EMEA Payroll Leader: Global Compliance & Innovation

Element Materials Technology Ltd.; City of Edinburgh; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Element Materials Technology Ltd. is seeking an experienced EMEAA Payroll Manager to lead a high-performing payroll team within our Finance function, based in our Edinburgh Global Business Services Centre.

You’ll drive the global payroll strategy, ensure accuracy and compliance across multiple jurisdictions, and partner with Finance, HR, Legal and external vendors. You will oversee payroll governance, process optimization and change initiatives while developing the Edinburgh and Dubai teams to

Qualifications

• Extensive payroll expertise across multiple EMEAA jurisdictions, with strong knowledge of statutory requirements and compliance.
• Experience with Dayforce or Deel is advantageous but not essential.
• Proven experience leading a regional payroll team, embedding best practices, strong controls and continuous improvement.
• Analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to manage complex, high‑volume, multi‑country payrolls.
• Strong understanding of payroll accounting, reconciliations and financial controls.
• Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy and quality.
• A payroll‑related qualification is required.

Responsibilities

• Payroll accuracy, governance and ensuring timely, compliant processing across EMEAA countries.
• Maintain strong knowledge of regional statutory requirements, tax rules, social security obligations and reporting deadlines.
• Oversee all regular and ad‑hoc payroll payments, ensuring correct funding, approvals and reconciliation.
• Analyse and enhance payroll processes, controls and system workflows; monitor vendor performance and drive governance improvements.
• Lead, coach and develop the Payroll team based in Edinburgh and Dubai, fostering a culture of accountability, accuracy and continuous improvement.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes, automate manual tasks and introduce best‑practice ways of working.
• Drive payroll‑related change initiatives, ensuring alignment with global transformation programmes and business priorities.
• Lead payroll integration for new acquisitions, ensuring smooth onboarding, data accuracy and adherence to Element standards.
• Maintain strong internal controls, support internal/external audits and ensure full documentation and compliance.
• Build strong relationships with Finance, HR, Legal, IT and external payroll providers to ensure seamless end‑to‑end payroll delivery.
• Work closely with AMRS region Payroll Lead to standardise processes, systems and controls.

Skills

Global payroll

Cross-border compliance

Team leadership

Process optimization

Change management

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Payroll accounting

Education

Payroll qualification

Tools

Dayforce

Deel

Job description

Element Materials Technology Ltd. is seeking an experienced EMEAA Payroll Manager to lead a high-performing payroll team within our Finance function, based in our Edinburgh Global Business Services Centre.

You’ll drive the global payroll strategy, ensure accuracy and compliance across multiple jurisdictions, and partner with Finance, HR, Legal and external vendors. You will oversee payroll governance, process optimization and change initiatives while developing the Edinburgh and Dubai teams to