Junior Manager - Payroll Operations

Diageo; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 2,200,000 - 3,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Diageo Global Business Services in Bangalore (GBS) leads payroll operations with a multi-country remit across European markets. You will oversee payroll processing, governance and vendor relationships to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll delivery while partnering with HR, Finance and broader stakeholder groups.

The role emphasizes continuous improvement, automation, and adherence to global payroll standards, with a strong focus on UK & ROI payroll nuances and statutory reporting

Qualifications

• 7–8 years of experience in multi-country payroll operations with strong expertise in European payrolls.
• Hands‑on experience handling European/ UK & ROI payroll operations, including statutory legislation, PAYE, National Insurance, pensions, year‑end processes, and payroll compliance.
• Experience working with outsourced payroll providers (e.g., ADP, Zellis, Deloitte or equivalent).
• Strong understanding of European payroll legislation and statutory reporting.
• Experience reviewing payroll reconciliations, journals, funding requests, variance analysis, and payroll reporting.
• Experience supporting payroll audits and compliance activities.
• Bachelor's degree in HR, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or equivalent.
• Advanced Excel and analytical skills.
• Experience using HRIS and payroll systems such as Workday, SAP, Oracle, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Payroll Operations: oversee payroll inputs, calculations, outputs, and reconciliations across European markets.
• Vendor Management: manage outsourced payroll providers; monitor SLAs/KPIs; drive improvements.
• Payroll Governance & Compliance: ensure compliance with local payroll legislation; support audits.
• Continuous Improvement: drive standardization and automation; document SOPs; share guidelines.
• Customer Management: collaborate with HR, Finance, Reward, Tax, Treasury, Technology; coach Payroll Specialists.

Skills

Multi-country payroll

Payroll governance

Payroll reconciliations

Vendor relationship management

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Customer and employee experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Finance/Accounting/Business Administration

Tools

Workday

SAP

Oracle

ADP

Zellis

Job description

Junior Manager – Payroll Operations (Europe)

Level - L5C. Location - Bangalore, India (Global Business Services). Reports To - Global Payroll Manager (L5A).

Context / Scope

Diageo Global Business Services (GBS) delivers standardized, compliant, and efficient payroll services that support Diageo's Performance Ambition. Within the Product People Experience Tower, the Payroll Operations team is responsible for delivering accurate, timely, and compliant payroll services while providing an exceptional employee experience through strong governance, operational excellence, and continuous improvement. The Junior Manager – Payroll Operations is responsible for leading the operational delivery of payroll across multiple European markets, with a strong emphasis on UK & ROI payroll operations. The role provides operational leadership by overseeing payroll processing delivered by Payroll Specialists and outsourced payroll providers, ensuring payroll inputs, calculations, statutory submissions, reconciliations, payments, and reporting are accurate, timely, and follows local legislation and Diageo's global payroll standards. The role partners closely with HR, First Point, Finance, Reward, Employment Tax, Treasury, Payroll Technology, Global Mobility, external payroll providers, and business stakeholders to ensure payroll is delivered efficiently while driving operational excellence, governance, vendor performance, process simplification, and continuous improvement across the European payroll landscape.

About the Function

Finance at Diageo is about more than the numbers, it’s about shaping the decisions behind them. From guiding investment to unlocking growth, this team plays a critical role in how we perform today and how we plan for tomorrow. You’ll work with data, insight and digital tools to influence strategy and help drive a business that operates at global scale. It’s a fast-moving environment where no two days are the same, and where you’ll be supported to build your skills, grow your career and make a real impact.

Financial

• Ensure accurate and timely payroll payments across assigned European markets.
• Review payroll reconciliations, funding requests, journals, payment files, and reporting.
• Support payroll cost control through variance analysis and operational efficiencies.
• Ensure compliance with internal financial controls, audit requirements, and SOX/CARM controls where applicable.

Countries / Complexity

• Provide operational oversight across multiple European payrolls with diverse legislative and statutory requirements.
• Demonstrate strong functional expertise in UK & ROI payroll, including statutory payments, taxation, pensions, benefits, and year-end activities.
• Manage relationships with multiple outsourced payroll vendors.
• Balance operational delivery, governance, compliance, continuous improvement, and customer expectations.
• Support regional and global payroll transformation initiatives.

Relationships

Partner with Payroll Specialists to ensure high-quality payroll delivery.

Build strong relationships with payroll vendors to deliver agreed SLAs and KPIs.

Collaborate with HR, Finance, Reward, Employment Tax, Treasury, Technology, and Global Mobility teams.

Partner with Global Payroll Operations and Payroll Design & Excellence teams to embed global payroll standards.

Support internal and external audit activities.

Purpose of the Role

Provide operational leadership for payroll delivery across assigned European markets by reviewing payroll activities, validating payroll outcomes, and ensuring Payroll Specialists and external payroll providers consistently deliver accurate, compliant, and timely payroll services. Champion payroll operational excellence through governance, continuous improvement, automation, simplification, and standardization while partnering with regional and global stakeholders to enhance employee experience and payroll service delivery.

