Country Payroll Lead – UK

Johnson Matthey; Royston; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sustainable technology company in the UK is seeking a Country Payroll Lead to ensure efficient payroll service delivery across all entities. You will lead and coach teams while managing vendor performance and compliance requirements. The ideal candidate will have solid experience in UK payroll operations, excellent communication skills, and advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel. This role offers an opportunity to contribute to a cleaner and brighter future while advancing your career.

Benefits

Retirement savings

Share plans

Saving accounts

Life and disability insurance

Medical plans / health assessments

Fitness discounts

Qualifications

• Solid experience in UK payroll operations with exposure across multiple countries.
• Experience in coaching and developing team members.
• Ability to prioritize workload and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Ensure efficient payroll service delivery across all entities.
• Lead payroll analysts and manage vendor performance.
• Conduct root-cause analysis of payroll issues.

Skills

UK payroll operations

People leadership

Work prioritization

HR systems familiarity

Advanced Microsoft Excel

Global team collaboration

Attention to detail

Excellent communication

Business English fluency

Tools

Workday

CloudPay

Job description

Location

Royston, UK or London, UK (hybrid)

Overview

World‑changing careers, enabled by Johnson Matthey. With more than 200 years of history, join us and help accelerate the transition to net‑zero. As a Country Payroll Lead you’ll contribute to JM’s mission as a world leader in sustainable technology, transforming energy and reducing carbon emissions for a cleaner, brighter future.

Role

• Ensure efficient and effective payroll service delivery across all entities in the UK.
• Play a role in actual payroll run: data validation, controls, sign‑offs.
• Act as the subject‑matter expert for UK payroll delivery and compliance requirements.
• Lead and coach payroll analysts, providing training and guidance to improve performance and capability.
• Build strong partnerships with HR, Finance, Compliance, and country/site managers.
• Manage vendor performance in relation to UK service delivery; oversee daily operations, resolve performance issues, and ensure adherence to SLAs.
• Handle complex payroll cases and escalations, conduct root‑cause analysis, and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with global standards, SOPs, and audit requirements, maintaining accurate documentation and controls.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives, identify opportunities for process optimisation, and contribute to regional projects and knowledge sharing.

Key Skills

• Solid experience in UK payroll operations, ideally combined with exposure to payroll processing across multiple countries or jurisdictions.
• People‑leadership experience, including coaching and developing team members to achieve objectives.
• Strong ability to prioritise workload and manage deadlines to ensure timely and accurate delivery.
• Familiarity with HR systems (ideally Workday) and payroll platforms (ideally CloudPay) would be an advantage.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a global team, demonstrating collaboration and adaptability.
• High attention to detail and a proactive approach, including initiating action, planning, and organising to deliver results efficiently.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to respond clearly to customers and stakeholders and build collaborative relationships.
• A good standard of business English, written and verbal, and fluency in English to enable global collaboration.

Benefits

• Retirement savings
• Share plans
• Saving accounts
• Life and disability insurance
• Medical plans / health assessments
• Fitness discounts

Application

Ready to make a meaningful impact on your career and the environment? Join us and help shape a sustainable future while advancing your career!

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Johnson Matthey Plc is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief.