International Payroll Specialist (FTC)

Catalyst Partners; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Catalyst Partners in Central London is seeking an International Payroll Specialist for a 12 month FTC to support accurate and timely payroll across multiple countries. You will collaborate with HR and finance to strengthen payroll controls and drive automation while ensuring compliance and data integrity.

Responsibilities include coordinating inputs, validating data, monitoring local payroll requirements, and supporting country transitions and system projects as part of a broader transformation.

Qualifications

• Practical knowledge of payroll legislation and tax across relevant jurisdictions.
• Experience interpreting local employment arrangements and collective agreements where applicable.
• Strong payroll controls, data accuracy, confidentiality and audit requirements.
• Proven experience managing external payroll providers and addressing service or delivery issues.
• Ability to reconcile payroll data, investigate discrepancies and make evidence-based decisions.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end payroll activity for an assigned portfolio of countries.
• Coordinate payroll inputs, validations, approvals and reconciliations to ensure timely pay.
• Monitor payroll legislation, taxation and social security requirements and implement changes.
• Manage relationships with external payroll providers and ensure service quality.
• Support country transitions and data preparation for transitions and new jurisdictions.

Skills

Payroll knowledge

Excel

Stakeholder management

Data accuracy

Attention to detail

Job description

12 month FTC with the potential to go perm

Central London

Our client is a well-established international organisation with operations across multiple jurisdictions. The business is investing in its people, systems and operational infrastructure to support continued growth and an increasingly complex global workforce. The organisation is seeking an International Payroll Specialist to support the accurate, compliant and timely delivery of payroll across a portfolio of countries. This newly created role will strengthen payroll operations during a period of transformation and process development.

Working closely with colleagues across HR and other corporate functions, the International Payroll Specialist will oversee day-to-day payroll activity, coordinate external providers and help improve payroll controls, reporting and employee service. The successful candidate will also contribute to systems projects, country transitions and the adoption of more automated, data-led ways of working.

About the role:

• Manage end-to-end payroll activity for an assigned portfolio of countries, providing additional support across other jurisdictions when required.
• Coordinate payroll inputs, validations, approvals and reconciliations to ensure employees are paid accurately and on time.
• Monitor relevant payroll legislation, taxation, social security requirements and local employment arrangements, implementing changes where necessary.
• Manage relationships with external payroll providers, monitoring service quality, resolving operational issues and supporting compliance with agreed processes and controls.
• Partner with HR, Finance, Legal and other internal stakeholders to investigate queries, resolve discrepancies and maintain effective payroll delivery.
• Support the implementation or transition of payroll services for new countries, entities or employee populations, including data preparation, testing, documentation and post-implementation review.
• Maintain accurate and secure payroll records, ensuring that appropriate checks, approvals and audit trails are in place.
• Prepare recurring and ad hoc payroll reports to support financial control, statutory compliance, workforce analysis and business decision-making.
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes, strengthen controls, reduce manual activity and improve the effective use of payroll technology.
• Contribute to payroll-related projects, including system upgrades, process standardisation, policy alignment and operating model improvements.
• Act as a knowledgeable and professional point of contact for employee payroll queries, providing clear, timely and considerate support.

About you:

• Practical knowledge of payroll legislation, statutory deductions, taxation and social security requirements across relevant jurisdictions.
• Experience interpreting and applying local employment arrangements, including collective agreements where applicable.
• A strong understanding of payroll controls, data accuracy, confidentiality and audit requirements.
• Proven experience managing external payroll providers and addressing service, compliance or delivery issues.
• The ability to reconcile payroll data, investigate discrepancies and make sound, evidence-based decisions.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple payroll deadlines.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with a professional and dependable approach to stakeholder management.
• A proactive mindset and a track record of identifying practical process improvements.
• The ability to work collaboratively within a wider team while taking independent ownership of assigned payrolls.
• Good Microsoft Excel and reporting skill