Senior Global Payroll Manager

ICEYE; Espoo; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

ICEYE is seeking a Senior Global Payroll Manager to lead its worldwide payroll operations. The role requires steering a diverse team, managing external vendors, and ensuring compliant, timely payroll across all ICEYE locations.

Reporting to the Global Head of Financial Operations, you will shape the payroll strategy, partner with HR and Finance leaders, and drive continuous improvement in payroll processes. Hybrid work model applies; location options include Espoo, Finland.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in global payroll management in an international environment.
• Proven experience building and leading a payroll team.
• Ability to influence stakeholders up to C-suite.
• Fluent English, both written and spoken.
• Deep knowledge of international payroll regulations and best practices.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Detail-oriented with strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Self-motivated with a drive for process improvement and excellence.

Responsibilities

• Lead and own ICEYE's global payroll function across locations.
• Manage external payroll vendors and SLA performance.
• Oversee end-to-end payroll cycle and data accuracy.
• Design internal controls for payroll compliance and risk mitigation.
• Collaborate with Finance, HR Operations, and Treasury.
• Drive payroll process improvements and HRIS projects.
• Liaise with auditors and manage payroll audits.

Skills

Global payroll leadership

Team development

Stakeholder management (C-suite)

English communication

Payroll regulations (international)

Analytical/problem-solving

Process improvement

University degree

Attention to detail

Self-motivated

Vendor management

HRIS / Payroll systems

Education

University degree or equivalent

Tools

HiBob Payroll Hub

SAP

NetSuite

Job description

Role highlights:

• Senior Global Payroll Manager

• Location: Warsaw, Poland or Espoo, Finland

• Department: Finance

• Reports to: Global Head of Financial Operations

• Employment type: Permanent

• Workplace model: Hybrid (3 days/week onsite)

• Employment is subject to applicable security screening (incl. SUPO, where required)

Why this role matters:

As a Senior Global Payroll Manager you are responsible for leading and owning ICEYE's global payroll function, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payment to our employees across all ICEYE locations while setting the strategic direction for payroll operations as the company scales. Reporting to the Global Head of Financial Operations, you will lead the payroll team, act as the senior point of authority on payroll matters, and partner closely with Finance and HR leadership as well as oversee the external payroll vendors.

Who We Are

ICEYE is the world leader in sovereign intelligence from space. We deliver persistent monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to changes in any location on Earth.

ICEYE owns the world's largest and most advanced SAR (synthetic aperture radar) satellite constellation. To our customers we provide intelligence with unmatched quality, latency and revisit times, in any weather, day or night. To governments who choose to operate their own constellation we provide this proven capability as a sovereign system.

ICEYE-built constellations serve customers in defence and intelligence, environmental monitoring, insurance and emergency management. We enable fast decisions that contribute to a safer future.

Founded and headquartered in Finland, ICEYE operates globally with over 1000 employees across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.

Your day-to-day responsibilities

Team Leadership and Strategy

• Leading, mentoring, and developing the global payroll team, setting objectives and performance standards

• Owning the global payroll strategy and roadmap as ICEYE expands into new markets

• Acting as the senior escalation point for complex payroll matters

Vendor Management

• Owning the relationship with the external payroll vendors and negotiating service levels

• Overseeing vendor performance (accuracy, timeliness, and compliance)

• Leading the setup of new locations with the vendor and the implementation of the payroll processes

Payroll Processing and Controls

• Overseeing the end-to-end payroll cycle, from data export through review, validation, and delivery to the payroll vendor

• Lead daily payroll operations ensuring timely resolution of queries in line with agreed service levels

• Reviewing and approving payroll reports and managing the approval and payment flow

• Designing and maintaining internal controls to ensure payroll accuracy and compliance, and mitigate risk

Compliance, Policies and Collaboration

• Ensuring that statutory reporting and payments are processed across all locations

• Partnering with internal stakeholders, mainly Group Accounting, HR Operations, and Treasury teams

• Liaising with internal and external auditors and leading payroll audit support

• Driving continuous improvement of the payroll processes and proactively leading payroll-related HRIS development/efficiencies

• In-house consultant invoice management

What we're looking for

Must haves:

• 8+ years of experience in global payroll management in an international working environment, including team leadership

• Proven experience leading, building, and developing a payroll team

• Proven ability to influence and build trust-based relationships across a diverse set of stakeholders, up to and including C-suite

• Fluent verbal and written English

• University degree or other relevant educational background

• Deep knowledge of international payroll regulations and best practices

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills

• Attention to detail, strong analytical, problem-solving skills

• Self-motivated and curious, with a strong drive for process improvement and excellence

Nice to haves:

• Local labor and payroll legislation knowledge for one or several of these countries: Finland, Greece, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Ukraine, India, South Korea, Japan

• Experience with HiBob Payroll Hub, SAP, NetSuite and/or other ERPs

Working at ICEYE

At ICEYE, you'll join a diverse and highly engaged team united by the ambition to make the impossible possible. As a global scale-up, we combine speed and ambition with the opportunity to take real ownership from day one. Your growth, wellbeing, and success are a priority, with continuous professional development, training opportunities, and a culture where collaboration is how we win.

How We Work (Our Values)

• Make the impossible possible: We set ambitious goals and stay calm under pressure. We bring grit, optimism, and ownership when things get hard, and we keep moving until we find a way.

• Be curious: Go deep, ask questions, listen carefully, and think critically. Understand the "why" behind decisions.

• See the big picture: Stay close to what’s happening across the company so you can make better decisions. Consider how your work affects others.

• Drive effective teamwork: Create psychological safety, invite different perspectives, and build inclusive teams. There are no bad questions.

• Act as one team: We win together. We match tasks to the right owner and stay agile as priorities shift.

• Have fun: What we do matters—and it should be enjoyable. Celebrate progress, take pride in results, and share the wins.

Benefits

Our benefits are designed to support your health and wellbeing, at work and beyond. We keep improving them based on employee feedback, and offerings vary by location. Talent Acquisition will confirm what applies for this role and location during the process.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We want ICEYE to be a place where people can be themselves and do great work. Different backgrounds and perspectives make us stronger, which is why we work to create an environment where people feel included, respected, and able to speak up. Whatever your background, we want you to bring your authentic self to the table.

We're committed to fair, inclusive hiring and equal opportunity. Everyone is welcome to apply. If you need any adjustments or support during the recruitment process, tell us - we'll do our best to help.