Assistant Payroll Manager - EMEA (Remote)

GP Strategies Corporation; Stockport; Remote; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading talent transformation provider in Stockport is seeking an experienced payroll expert to oversee compliance across EMEA jurisdictions. You will manage vendor relationships, ensure accuracy in payroll processing, and support a team of payroll professionals. Ideal candidates will have strong technical knowledge and be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. This role offers a chance to influence payroll practices while contributing to transformational initiatives.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience across multiple EMEA jurisdictions.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage deadlines.
• Experience in process improvement projects.

Responsibilities

• Support development and execution of internal controls.
• Ensure payroll processing remains compliant.
• Provide coaching and leadership to payroll team.

Skills

End-to-end payroll experience

Strong technical payroll knowledge

Vendor management experience

Analytical and reporting skills

Strong communication skills

Tools

Oracle

Excel

Job description

Job Description

The role provides subject matter expertise across multi-country payroll compliance, external vendor management, process optimisation and payroll control frameworks. This role acts as the deputy to the Payroll Manager and ensures continuity of operations during periods of absence.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development and execution of internal controls
• Ensure payroll processing across all applicable jurisdictions remains accurate, timely and compliant with local employment tax legislation.
• Maintain strong internal controls and support audit readiness, including segregation of duties, validation checks and compliance documentation.
• Build and manage relationships with external payroll providers (e.g., Deel, Oracle, bureau partners) ensuring SLAs, compliance and quality expectations are met.
• Partner with Finance to support month-end close activities including reconciliation review and variance analysis.
• Support audit activity, including controls testing, evidence preparation and compliance reporting.
• Provide coaching, support and leadership to the payroll team, including acting as deputy decision-maker when required.
• Support data governance, GDPR compliance and secure handling of sensitive employee information.
• Act as a key stakeholder and SME for payroll-related system enhancements, implementation projects and cross-functional process changes.

Skills and experience needed:

Essential

• Demonstrable end-to-end payroll experience across multiple EMEA jurisdictions.
• Strong technical payroll knowledge including statutory compliance, local tax regulations and audit expectations.
• Vendor management experience, including SLA governance and escalations.
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritise competing deadlines and manage high-risk activities.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills, with advanced experience in Excel.
• Experience providing oversight, review and quality assurance of payroll output.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience with automation or process improvement projects.

Desirable

• Working knowledge of HCM/Payroll systems most notably Oracle.
• Experience in a matrixed or shared service payroll model.
• Familiarity with payroll delivery models involving outsourced providers (e.g., Deel, bureaus, managed services).
• Experience participating in payroll system upgrades, transformation activity, or ERP change management.

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About Us

GP Strategies Corporation is one of the world's leading talent transformation providers. By delivering award-winning learning and development solutions, we help organizations transform through their people and achieve meaningful change. GP Strategies has delivered our innovative consulting, learning services, and talent technology solutions to over 6,000 organizations globally.

From our global experience working across thousands of projects and initiatives over the past 55 years, we've learned that relationships, business, work, innovation, strategy, and transformation are all about people. And, to put it simply, GP Strategies is about our people - an extensive global network of learning experts. Additional information can be found at www.gpstrategies.com.

With more than 4000 employees in over 30 countries, diversity at GP Strategies is second nature! Beyond our locations, our culture focuses on performance and revolves around respect, fairness, and working collaboratively to achieve our goals. We support our People, no matter who they are or where they are from, because we all have valuable and unique perspectives and approaches. That's how great ideas are born, which enable us to work smarter.

GP Strategies is committed and proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other federally protected class.