Payroll Manager - EMEA

Morgan McKinley; Cork; Hybrid; EUR 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-friendly

Hybrid work

Job summary

Morgan McKinley is partnering with a leading global technology company to recruit a Payroll Manager to oversee European payroll operations from Cork, with flexible remote options within Ireland and occasional travel to the office.

The role focuses on end-to-end EMEA payroll across Ireland, Germany, and Hungary, driving system transitions to iiPay (Vistra), managing external vendors, and partnering with Finance, Tax and Benefits teams to optimise processes and controls.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of European payroll experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end payroll operations across Europe with focus on Ireland, Germany, and Hungary.

Skills

EMEA Payroll

Payroll Implementation

Vendor Management

System Savvy

English Proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Accounting

Tools

iiPay

Workday

ADP

SAP

UKG

Job description

I am currently recruiting on behalf of a leading global technology company seeking a Payroll Manager to oversee their European payroll operations.

Reporting directly to the Senior Manager of Payroll, you will play a critical role in driving key payroll transformation projects, managing complex multi-country payrolls, and scaling the regional strategy. While this role is anchored out of the office in Cork, they offer strong remote-working flexibility within Ireland, with only occasional travel to the Cork office required.

Key Focus Areas & Responsibilities

• Complex EMEA Payroll Management: Oversee end-to-end payroll operations across Europe-with a primary focus on Ireland, Germany, and Hungary-ensuring accuracy, tax compliance, and statutory reporting.

• System Transitions & Implementation: Lead system implementation projects, specifically guiding the transition to the iiPay (Vistra) platform, while assisting with payroll integrations for newly acquired entities and market expansions.

• Vendor Operations: Act as the primary manager for third-party local payroll vendors across various European jurisdictions to ensure high service standards and compliance.

• Strategic Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to automate manual workflows, enhance system integration, and establish robust internal controls.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with internal Finance, Accounting, Tax, and Benefits teams to navigate equity, global mobility, and complex payroll implications.

Candidate Profile

• EMEA Expertise: 8+ years of hands-on European payroll experience, ideally within a US-listed global technology firm.

• Implementation Track Record: Proven background leading complex payroll system implementations, platform transitions, and process optimizations.

• Vendor Management: Demonstrated success managing multi-country external payroll providers.

• Technical & System Savvy: Experience with modern HR/payroll platforms (e.g., iiPay, Workday, ADP, SAP, or UKG).

• Education & Languages: Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, or a related discipline. Fluency in English is required; additional European languages (especially German) are highly desirable.