Payroll & Benefits Manager

Life Time; City Of London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global real-estate investment firm in the UK is seeking an experienced Payroll and Benefits Manager to oversee multi-country payroll operations and enhance employee benefits. The ideal candidate will possess advanced Excel skills and a strong understanding of international employment laws. This role promises a dynamic environment fostering both compliance and employee satisfaction.

Benefits

Comprehensive training

Competitive compensation

Robust benefits

Generous vacation packages

Qualifications

• Seven or more years of experience in compensation operations.
• Proven experience managing multi-country payroll and benefits operations.
• Strong understanding of international employment law and regulations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee payroll operations across multiple countries ensuring compliance.
• Manage special one-off payments and executive bonuses.
• Lead benefits administration aligning with local market practices.

Skills

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel

Stakeholder management

Numerical analysis

Problem-solving skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Overview

When you join Hines, you will embark on a career journey fueled by vision and guided by leaders who set the standards of our industry. Our legacy is rooted in innovation and excellence, earning us a spot on Fast Company’s esteemed annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies, as well as recognition as one of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Companies to Work For in 2024. Discover endless opportunities to grow and make your mark at Hines.

Responsibilities

We are seeking an experienced Payroll and Benefits Manager to lead and evolve our compensation operations across Europe and the Middle East. This role is pivotal in ensuring accurate, compliant, and efficient payroll delivery while enhancing employee experience through thoughtful benefits administration. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Oversee and audit outsourced payroll operations across 13 countries in Europe and the Middle East, ensuring compliance with local regulations and internal standards.
• Manage the administration of special one-off payments including executive bonuses, relocation packages, and other discretionary compensation.
• Lead benefits administration across multiple jurisdictions, aligning offerings with local market practices and employee needs.
• Partner with Finance, HR, and external vendors to streamline payroll processes and improve reporting accuracy.
• Ensure timely and compliant processing of monthly payrolls, statutory filings, and year-end reporting.
• Support the development and implementation of compensation policies and procedures.
• Provide strategic input into reward and recognition programs, ensuring alignment with business goals and employee engagement.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of international payroll legislation and benefits trends.
• Leverage advanced Excel skills to build, audit, and optimize payroll models, reconciliation tools, and reporting dashboards.
• Apply strong numerical analysis to identify discrepancies, forecast payroll costs, and support financial planning.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements include:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution preferred or equivalent years of direct experience required.
• Seven or more years of experience.
• Exceptionally numerate with advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and financial modeling.
• Proven experience managing multi-country payroll and benefits operations, preferably within a real‑estate, investment, or professional services environment.
• Strong understanding of international employment law, tax, and social security regulations.
• Excellent stakeholder management and vendor coordination skills.
• Detail‑oriented with a proactive approach to problem‑solving and process improvement.

Closing

At Hines, we strive for excellence as a leading global real‑estate investment manager, driven by our belief that real estate is fundamentally about people. Our diverse portfolio spans $93.2 billion¹ of assets across such property types as living, office, retail, mixed‑use, logistics and life science projects – all designed to enhance value, connection and inspiration. Our strategic approach integrates local expertise with global knowledge, taking calculated risks aligned with our convictions to exceed expectations and tailor solutions to our clients’ needs.

While our projects are renowned for enhancing cities and pioneering sustainable practices, we recognize that the true driving force behind Hines’ success is our 5,000 dedicated employees in 30 countries who draw on our 65‑year history to build the world forward. This is why we prioritize investing in our people, offering comprehensive training, competitive compensation, robust benefits and generous vacation packages. By centering our focus on the growth and wellbeing of our team, we cultivate an inclusive environment where everyone, including our clients, can thrive.

Hines is proud to be named to Fast Company’s prestigious annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2024.¹Includes both the global Hines organization and RIA AUM as of December 31, 2023.

We are an equal opportunity employer and support workforce diversity.