International Payroll Operations Manager

JGA Recruitment; Reading; On-site; GBP 72,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Completion bonus

Job summary

JGA Recruitment Group Ltd is seeking an experienced International Payroll Operations Manager for a 12-month FTC in Reading. You will lead end-to-end international payroll across multiple countries, combining hands-on leadership with global transformation initiatives.

Responsibilities include overseeing payroll delivery, managing vendors, implementing new country rollouts, ensuring compliance, and driving process improvements. Hybrid work arrangement with 3 days in the office and 2 at home.

Qualifications

• 7+ years’ EMEA/international payroll experience.
• Experience managing multi-country payroll operations.
• Proven team management and coaching experience.
• Strong knowledge of payroll controls, compliance and best practice.
• Experience managing outsourced payroll providers/vendors.
• Strong payroll implementation, transformation or project management experience.
• Confident working with senior stakeholders.
• Excellent Excel skills and process-improvement mindset.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

EMEA payroll experience

Team leadership

Payroll controls & compliance

Outsourced payroll vendors

Payroll implementation / migration

Advanced Excel

CIPP qualified

Education

CIPP qualified or equivalent

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.