Head of Payroll (Global)

Annapurna; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 84,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Annapurna in London is seeking a Head of Global Payroll to own a multi-country payroll function and lead a major transformation programme to standardise, automate and scale the global operating model.

This senior role partners with HRIS/Technology and senior stakeholders across People, Finance and Technology, across Europe, the US and APAC. You will build a high-performing, globally distributed payroll team and drive governance, compliance and employee experience.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading global payroll across Europe, the US and APAC.
• Proven track record delivering payroll transformation and operating model changes.
• Experience managing global payroll providers and complex vendor landscapes.
• Strong governance, controls, compliance and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Own global payroll strategy, operating model and governance across multiple regions.
• Lead a major global payroll transformation including technology and provider optimisation.
• Drive automation and standardisation of processes to a scalable operating model.
• Oversee payroll operations with accuracy, compliance and excellent employee experience.
• Manage relationships with global and local payroll providers and drive performance.
• Collaborate with HRIS/Technology to improve integrations and data flows.
• Support international growth, acquisitions and new country launches from payroll perspective.
• Build and develop a high-performing, globally distributed payroll team.

Skills

Global payroll leadership

Payroll transformation

Vendor management

Stakeholder management

Distributed teams

Tools

Workday

CloudPay

Job description

London | Hybrid | Up to £140,000 + package

We're partnering with a high-growth, international technology business that is scaling rapidly across multiple markets and is now investing heavily in its global People infrastructure.

As Head of Global Payroll, you'll take ownership of a complex, multi-country payroll function while leading a major transformation programme designed to create a more standardised, automated and scalable global operating model.

This is a senior leadership opportunity for someone who enjoys transforming payroll, not simply running it.

The opportunity

Head of Global Payroll

London | Hybrid | Up to £140,000 + package

We're partnering with a high-growth, international technology business that is scaling rapidly across multiple markets and is now investing heavily in its global People infrastructure.

As Head of Global Payroll, you'll take ownership of a complex, multi-country payroll function while leading a major transformation programme designed to create a more standardised, automated and scalable global operating model.

This is a senior leadership opportunity for someone who enjoys transforming payroll, not simply running it.

The opportunity

You'll have end-to-end responsibility for global payroll across Europe, the US and APAC, working closely with senior stakeholders across People, Finance and Technology.

Key priorities will include:

• Own and shape the global payroll strategy, operating model and governance.

• Lead a significant global payroll transformation, including technology and provider optimisation.

• Drive the move from fragmented, manual processes towards a standardised, automated and scalable model.

• Oversee payroll operations, ensuring accuracy, compliance, controls and an excellent employee experience.

• Lead relationships with global and local payroll providers, driving performance and accountability.

• Partner with HRIS/Technology teams to improve integrations, data and automation.

• Support international growth, acquisitions and new country launches from a payroll perspective.

• Build and develop a high-performing, globally distributed payroll team.

What we're looking for

We're looking for an experienced global payroll leader who combines deep operational expertise with genuine transformation experience.

You'll ideally bring:

• Significant experience leading global/multi-country payroll across Europe, the US and APAC.

• A strong track record delivering payroll transformation, technology implementation, process redesign and/or operating model change.

• Experience managing global payroll providers and complex vendor landscapes.

• Strong knowledge of payroll governance, controls, compliance and risk.

• Experience working with HRIS/payroll technology such as Workday, CloudPay or comparable platforms.

• Experience leading geographically distributed teams.

• The credibility and stakeholder management skills to operate with senior leadership across People, Finance and Technology.

Why this role?

This is a chance to join a genuinely international business at an important stage of its growth and shape how payroll operates globally for the future.

You'll have significant ownership, a clear transformation mandate and the opportunity to build a scalable payroll function across multiple regions - with the backing of a business that recognises payroll as a critical part of the employee experience.