data analysis, calculations and payroll reporting (required).
- Strong Microsoft Office skills, including PowerPoint, with the ability to create clear reports, presentations and insights (required).
- Experience leveraging technology and digital tools, including Microsoft Copilot, to improve productivity, reporting and process efficiency (required).
- Proven experience driving change, continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives (required).
- Experience coaching, mentoring and motivating team members to achieve shared goals (required).
- A proactive, self-motivated and collaborative approach to work (required).
- CIPP qualification (nice-to-have)
- Annual performance bonus
- 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays
- 1 day paid leave to work on charitable projects
- 1 day paid for personal celebration e.g. birthdays
- Half Day for Health
- Up to 8% employer pension contributions
- A reward platform offering a cycle to work scheme and shopping and lifestyle discounts/cashback
- Remote GP Access alongside a wellbeing platform
- Private Medical Insurance
- Elective Benefits: Tastecard/ Travel/Dental Insurance/ Give As You Earn
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
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