Interim Global Payroll Assistant Director

Partner Group; Cambridge; On-site; GBP 83,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

Partner Group in Cambridge seeks an Interim Global Payroll Assistant Director to lead end-to-end multi-entity payroll operations across dozens of countries. This role focuses on transforming payroll from an administrative task into a data-driven strategic asset, aligning with executive leadership across people operations, finance, and governance.

The successful candidate will oversee audits, multi-jurisdictional compliance, and complex compensation strategies while mentoring a high-performing

Qualifications

• Experience leading multi-entity payroll operations
• Strong knowledge of UK and US payroll frameworks
• Experience directing global payroll teams
• Ability to develop dashboards and insights for leadership
• Experience with audits and statutory filings

Responsibilities

• Lead payroll system implementations, upgrades, and automation
• Develop long-term payroll strategies and internal controls
• Transform payroll data into executive dashboards and insights
• Drive lean and continuous-improvement initiatives
• Oversee high-volume payroll cycles across international entities
• Maintain expertise in international tax laws and regulatory reporting
• Lead payroll audits, tax reconciliations, and year-end filings
• Review complex payroll discrepancies and executive compensation queries
• Mentor and develop a global payroll team
• Collaborate with People Operations, Finance, and Legal to resolve bottlenecks

Skills

Global payroll leadership

Stakeholder management

Regulatory compliance

Process improvement

Education

CIPP/CPP qualification

Tools

HRIS systems

Job description

Up to £750/day

Up to 6 months

Professional Services

Cambridge

Ref: VKADGP7102

An established, globally connected enterprise with an extensive international footprint is currently navigating an exciting phase of organisational evolution and global integration. Backed by a vast multi-region workforce and a complex operating framework, the organisation is heavily focused on streamlining global operations, modernising administrative infrastructure, and unifying diverse regional frameworks into a seamless corporate ecosystem.

The Interim Global Payroll Assistant Director, will assume a critical leadership role in steering, designing, and optimising end-to-end multi-entity compensation and payroll operations spanning dozens of countries and thousands of personnel. This position sits at the intersection of strategic modernisation and operational governance, tasked with shifting the payroll function from a traditional administrative obligation into a high-impact, data-driven operational asset. Working closely with executive leadership across people operations, finance, and corporate governance, this role ensures absolute regulatory alignment across multiple jurisdictions while scaling systems to support an extensive global community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading payroll system implementations, upgrades, and automation projects to streamline data flow between human resources information systems and financial platforms.
• Developing long-term payroll strategies, compensation delivery models, and internal controls that align seamlessly with enterprise growth and international expansion.
• Transforming complex payroll data into executive dashboards and actionable financial insights for senior leadership.
• Driving organisational and procedural shifts using lean and continuous‑improvement principles.
• Overseeing multi‑frequency, high‑volume payroll cycles across all international entities to guarantee complete accuracy.
• Maintaining deep expertise in international tax laws, statutory reporting, pension regulations, and multi‑jurisdictional labour compliance.
• Serving as the primary lead for internal and external payroll audits, tax reconciliations, and year‑end statutory filings.
• Acting as the final review authority for complex financial discrepancies, collective agreement interpretations, and executive compensation queries.
• Mentoring, upscaling, and evaluating a high‑performing global payroll team while fostering a culture of accountability and professional growth.
• Collaborating closely with people operations, total rewards, legal, and finance teams to resolve structural bottlenecks and elevate enterprise employee satisfaction.

Candidate:

• Holding a CIPP (Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals) qualification/membership or CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) designation (preferred).
• Possessing comprehensive, hands‑on knowledge of UK and US payroll frameworks, alongside robust experience managing wider international payroll matters.
• Demonstrating a proven leadership background with substantial experience directing high‑performing global teams.
• Exhibiting strong interpersonal and influencing skills capable of fostering effective working relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Showing a demonstrated history of developing and successfully implementing complex payroll system strategies.
• Displaying a proven track record of driving continuous process improvements within enterprise‑scale environments.
• Bringing extensive background experience operating within large, globally dispersed matrix organizations.