EMEA Senior Payroll Lead: Compliance & Mentorship

BENTLEY SYSTEMS, INC.; Dublin; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Bentley Systems, a world-leading software company for architecture, engineering, and construction, seeks a Senior Payroll Specialist to lead end-to-end payroll across EMEA with strict compliance and timely delivery.

You will mentor juniors, drive process improvements, and partner with HR, Finance, Benefits, Equity, Tax, and Treasury to resolve complex payroll issues. Fluent English is essential; 3+ years of payroll in EMEA required; Workday/Dayforce preferred.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands-on payroll experience in EMEA multi-country payroll.
• Senior-level experience with mentoring and training junior colleagues.
• Experience with Workday or Dayforce strongly preferred; payroll system implementations or upgrades are a plus.
• Advanced MS Excel skills (lookups, pivot tables, data reconciliation).
• Strong statutory & tax knowledge across relevant jurisdictions.
• Fluent English with excellent communication and strict confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Own complex and/or high-volume country payrolls end-to-end, ensuring accurate and compliant delivery.
• Serve as senior contact and escalation resource for country payroll providers.
• Manage payroll calendars, inputs, approvals, and documentation.
• Lead review of inputs (new hires, terminations, changes, bonuses, deductions, benefits, leave, equity).
• Review provider calculations, registers, reports, and variance results.
• Analyze discrepancies and drive root-cause resolution with providers and stakeholders.
• Reconcile payroll results with HR, Finance, and source data; investigate variances.
• Hold providers accountable for SLAs, accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
• Monitor country-specific statutory requirements and filings.
• Maintain country-specific payroll procedures and process documentation.
• Lead off-cycle payments, year-end activities, audits, provider escalations.
• Partner with HR, Finance, Benefits, Tax, Treasury and others on payroll matters.
• Act as SM for assigned countries and guide other Payroll Specialists.
• Track provider issues, perform root-cause analysis, and drive corrective actions.
• Identify and implement process improvements and payroll controls.
• Maintain payroll audit trails and confidential records.
• Support governance, audits, transitions, system changes, and initiatives.
• Provide training and backup support to ensure uninterrupted operations.

Skills

EMEA payroll expertise

Mentoring juniors

Advanced Excel

Communication skills

Confidentiality

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Workday

Dayforce

Job description

Bentley Systems, a world-leading software company for architecture, engineering, and construction, seeks a Senior Payroll Specialist to lead end-to-end payroll across EMEA with strict compliance and timely delivery.

You will mentor juniors, drive process improvements, and partner with HR, Finance, Benefits, Equity, Tax, and Treasury to resolve complex payroll issues. Fluent English is essential; 3+ years of payroll in EMEA required; Workday/Dayforce preferred.