Global Payroll Leader – AI-Driven Compliance

Moody; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Moody's Global Payroll team seeks a Payroll Governance Lead to drive governance, compliance, and continuous improvement across APAC and EMEA. You will oversee regulatory changes, controls, and audits while coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to ensure accurate, scalable payroll operations.

The role requires strong Excel skills, regulatory know‑how, and experience managing payroll vendors in a multinational environment. AI tools experience is valued as we transform processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Relevant payroll, finance, or compliance certifications are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Drive payroll excellence across APAC and EMEA by leading governance, compliance, operational improvements, vendor management, reporting, and strategic payroll initiatives that support business objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee payroll governance activities across APAC and EMEA, ensuring compliance with local statutory requirements, company policies, and global payroll standards
• Monitor legislative, tax, social security, and employment law changes and coordinate implementation of required updates with internal and external stakeholders
• Identify, assess, and mitigate payroll compliance and operational risks through robust controls and governance frameworks
• Support internal and external audits, compliance reviews, regulatory inquiries, and statutory reporting requirements
• Lead continuous improvement, automation, and digital transformation initiatives to enhance payroll efficiency, accuracy, scalability, and employee experience
• Drive process standardization and maintain payroll policies, procedures, control frameworks, and standard operating documentation across the region
• Lead and support payroll projects, including system implementations, transformations, integrations, acquisitions, reorganizations, and regulatory initiatives
• Manage relationships with payroll providers, conduct vendor performance reviews, and ensure service delivery meets business and compliance expectations
• Serve as a key liaison between Payroll and stakeholders across People, Finance, Tax, Legal, Benefits, Technology, and external advisors
• Develop and maintain payroll reporting, dashboards, KPIs, and management insights to measure performance, compliance, and operational effectiveness
• Analyse payroll data and trends to identify risks, inefficiencies, and improvement opportunities while supporting audit readiness and governance activities
• Partner with Payroll leadership to support payroll strategy, governance priorities, and operational improvement initiatives
• Provide regional payroll subject matter expertise across compliance, controls, reporting, and payroll best practices

Skills

Excel

Payroll governance

Regulatory compliance

Risk management

Audit readiness

Vendor governance

Analytical thinking

Cross‑functional collaboration

AI in payroll

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/HR

Tools

Payroll software

Job description

Moody's Global Payroll team seeks a Payroll Governance Lead to drive governance, compliance, and continuous improvement across APAC and EMEA. You will oversee regulatory changes, controls, and audits while coordinating with internal and external stakeholders to ensure accurate, scalable payroll operations.

The role requires strong Excel skills, regulatory know‑how, and experience managing payroll vendors in a multinational environment. AI tools experience is valued as we transform processes.