Senior Global Payroll Transformation Lead (Hybrid)

GCS Recruitment; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

GCS Recruitment has a London-based opportunity for a Senior Project Manager / Transformation Lead to drive a major global payroll transformation. The role is hybrid (London office 2–3 days per week) and initially a 12‑month contract, with potential extension.

You will partner with Finance and Shared Services sponsors to deliver multi-country changes and system integrations. The role requires executive-level delivery leadership, hands-on involvement, and the ability to manage governance, budgets

Qualifications

• 15+ years in complex transformation programmes.
• Finance transformation or payroll transformation experience.
• Experience delivering multi-country programmes.
• Strong governance, budgeting, risk and dependency management.
• Proven ability to lead globally distributed teams and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and delivery oversight across the global payroll transformation programme.
• Work with executive sponsors across Finance and Shared Services to align priorities.
• Lead governance activities, including 30/60/90-day reviews, reporting and forward planning.
• Oversee payroll consolidation, parallel runs, testing, cutover and stabilisation.
• Drive transition from local payroll to centralised Shared Services.
• Manage programme risks, issues, dependencies, budgets and milestones.
• Coordinate globally distributed teams across the UK, North America and APAC.
• Oversee external implementation partners and commercial commitments.

Skills

Programme leadership

Global payroll transformation

Multi-country delivery

Stakeholder management

Governance & risk management

Budget & commercial management

Vendor management

Communication & influence

Job description

GCS Recruitment has a London-based opportunity for a Senior Project Manager / Transformation Lead to drive a major global payroll transformation. The role is hybrid (London office 2–3 days per week) and initially a 12‑month contract, with potential extension.

You will partner with Finance and Shared Services sponsors to deliver multi-country changes and system integrations. The role requires executive-level delivery leadership, hands-on involvement, and the ability to manage governance, budgets