EMEA Payroll Specialist

CMC Markets; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading financial services firm in London is seeking an experienced EMEA Payroll Specialist for a 6-month contract. The role involves administration of payroll processes across multiple jurisdictions and collaboration within HR and finance teams. Candidates should have over 3 years of end-to-end payroll experience and skills in working with outsourced payroll providers. This position offers a dynamic work environment focused on compliance and process improvement.

Qualifications

• 3+ years’ experience in end-to-end payroll processing.
• Experience covering multi-country payrolls within EMEA.
• Strong numeracy and analytical skills, with high attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Support the end-to-end administration of UK and EMEA payrolls.
• Administer employee benefit schemes and pension contributions.
• Assist with month-end activities and payroll reporting.
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Work collaboratively within the HR team and with stakeholders.

Skills

End-to-end payroll processing

Working with outsourced payroll providers

Multi-country payrolls experience

Intermediate Excel skills

Numeracy and analytical skills

Strong communication skills

Ability to work under pressure

Adaptability to process changes

Job description

Overview

We are seeking an experienced EMEA Payroll Specialist to join us on a 6 month Fixed Term Contract. This role will support the delivery of accurate and timely payroll services across 14 payrolls in the UK, Austria, Bermuda, Bulgaria, Canada, Dubai, Germany, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the US, working closely with our outsourced payroll provider. Situated within a team of three and reporting to the Senior Payroll Manager, you will work alongside one other Payroll Specialist and play a critical role in ensuring payroll compliance, reconciliations, and benefits administration. As the business undergoes a payroll transformation, this role will require awareness of upcoming changes and the ability to adapt to new processes. You will also contribute to improving highly manual processes by developing and maintaining robust Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Responsibilities

• Payroll Administration: Support the end-to-end administration of UK and EMEA payrolls, in partnership with the outsourced payroll provider. Perform compliance checks and ensure payroll outputs are accurate and timely. Monitor payments to third parties, including tax authorities, pensions, and other statutory obligations. Carry out regular reconciliations to ensure data integrity and compliance.
• Benefits & Pensions: Administer employee benefit schemes and pension contributions across multiple jurisdictions. Ensure timely processing and accuracy of benefit-related payroll inputs.
• Reporting & Month-End Support: Assist with month-end activities, including generation of payroll and HR reports. Support Finance and HR colleagues with payroll-related data and insights.
• Process & Compliance: Develop, maintain, and improve Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Ensure payroll activities are compliant with local legislation, internal policies, and audit requirements. Identify and escalate issues in a timely manner, ensuring risks are mitigated.
• Collaboration & Continuous Improvement: Work collaboratively within the HR team and with wider business stakeholders. Adapt to process changes arising from ongoing payroll transformation initiatives. Contribute ideas to improve accuracy, efficiency, and automation in payroll processes.

Skills, Experience & Competencies

• 3+ years’ experience in end-to-end payroll processing.
• Proven track record of working with a fully managed outsourced payroll provider.
• Experience covering multi-country payrolls within EMEA.
• Intermediate Excel skills (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables, reconciliations).
• Strong numeracy and analytical skills, with high attention to detail.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build strong stakeholder relationships at all levels.
• Calm and resilient under pressure, with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Flexible, adaptable, and willing to expand knowledge of EMEA payroll requirements.

CMC Markets is powered by our people. We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, where our people feel confident to be themselves, feel valued and are able to do their best work. We don’t just value differences and unique perspectives, we seek them out and we invite them in, because we know it will lead to better outcomes for everyone.