Key Accountabilities

1. Payroll Operations: Review payroll inputs, calculations, outputs, and reconciliations. Validate payroll journals, funding requests, statutory submissions, and payment files. Ensure payroll calendars and critical activities are completed on time. Support resolution of complex payroll issues and employee customer concerns. Ensure compliance with statutory and company payroll policies.
2. Vendor Management: Manage relationships with outsourced payroll providers. Monitor vendor SLA and KPI performance. Conduct operational governance meetings. Drive issue resolution and service improvements. Ensure strong vendor accountability.
3. Payroll Governance & Compliance: Ensure compliance with local payroll legislation across European markets. Review payroll controls and governance activities. Support internal and external payroll audits. Drive timely closure of audit findings. Maintain high standards of payroll data privacy and compliance.
4. Continuous Improvement: Drive payroll standardization across European markets. Identify automation and process simplification opportunities. Support payroll transformation initiatives. Maintain payroll documentation and standard operating procedures. Share guidelines across global payroll operations.
5. Customer Management: Build collaborative relationships across HR, Finance, Reward, Tax, Treasury, Technology, and payroll vendors. Communicate payroll risks, issues, and operational updates. Coach and mentor Payroll Specialists. Drive a customer-centric payroll experience. Support change management and transformation initiatives.

Experience/skills required

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• 7–8 years of experience in multi-country payroll operations with strong expertise in European payrolls.
• Hands‑on experience handling European/ UK & ROI payroll operations, including statutory legislation, PAYE, National Insurance, pensions, year‑end processes, and payroll compliance.
• Experience working with outsourced payroll providers (e.g., ADP, Zellis, Deloitte or equivalent).
• Strong understanding of European payroll legislation and statutory reporting.
• Experience reviewing payroll reconciliations, journals, funding requests, variance analysis, and payroll reporting.
• Experience supporting payroll audits and compliance activities.
• Bachelor's degree in HR, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or equivalent.
• Advanced Excel and analytical skills.
• Experience using HRIS and payroll systems such as Workday, SAP, Oracle, or equivalent.

Skills & Capabilities Technical

• Multi‑country European payroll operations
• Payroll quality assurance
• Payroll governance and compliance
• Payroll reconciliations
• Payroll reporting and analytics
• Vendor governance
• Continuous improvement
• Payroll documentation
• Payroll controls and audit readiness
• Leadership
• Customer management
• Vendor relationship management
• Strong communication skills
• Coaching and mentoring
• Analytical thinking
• Problem solving
• Operational risk management
• Planning and prioritization
• Cross‑functional collaboration
• Customer and employee experience attitude
• Adaptability in a fast‑paced global payroll environment

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Extensive experience handling European payroll operations, with exposure to UK & ROI payrolls.
• Experience supporting APAC payrolls would be an added advantage.
• Comfortable working in a sophisticated, multi‑country outsourced payroll environment.
• Consistent record to lead payroll governance, manage vendors, resolve complex payroll issues, and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong customer leadership skills with the ability to influence cross‑functional teams across HR, Finance, Tax, Technology, and external payroll providers.
• Working with us: Flexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you so that you’re supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one.

Working with Us

Flexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you so that you’re supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one. We recognise and value performance, offering our people a highly competitive Rewards and Benefits package including:

Our purpose is crafting iconic drinks chosen for life’s moments. And it’s our people, with their different experiences, perspectives and talents, who make that possible. We value diversity in its broadest sense and want everyone to feel they can belong, give and strive for their personal best. You’ll work alongside people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives — challenging, supporting and learning from one another as one outstanding team. Together, we’re constantly learning and improving, combining the strength of our people, capabilities and iconic brands to set the standard, grow and win. Wherever you join us, you’ll have the opportunity to give, make an impact and play your part in making life’s moments mean a little more.

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please ensure that you gain this information when you submit your application.

Company Overview

With over 200 brands sold in more than 180 countries, we’re the world’s leading premium drinks company. Every day, over 29,000 talented people come together at Diageo to create the magic behind our much‑loved brands. From iconic names to innovative newcomers – the brands we’re building are rooted in culture and local communities. Our ambition is to be one of the best performing, most trusted and most respected consumer products companies in the world. Our founders, such as Arthur Guinness, John Walker, and Charles Tanqueray, were visionary entrepreneurs whose brilliant minds helped shape the alcohol industry. And through our people, their legacy lives on. Join us, and you’ll collaborate with talented people from all corners of the world. Together, you’ll innovate and push boundaries, shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future that we can all be proud of. With diversity at our core, we celebrate our people's unique passions, commitments and specialist skills. Because when varied voices, mindsets, and personalities come together, great ideas are born. In our supportive culture, your voice will be heard and you’ll be empowered to be you. Just bring your ambition, curiosity and ideas, and we’ll celebrate your work and help you reach your fullest potential.