Global Payroll Manager

JGA Recruitment; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 71,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

JGA Recruitment Group Ltd is seeking an experienced Global Payroll Manager to lead payroll delivery across EMEA & APAC from its Westminster, London base. The hybrid role requires 3 days in-office and a 12-month FTC with strong potential to convert.

You will manage external providers, ensure compliant payrolls, and drive global payroll projects with a direct report. The ideal candidate has 7+ years in international payroll, strong UK/France/Germany experience, and readiness to partner with HR,

Qualifications

• 7+ years' payroll experience within a large, complex international environment.
• Strong EMEA payroll experience with APAC exposure advantageous.
• Knowledge of UK, FR, DE payrolls and related compliance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee multi-country payroll delivery across EMEA and APAC.
• Review outputs and ensure controls before final approval.
• Manage external payroll providers and enforce SLAs.
• Lead and develop a direct report and provide technical guidance.
• Ensure compliance with local tax, employment and statutory requirements.
• Support UK PSA filings, HMRC requirements and employment tax matters.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, Benefits, Legal and other stakeholders.

Skills

Vendor management

Payroll compliance

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Automation mindset

Tools

Workday

CloudPay

Job description

Global Payroll Manager - EMEA & APAC
Salary: £71,000-£85,000 + 15% Bonus
Location: Westminster, London
Hybrid: 3 days per week in the office
Contract: 12 Month FTC - strong potential to become permanent
Team: 1 direct report
Interview Process: 2 stages

The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity for an experienced EMEA / International Payroll Manager to take ownership of payroll delivery across a changing portfolio of countries throughout EMEA and APAC. You'll oversee international payroll operations delivered through external providers, manage key vendor relationships and ensure payrolls remain accurate, compliant and well controlled. The role also offers exposure to global payroll projects, systems and continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the accurate and timely delivery of multi-country payrolls across EMEA and APAC.
• Review payroll outputs and ensure appropriate controls are completed before final approval.
• Manage relationships with external payroll providers and hold vendors accountable against agreed SLAs.
• Lead and support a direct report, providing technical guidance and development.
• Ensure payroll processes remain compliant with local tax, employment and statutory requirements.
• Support payroll delivery across key European countries, particularly UK, France and Germany.
• Assist with internal and external audits, SOX controls and tax authority requirements.
• Partner closely with HR, Finance, Benefits, Legal and other international stakeholders.
• Support UK PSA filings, HMRC requirements and wider employment tax matters.
• Analyse payroll data and investigate discrepancies, risks and control issues.
• Drive improvements across payroll technology, processes and vendor delivery.
• Support wider international payroll projects and transformation initiatives.

Ideal Candidate

• 7+ years' payroll experience within a large, complex international environment.
• Strong EMEA payroll experience, with exposure to APAC highly advantageous.
• Good working knowledge of payroll in UK, France and Germany.
• Currently operating at Payroll Manager or Senior Payroll Manager level.
• Previous experience managing or developing payroll team members.
• Strong payroll vendor management experience is essential.
• Good understanding of international payroll compliance, employment taxes and internal controls.
• Comfortable reviewing payroll results rather than purely processing payroll.
• Strong analytical skills with an understanding of payroll accounting and reconciliations.
• Tech-savvy and interested in automation, systems and process improvement.
• CloudPay experience would be highly advantageous.
• Workday experience would be beneficial but is not essential.
• Confident working with senior stakeholders across multiple countries and functions.

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.

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