Payroll Manager - EMEAA

Confidential; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential based in Edinburgh is seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to lead a high-performing payroll team within the Finance function and drive the global payroll strategy for EMEAA.

You will partner with Finance, HR, Legal and external vendors to ensure accurate, compliant payroll operations delivered on time across multiple jurisdictions and supported by governance and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Extensive payroll expertise across multiple EMEAA jurisdictions.
• Experience leading a regional payroll team with strong controls.
• Ability to manage high-volume, multi-country payrolls with accuracy.
• Solid understanding of payroll accounting, reconciliations and financial controls.
• Attention to detail and commitment to quality.

Responsibilities

• Payroll accuracy & governance across all EMEAA countries, reviewing and approving payroll documents.
• Cross-border compliance with regional statutory requirements, tax rules and reporting deadlines.
• Oversee regular and ad-hoc payroll payments, funding, approvals and reconciliation.
• Analyse and enhance payroll processes, controls and system workflows.
• Lead, coach and develop the Payroll team fostering accountability and continuous improvement.
• Identify opportunities to streamline processes and automate tasks.
• Drive payroll-related change initiatives aligned with global programmes.
• Lead payroll integration for new acquisitions ensuring data accuracy.
• Maintain strong internal controls, support audits and ensure compliance.
• Build relationships with Finance, HR, Legal, IT and external payroll providers.

Skills

Payroll governance

Cross-border compliance

Payment management

Process & system optimisation

Team leadership

Change leadership

Stakeholder management

Data accuracy & attention to detail

Analytical problem-solving

Education

Payroll-related qualification

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Payroll Manager - EMEAA to lead a high‑performing payroll team within our Finance function, based in Edinburgh. This role is critical in delivering our global payroll strategy, ensuring operational excellence, and supporting the rollout of a unified payroll solution across EMEAA countries.

You will partner closely with Finance, HR, Legal and external vendors to ensure payroll operations are accurate, compliant and delivered on time across multiple jurisdictions.

Responsibilities

• Payroll accuracy & governance — Ensure accurate, timely and compliant payroll processing across all EMEAA countries, including review and approval of payroll documentation
• Cross‑border compliance — Maintain strong knowledge of regional statutory requirements, tax rules, social security obligations and reporting deadlines
• Payment management — Oversee all regular and ad‑hoc payroll payments, ensuring correct funding, approvals and reconciliation
• Process & system optimisation — Analyse and enhance payroll processes, controls and system workflows; monitor vendor performance and drive governance improvements
• Team leadership — Lead, coach and develop the Payroll team, fostering a culture of accountability, accuracy and continuous improvement
• Efficiency & innovation — Identify opportunities to streamline processes, automate manual tasks and introduce best‑practice ways of working
• Change leadership — Drive payroll‑related change initiatives, ensuring alignment with global transformation programmes and business priorities
• Integration & onboarding — Lead payroll integration for new acquisitions, ensuring smooth onboarding, data accuracy
• Controls & audit readiness — Maintain strong internal controls, support internal/external audits and ensure full documentation and compliance
• Stakeholder management — Build strong relationships with Finance, HR, Legal, IT and external payroll providers to ensure seamless end‑to‑end payroll delivery

Skills

• Extensive payroll expertise across multiple EMEAA jurisdictions, with strong knowledge of statutory requirements and compliance
• Proven experience leading a regional payroll team, embedding best practices, strong controls and continuous improvement
• Analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to manage complex, high‑volume, multi‑country payrolls
• Strong understanding of payroll accounting, reconciliations and financial controls
• Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy and quality
• A payroll‑related qualification is required