Payroll Specialist - France (Fixed Term Contract)

Claire's; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Claire's seeks a Payroll Support Specialist for a fixed-term contract focusing on payroll transformation. This role includes collation and validation of payroll data while supporting managers and employees with payroll queries, requiring fluency in French and English. Work can be remote or hybrid, supporting a transformative project within the company.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in French payroll with knowledge of statutory payments.
• Year-end payroll process knowledge and understanding of payroll compliance.
• Experience with Belgian payroll preferred.

Responsibilities

• Collate hours and payments submitted in Workday for payroll.
• Produce reports to check for missing information.
• Advise Managers and Employees on pay queries.
• Build relationships with Management teams.

Skills

Fluency in French

Fluency in English

Intermediate Excel skills

Analytical mindset

Attention to detail

Collaborative approach

Proactive mindset

Job description

The role will:

• Collate the hours / payments submitted in Workday and transcribe into payroll providers templates.
• Produce validation and exception reports to check for missing information and anomalies before submission to the payroll providers.
• Provide advice and support to Managers and Employees in all aspects of pay queries in line with our Service Level Agreement (SLA).
• Build relationships with Management teams to proactively support their training needs to ensure payroll information is submitted accurately and on time.
• Work with the payroll providers to ensure that any queries that cannot be resolved internally are resolved in an efficient manner and within the SLA.
• Check payment files on receipt from payroll provider and raise any issues in a timely manner.
• Co-ordinate and provide adhoc requests for information from external bodies.

• Co-ordinate and support the payment of bonus and annual salary review data with the third-party payroll providers.
• Deal with third parties / local authorities earnings enquiries and queries, e.g. financial references.
• Liaise with the other departments to ensure that queries related to Payroll activities are resolved in a timely manner.
• Maintain the payroll Knowledge Base ensuring processes and procedures are current, effective and translated (as required) specific to each country.

• Produce/ action any reports required by the business.
• Develop training materials and train managers and employees as required.

• Support systems testing and project work as required.
• Carry out any other reasonable duties requested by Payroll management.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with key partners.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in French payroll, with knowledge of statutory payments and deductions.
• Belgian payroll experience preferred.
• Fluency in French and English – essential for effective communication across our UK and US-based HQs.
• Year-end payroll process knowledge and a solid understanding of payroll compliance.
• Intermediate Excel skills with a strong analytical mindset.
• A high level of accuracy and attention to detail, ensuring payroll is processed efficiently.
• A collaborative approach, with the ability to prioritise tasks in a dynamic environment.
• A proactive mindset, seeking opportunities to improve processes and solve problems effectively.

Location & Work Arrangement

• Remote (France-based) or Hybrid (3 days a week in our European HQ in Birmingham, UK).

• This is a fixed term contract to support our payroll transformation project.

Claire's is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we encourage applications from members of all underrepresented groups, including those with disabilities. We will accommodate applicants' needs, upon request, throughout all stages of the recruitment process. Please inform us of the accommodation(s) that you may require.