Global Payroll Manager

JGA Recruitment; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A specialist recruitment agency is seeking a Global Payroll Manager to oversee global payroll operations and lead a small team. The successful candidate will ensure compliance across multiple countries, manage payroll processes, and lead system improvements. The role requires proven global payroll management experience, strong compliance knowledge, and advanced Excel skills. This position is based in Canary Wharf with a hybrid working model, requiring 3 days in the office.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in managing global payroll processes.
• Experience leading a payroll team with at least 2 reports.
• Strong knowledge of payroll compliance across multiple countries.

Responsibilities

• Oversee accurate payroll across all countries.
• Ensure global compliance and maintain audit-ready controls.
• Lead payroll system improvements and drive best practices.

Skills

Global payroll management experience

Team management

Multi-country payroll knowledge

Advanced Excel skills

Education

Payroll qualification (CIPP or equivalent)

Job description

Global Payroll Manager

Salary: £80,000
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time
Location: Canary Wharf (Hybrid - 3 days in office)

🌟 The Opportunity

This is a senior, hands‑on role providing global payroll leadership within an international organisation. You’ll own end‑to‑end payroll operations, ensure global compliance, lead projects, and guide a small but experienced payroll team.

📌 Key Responsibilities

Payroll Operations

• Oversee accurate, timely payroll across all countries
• Act as escalation point for payroll queries
• Approve payments, BACS files, and EOR invoices
• Manage benefits, pensions, and employee changes

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure global payroll compliance and statutory reporting
• Maintain audit‑ready controls and documentation
• Provide technical payroll guidance internally

Projects & Systems

• Lead payroll system implementations and improvements
• Drive standardisation and best practice globally

Finance & Reporting

• Review payroll journals and reconciliations
• Deliver monthly, quarterly, and year‑end payroll reports
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and variance analysis

Leadership

• Line manage and develop a team of 3 payroll specialists

👤 What They’re Looking For

• Proven global payroll management experience
• Experience managing a team (minimum 2 direct reports)
• Strong multi‑country payroll and compliance knowledge
• Confident in fast‑paced, multi‑currency environments
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, analysis)
• Payroll qualification (CIPP or equivalent)

JGA Recruitment Group Ltd (“We”) are committed to equality of opportunity for all applications regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and marriage and civil partnerships. We strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply. We are also committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. We are a specialist payroll, HR & Reward recruitment agency and recruitment business as defined in the Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 (our business). These statements together with our privacy notices set out the basis on which any personal data we collect from you, or that you provide to us, will be processed by us.