Payroll Transformation Manager

JGA Recruitment; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a Payroll Transformation Manager to oversee payroll operations across several European markets. This role involves leading the transition to a centralized payroll model, ensuring compliance with regional regulations, and providing subject matter expertise for new systems. Candidates should possess at least seven years of experience in multi-country payrolls and strong leadership skills, with a focus on driving efficiencies and improvements. This is a hybrid role based in Reading, with an attractive salary package.

Qualifications

• At least seven years' experience overseeing multi-country payrolls within Europe.
• Proven leadership and people management background.
• Strong project delivery experience with large scale implementations.
• Confident vendor management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Solid understanding of payroll controls, legislation, and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead payroll activity across several European markets ensuring accurate delivery.
• Oversee transition from local processing to a centralized model.
• Act as primary escalation point for payroll issues.
• Monitor regional costs and support long term budgeting.
• Ensure compliance with employment regulations.
• Maintain audit-ready documentation and manage audit activities.

Skills

Leadership and people management

Project delivery

Vendor management

Stakeholder engagement

Problem-solving

Payroll controls and legislation

Education

Professional payroll qualifications (e.g., CIPP)

Job description

Title: Payroll Transformation Manager
Location: Reading
Hybrid: 2 days a week on-site
Salary: £80,000 to £100,000
Contract: 12-month contract

This Payroll Transformation Manager position covers a period of parental leave and sits within a wider international modernisation programme. The organisation is reshaping how payroll is delivered across several European markets and there is every chance the contract may be extended as the programme matures.

You will oversee payroll activity for large workforce populations across Spain, Portugal and Italy as the business shifts to a centralised model. Although not a routine processing role, you will be the senior figure responsible for operational standards, controls, and the smooth running of payroll across these regions.

The core of the work for this Payroll Transformation Manager role is project led. Your focus will be on implementations, process redesign and steering a coordinated approach as the new operating model beds in. Strong people leadership is essential, as you will guide and support teams through change while maintaining consistent quality and compliance.

There will be international travel, usually quarterly, though this may increase depending on project activity.

Key responsibilities

• Lead payroll activity across several European markets and ensure accurate and timely delivery during a period of significant change.
• Oversee the transition from local processing to a centralised model, ensuring processes are aligned and embedded.
• Provide subject matter expertise for new payroll system rollouts and implementation phases.
• Act as the primary escalation point for payroll issues and ensure swift resolution.
• Monitor regional costs and support long term budgeting.
• Develop or refine payroll procedures in collaboration with global process owners.
• Guide the strategic direction of payroll operations and contribute to future ways of working.
• Maintain a high performing team through clear leadership, coaching and structured development.
• Ensure compliance with national employment regulations, tax requirements and any applicable collective agreements.
• Maintain clear, audit ready documentation and lead on internal and external audit activities.
• Manage external payroll vendors, oversee service levels and ensure in country requirements are met.
• Keep business continuity plans up to date and robust.
• Track and report on service performance using agreed KPIs.

What you will bring

• At least seven years' experience overseeing multi country payrolls within Europe.
• Proven leadership and people management background.
• Strong project delivery experience, ideally with exposure to large scale implementations.
• Confident vendor management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Practical, hands‑on approach to resolving issues and improving processes.
• A forward-looking mindset with the ability to identify smarter, more efficient ways of working.
• Solid understanding of payroll controls, legislation and best practice.
• Professional payroll qualifications (such as CIPP or equivalent) are preferred.
• Experience leading teams through change.

JGA Recruitment Group Ltd ("We") are committed to equality of opportunity for all applications regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

We are also committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. We are a specialist Payroll and HR recruitment agency and recruitment business as defined in the Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 (our business).

These statements together with our privacy notices set out the basis on which any personal data we collect from you, or that you provide to us, will be processed by us.