Payroll and Benefits Lead

McLaren Automotive Ltd; Woking; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

McLaren Automotive Ltd is seeking a Payroll & Benefits Lead to coordinate payroll and benefits for nine countries, supporting a global population of about 250 employees. You will manage end-to-end payroll with an outsourced provider, and drive benefit programmes with procurement and legal teams.

The role requires hands-on delivery, accuracy, and the ability to operate in a fast-paced environment with evolving processes and high data volumes.

Qualifications

• Experience in international benefits and payroll.
• Experience working with outsourced payroll providers.
• Ability to research and propose new benefits to stakeholders.
• Experience onboarding new suppliers with legal and procurement support.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Comfortable with manual processes and high volumes of data.
• Ability to manage deadlines across multiple countries.
• Experience using SAP and HR systems (e.g., SuccessFactors) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate payroll and benefits across 9 countries with an outsourced provider.
• Oversee end-to-end payroll process, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Guide People Assistants on payroll inputs and outputs.
• Liaise with Finance, Treasury and Tax to ensure compliance.
• Maintain payroll documentation and records.
• Lead annual benefits renewals, communications and reviews.
• Provide absence cover for the UK Payroll & Benefits Lead.

Skills

International payroll & benefits

Stakeholder communication

Attention to detail

Data management

Project management

Multi-country coordination

Process improvement

Deadline management

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Tools

SAP

SuccessFactors

Excel

Job description

The Payroll & Benefits Lead is responsible for the coordination and delivery of payroll and benefits across 9 countries, supporting a global employee population of approximately c.250 employees.

Working closely with an outsourced benefits partner, this role will work to bring market competitive benefits to our employees.

This role will also work closely with an outsourced payroll provider, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll delivery. The role requires a hands‑on, detail‑oriented approach, with the ability to operate in a fast‑paced, evolving environment that combines manual and electronic processes with high volumes of (sometimes complex) activity.

What You'll Do

• Explore potential benefits that are market competitive in the regions, working with external providers and onboarding new providers with support from the Procurement and Legal teams.
• Implement processes for the management of global employee benefits programmes, including:
• Enrolments, changes, and leavers
• Liaison with external providers
• Act as a key contact for employee benefits queries
• Lead annual benefits processes (e.g., renewals, reviews, communications) working with Procurement, external providers and Finance

Payroll

• Act as the primary internal point of contact for global payroll coordination across 9 countries
• Manage the end‑to‑end payroll cycle with outsourced provider, including:
• Providing guidance to People Assistants for payroll inputs
• Review of payroll outputs and reports
• Close liaison with Finance, Treasury and Tax functions
• Ensure payroll is delivered accurately and on time in line with local requirements
• Resolve complex payroll queries from employees and stakeholders
• Maintain payroll records and documentation
• Provide absence cover for the UK Payroll & Benefits Lead

Data & Systems

• Support transition activities towards SuccessFactors (experience beneficial but not essential)
• Prepare payroll and benefits reports as required
• Support audits and data checks

Process & Continuous Improvement

• Work within existing manual processes, ensuring consistency and accuracy
• Identify opportunities to improve processes and reduce inefficiencies
• Support the Payroll & Benefits Manager with ongoing system and process improvements

Compliance & Governance

• Support compliance with local payroll and benefits regulations across multiple countries
• Ensure appropriate documentation and audit trails are maintained
• Assist with internal and external audits where required

What You'll Bring

Skills & Experience

• Previous experience in international benefits and payroll
• Experience working with outsourced providers
• Confidence in researching and proposing new benefits to stakeholders
• Strong experience of onboarding new suppliers, supported by legal and procurement teams
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Comfortable working with manual processes and high volumes of data or complex situations
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines across different countries
• Strong organisational and problem‑solving skills
• Good stakeholder communication and management skills
• Exposure to global or multi‑country payroll environments
• Basic understanding of payroll processes across different countries
• Exposure to Expatriation and related taxation issues
• Experience using SAP
• Exposure to SuccessFactors or similar HR systems

Personal Attributes

• Resilient and adaptable in a changing environment
• Hands‑on and proactive
• Comfortable working with ambiguity and evolving processes
• Team-oriented with a collaborative approach
• Able to prioritise effectively under pressure