Head of Operations | Finland

Zalaris; Helsingin seutukunta; On-site; EUR 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Senior country leadership role

Global collaboration & learning

Professional growth opportunities

Job summary

Zalaris is seeking an exceptional operational leader to own our Finland Managed Services delivery, combining deep payroll and HR expertise with a scalable global delivery model. You will shape today’s delivery and the country organisation’s future by implementing the NextGen Operating Model and driving automation, standardisation and advisory services.

You will lead a high-performing team, manage budgets and client profitability, and collaborate with global teams to ensure compliant,

Qualifications

• Senior operational leadership experience in payroll, HR outsourcing, managed services or a comparable complex service environment.
• Strong financial ownership, customer leadership and understanding of service performance, SLAs, KPIs and commercial priorities.
• Sound understanding of local payroll, HR and regulatory requirements, with the ability to build expert teams and advise customers.
• Demonstrated ability to lead transformation, organisational change and productivity improvement across distributed teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills; fluent in Finnish and English.

Responsibilities

• Own country performance: manage Operations P&L, budgets, forecasting, client profitability, resource planning and margin improvement.
• Deliver reliable, cost-effective HR and payroll delivery against contracts, SLAs and KPIs.
• Strengthen local payroll, HR and regulatory expertise to advise customers and ensure compliance.
• Lead NextGen implementation locally: standardise processes and reduce manual work for controls and advisory work.
• Drive productivity and automation by partnering with global tech, AMS and delivery teams on AI, RPA and process redesign.
• Develop people and leaders: coach managers, build succession and a culture of accountability.
• Enable profitable growth by collaborating with Sales/KAM while assessing delivery readiness.
• Secure operational readiness for new customers and significant changes.

Skills

Senior operational leadership

Financial ownership

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Finnish & English fluency

Education

Degree or equivalent professional experience

Tools

SAP payroll

Job description

We are looking for a strong operational leader to take full responsibility for our Managed Services operations in Finland. You will own country performance, customer outcomes and the development of a high-performing team, combining deep local payroll and HR expertise with the scalability of our global delivery model.

You will lead the country implementation of Zalaris’ NextGen Operating Model, transforming traditional payroll operations into more standardised, automated and exception-based services. This is a senior leadership opportunity to shape both today’s delivery and the future of the country organisation.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Own country performance. Take accountability for Operations P&L, budgets, forecasting, client profitability, resource planning and sustainable margin improvement.
• Deliver excellent services. Ensure reliable, accurate and cost-effective HR and payroll delivery against contracts, SLAs and KPIs; act decisively on critical issues and recurring root causes.
• Strengthen local expertise and customer trust. Build country-specific payroll, HR and regulatory expertise so Zalaris can proactively advise customers, anticipate compliance risks and solve complex business challenges.
• Lead NextGen locally. Implement the global operating model, standardise processes, reduce manual transactions and enable teams to focus on controls, exceptions and advisory work.
• Drive productivity and automation. Work with global technology, AMS and delivery functions to identify opportunities for AI, RPA, process redesign and rightshoring, and realise measurable benefits.
• Develop people and leaders. Coach Team Managers, strengthen succession and future skills, and build a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Enable profitable growth. Partner with Sales/KAM on new and expanded services; assess delivery feasibility, costs and operational readiness while Sales/KAM retains commercial ownership.
• Secure operational readiness. Ensure new customers and significant changes are tested, documented, staffed and ready for stable BAU delivery.

What You Bring

• Senior operational leadership experience in payroll, HR outsourcing, managed services or a comparable complex service environment; experience leading multiple teams or managers.
• Strong financial ownership, customer leadership and understanding of service performance, SLAs, KPIs and commercial priorities.
• Sound understanding of local payroll, HR and regulatory requirements, with the ability to build expert teams and advise customers.
• Demonstrated ability to lead transformation, organisational change and productivity improvement across distributed teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills;
• Fluency in Finnish and English.
• A relevant degree or equivalent professional experience.

Experience That Would Be an Advantage

• Hands-on experience implementing standardised, nearshore/offshore or global delivery models.
• Exposure to SAP payroll, HR technology, automation, AI or RPA.
• Experience with service onboarding, change orders and complex multi-country customers.

What we offer

• A senior country leadership role with genuine accountability for people, customers, financial results and transformation.
• The opportunity to strengthen local specialist expertise while shaping a more efficient and customer-centric delivery model.
• Close collaboration with global Operations, Technology, Customer Experience and Commercial colleagues.
• Professional growth and the opportunity to influence the future of payroll and HR services at Zalaris.