Interim Payroll Manager

Think Specialist Recruitment; London; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency seeks a Payroll Processing Manager to enhance global payroll processes. This role includes managing payroll teams across Europe and ensuring compliance with regulations. Ideal candidates have 5+ years in payroll, strong leadership, and an analytical mindset to drive improvements.

Qualifications

• Deep knowledge of international payroll regulations and compliance.
• Experience managing outsourced payroll providers.
• Strong attention to detail and process efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end payroll processing across multiple countries.
• Manage a high-performing payroll team, ensuring compliance.
• Implement payroll controls and drive process improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical mindset

Communication

Stakeholder engagement

Education

5+ years of payroll processing experience

Tools

Payroll systems

Job description

Are you a detail-driven Global payroll leader with international experience and a passion for operational excellence? Are you immediately available to join a business and support them during a critical time?

We're looking for a Payroll Processing Manager to own and enhance our clients global payroll processes. You'll ensure accuracy, compliance, and seamless execution, working closely with HR, Finance, Compliance, and our external payroll providers.

What you'll be doing:

• Lead and oversee end-to-end payroll processing across multiple countries, ensuring compliance with local laws and tax regulations.
• Manage and mentor a high-performing payroll team, driving accountability and development.
• Act as the main point of contact for external payroll providers, resolving escalations and ensuring service excellence.
• Implement and monitor payroll controls, audits, and reconciliations to safeguard data integrity.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Finance and HR to align payroll with reporting and budgeting.
• Drive process improvements, standardization, and automation across regions.
• Maintain strict data privacy standards in line with GDPR and internal policies.
• Resolve payroll-related queries quickly and effectively, ensuring a great employee experience.
• Track and improve payroll KPIs and SLAs to deliver consistent, high-quality outcomes.

What we're looking for:

• 5+ years of payroll processing and leadership experience, ideally within a shared service or global payroll setting.
• Deep knowledge of international payroll regulations, tax laws, and compliance standards.
• Proven experience managing outsourced payroll providers.
• Strong command of payroll systems
• Analytical mindset with a keen eye for accuracy and process efficiency.
• Inspirational leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities.

If successful you'll play a key role in supporting how they deliver payroll at a global scale. You will bring clarity, compliance, and confidence to their people and partners.

This role will manage a team based in Europe. The client is looking for immediate support for the next 3-6 months. It is essential that you have experience in a high pressure environment and that you are able to manage by leading by example.

This position will be either paid on a Day Rate (PAYE) or on a FTC. This will be discussed on application.

Think Accountancy and Finance is the finance division of Think Specialist Recruitment, an independent recruitment agency based in Hemel Hempstead and working across the Herts, Beds and Bucks area. We specialise in permanent, temporary and contract recruitment with areas of expertise including: Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Finance Admin, Part Qualified Finance, Credit Control and Bookkeepers.