EMEA Payroll Specialist

Gentrack; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Life and income protection

24 days annual leave

Enhanced parental leave

Tailored learning and development

Flexible working hours

Job summary

Gentrack in London is seeking an EMEA Payroll Specialist to manage the payroll for the Northern Hemisphere, partnering with the People Experience team to ensure accuracy and drive continuous improvement.

Beyond payroll, you will support accounts payable and broader accounting activities, build strong relationships with external providers, and act as a trusted advisor on payroll matters to senior leadership. This role requires deep UK payroll knowledge and a proactive approach to governance.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of payroll experience, including in-house payroll.
• 5+ years UK payroll experience with HMRC liaison.
• Strong understanding of statutory payroll requirements and legislation.
• Solid accounting knowledge: debits/credits, cost accruals, reconciliations, multi-currency.
• Experience with Accounts Payable is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Act as SME for in-house UK payroll.
• Directly manage payroll for the Northern Hemisphere ensuring data accuracy and timely sharing with third-party providers.
• Prepare payroll journals and related accounting entries; perform reconciliations.
• Collaborate with People Experience (PX) on remuneration reviews and gender pay reporting.
• Ensure payroll compliance for PSA, P11D and other payroll obligations.
• Provide support for Accounts Payable and other accounting activities.
• Drive continuous improvement and change management within payroll.
• Partner with leadership on payroll-related matters.

Skills

Payroll management

UK payroll

Stakeholder management

Accounting concepts

Job description

EMEA Payroll Specialist

Department: Finance

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: London, UK

As the EMEA Payroll Specialist reporting to the Group Finance Manager, you will play a crucial role in managing the payroll function for the Northern Hemisphere. Effectively partnering with key stakeholders such as the People Experience team to ensure excellent levels of accuracy. Beyond operational tasks, you will drive change management and focus on continuous improvement to enhance overall efficiency within the payroll function.

While payroll will remain the primary focus of this role, you will also provide support and coverage for accounts payable and other accounting activities, as required.

Your Key Responsibilities

Payroll Management & Operations

• Act as the subject matter expert for the in-house UK Payroll.
• Directly manage payroll for the Northern Hemisphere ensuring:
  • Employee data is accurately maintained and uploaded within payroll systems.
  • All relevant information is provided to third party payroll providers in a timely manner
  • Payroll earnings, deductions, and employee records are accurate, complete and compliant.
  • All pay runs are completed within established deadlines allowing sufficient time for review, adjustments, and processing
  • Payroll reporting requirements are met accurately and on schedule.

Payroll Accounting & Reconciliations

• Complete monthly payroll accounting that includes:
  • Preparation of payroll journals and related accounting entries.
  • Reconciliation of payroll related balance sheet accounts.
  • Analysis and investigation of payroll cost movements and variances.
  • Support month-end and year-end financial reporting requirements.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain effective relationships with third-party payroll providers and contractors to ensure accurate payroll processing and continuous improvement of payroll controls and processes.
• Partner closely with the People Experience (PX) team on strategic initiatives, including annual remuneration reviews, gender pay reporting, and employee data integrity.
• Act as a trusted advisor to business leaders and key stakeholders on payroll-related matters.

Compliance & Governance

• Manage compliance of any payroll related tax filings, including but not limited to PSA and P11D, and any other payroll related obligations.
• Perform regular payroll reviews and data integrity checks and drive payroll process improvements locally as well as globally ensuring consistency where possible.

Finance & Accounts Payable Support

• Provide support and coverage for Accounts Payable and other Accounting & Finance activities, as required, including:
  • Processing supplier invoices and payments.
  • Preparing accounting adjustments and reconciliations.
  • Assisting with financial reporting, analysis, and month -end activities.

Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Be a trusted advisor to the leadership team regarding the payroll function
• Partner with the Senior Payroll Officer for the southern hemisphere to ensure effective payroll coverage, knowledge sharing and consistency of global payroll processes.
• Provide responsive and professional support to internal stakeholders to ensure queries are addressed within agreed service levels.
• Contribute to broader Finance team initiatives and organisational projects as required
• Undertake any other duties reasonably requested by your manager.

What We’re Looking For:

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in payroll
• Minimum of 5 years payroll experience in running in-house payroll
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience is UK payroll and working with liaising HMRC
• Excellent understanding of statutory requirements and payroll legislations.
• Solid understanding of accounting concepts in relation to debits and credits, cost accruals, balance sheet reconciliations, as well as exposure working with multiple currencies and cost centres.
• Exposure to accounts payable processes, including invoice processing and payment preparation, would be advantageous.
• Exposure to ESOP pay-out and related payroll compliances.

  What We Can Offer You

  • Competitive salary
  • Private medical insurance
  • Life and income protection
  • 24-days annual leave
  • Enhanced parental leave
  • Tailored learning and development opportunities
  • Flexible working hours and remote-work opportunities

  To discover more about Gentrack and how we’re transforming energy and water utilities with innovative solutions, please visit our website and LinkedIn.