International Payroll Operations Manager

James Gray Associates; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 68,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

JGA Recruitment Group Ltd seeks an International Payroll Operations Manager to lead end-to-end payroll delivery across multiple countries, blending team leadership with vendor management and country implementations. This role is a 12-month FTC based in Reading with hybrid work (3 days in office, 2 days at home).

The ideal candidate has 7+ years in EMEA/international payroll, strong leadership, and hands-on experience with payroll controls and outsourcing.

Qualifications

• 7+ years' international payroll experience.
• Experience with multi-country payroll operations.
• Proven team management and coaching experience.
• Experience managing outsourced payroll providers.
• Strong Excel and systems/process improvement mindset.
• CIPP qualified or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Oversee accurate, compliant and timely international payroll delivery from end to end.
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing payroll team.
• Review and approve payrolls, reconciliations, payments and key controls.
• Manage relationships and performance with external payroll vendors.
• Lead payroll implementation and stabilisation for new countries and store openings.
• Own international payroll calendars, deadlines and statutory requirements.
• Drive process improvements, efficiencies and opportunities to bring activities in-house.
• Support payroll audits, system upgrades, testing and legislative changes.
• Act as a senior escalation point for complex payroll issues.
• Partner with key stakeholders and support wider global payroll projects and transformation.

Skills

EMEA payroll

Team management

Payroll controls

Vendor management

Excel

Stakeholder management

Project management

Education

CIPP qualification

Job description

International Payroll Operations Manager - 12 Month FTC

Salary: £80,000 + Completion Bonus

Location: Reading

Hybrid: 3 days office / 2 days home

Contract: 12 Month FTC

The Role

A senior international payroll opportunity responsible for the end-to-end operational delivery of payrolls across multiple countries, combining team leadership, vendor management, new-country implementations and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee accurate, compliant and timely international payroll delivery from end to end.
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing payroll team.
• Review and approve payrolls, reconciliations, payments and key controls.
• Manage relationships and performance with external payroll vendors.
• Lead payroll implementation and stabilisation for new countries and store openings.
• Own international payroll calendars, deadlines and statutory requirements.
• Drive process improvements, efficiencies and opportunities to bring activities in-house.
• Support payroll audits, system upgrades, testing and legislative changes.
• Act as a senior escalation point for complex payroll issues.
• Partner with key stakeholders and support wider global payroll projects and transformation.

Ideal Candidate

• 7+ years' EMEA/international payroll experience.
• Strong experience managing complex, multi-country payroll operations.
• Proven team management and coaching experience.
• Strong knowledge of payroll controls, compliance and operational best practice.
• Experience managing outsourced payroll providers/vendors.
• Strong payroll implementation, transformation or project management experience.
• Confident working with senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent Excel skills and a strong systems/process improvement mindset.
• CIPP qualified or equivalent.

Ideal for an experienced International/EMEA Payroll Manager who can combine hands‑on operational leadership with transformation, implementations and continuous improvement.

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.