AI-Driven Global Payroll Leader

PassFort; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Moody's is seeking a strategic Payroll Controller to lead governance and compliance across APAC and EMEA. You will drive operational improvements, manage vendor relationships, and deliver accurate reporting while ensuring regulatory alignment.

Strong analytical and cross‑functional collaboration skills are essential. The role requires a Bachelor’s degree and experience with global payroll systems; AI-powered tooling and transformation projects are a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, HR, or related field.
• Relevant payroll, finance, or compliance certifications preferred.
• Experience in a multinational payroll environment.
• Strong knowledge of payroll governance and controls.
• Excellent analytical and risk management skills.
• Proven vendor governance experience.
• Ability to manage cross-cultural, cross-time zone projects.
• Experience with AI-powered payroll tools is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Drive payroll excellence across APAC and EMEA by leading governance, compliance, operational improvements, vendor management, reporting, and strategic payroll initiatives that support business objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee payroll governance activities across APAC and EMEA, ensuring compliance with local statutory requirements, company policies, and global payroll standards.
• Monitor legislative, tax, social security, and employment law changes and coordinate implementation of required updates with internal and external stakeholders.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate payroll compliance and operational risks through robust controls and governance frameworks.
• Support internal and external audits, compliance reviews, regulatory inquiries, and statutory reporting requirements.
• Lead continuous improvement, automation, and digital transformation initiatives to enhance payroll efficiency, accuracy, scalability, and employee experience.
• Drive process standardization and maintain payroll policies, procedures, control frameworks, and standard operating documentation across the region.
• Lead and support payroll projects, including system implementations, transformations, integrations, acquisitions, reorganizations, and regulatory initiatives.
• Manage relationships with payroll providers, conduct vendor performance reviews, and ensure service delivery meets business and compliance expectations.
• Serve as a key liaison between Payroll and stakeholders across People, Finance, Tax, Legal, Benefits, Technology, and external advisors.
• Develop and maintain payroll reporting, dashboards, KPIs, and management insights to measure performance, compliance, and operational effectiveness.
• Analyse payroll data and trends to identify risks, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities while supporting audit readiness and governance activities.
• Partner with Payroll leadership to support payroll strategy, governance priorities, and operational improvement initiatives.
• Provide regional payroll subject matter expertise across compliance, controls, reporting, and payroll best practices.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Payroll governance

Tax regulations

AI in payroll

Vendor governance

Risk management

Cross-functional collaboration

Multinational payroll

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/HR

Payroll/compliance certifications preferred

Tools

Workday

SAP SuccessFactors

Job description

Moody's is seeking a strategic Payroll Controller to lead governance and compliance across APAC and EMEA. You will drive operational improvements, manage vendor relationships, and deliver accurate reporting while ensuring regulatory alignment.

Strong analytical and cross‑functional collaboration skills are essential. The role requires a Bachelor’s degree and experience with global payroll systems; AI-powered tooling and transformation projects are a plus.