Payroll Program & Process Manager

Publicisresources; Amsterdam; Hybrid; EUR 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Publicis Re:Sources is seeking an experienced Payroll Program & Process Manager to support the EMEA Payroll leadership team in delivering strategic payroll transformation initiatives across the region.

This role is a 6-month temporary assignment based in the Netherlands (Amsterdam) and ideal for a senior payroll professional who has progressed beyond operational payroll processing into programme management.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in payroll, payroll transformation, payroll project management or payroll programme management.
• Strong Netherlands payroll expertise.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale payroll transformation programmes.
• Proven experience driving payroll standardisation across multiple countries and operating models.
• Experience building business cases and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Experience establishing governance frameworks, controls and programme success measures.
• Proven track record leading payroll vendor transitions, payroll implementations and RFP processes.
• Experience building and managing complex project plans and regional workstreams.
• Excellent English communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead regional payroll transformation programmes across EMEA.
• Drive payroll operating model improvements, harmonisation and standardisation initiatives.
• Lead payroll vendor transitions, payroll RFPs, implementation projects and service delivery improvements.
• Build and manage detailed project plans, workstreams, milestones and delivery roadmaps.
• Oversee payroll technology implementations, integrations, migrations and automation initiatives.
• Ensure successful delivery of projects from business case development through implementation and post-go-live support.
• Establish and maintain governance frameworks, project controls and programme success measures.
• Develop executive reporting, KPIs, steering committee materials and status updates.
• Ensure strong compliance, controls, audit readiness and risk management practices.
• Drive process optimisation, continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives.

Skills

Payroll transformation

Programme leadership

Vendor management

Stakeholder influence

Change management

Tools

Workday

SAP Payroll

SuccessFactors

Oracle HCM

ADP GlobalView

Job description

Company description

Publicis Re:Sources is at the core of Publicis Groupe, the world's largest communications company. We are the only full-service, end-to-end shared service organization in the industry, enabling Groupe agencies to do what they do best: innovate and transform for their clients.

Formed in 1998 as a small team to service a few Publicis Groupe firms, Publicis Re:Sources has grown to 6,000+ employees in over 55 countries. We provide technology solutions and business services, including finance, accounting, legal, benefits, procurement, tax, real estate, treasury and risk management, information security, and global mobility — supporting 110,000+ employees across the Publicis Groupe network. Our people are at the center of everything we do, bringing curiosity, collaboration, and a commitment to excellence to their work every day.

Learn more about Publicis Re:Sources and the Publicis Groupe agencies we support at publicisresources.com.

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Payroll Program & Process Manager to support the EMEA Payroll leadership team in delivering strategic payroll transformation initiatives across the region.

This position is ideal for a senior payroll professional who has progressed beyond operational payroll processing into programme management, transformation, governance and process leadership. The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping the future payroll operating model, driving standardisation and leading complex regional initiatives across multiple countries.

The role requires a combination of deep payroll expertise, transformation leadership, stakeholder influence and project delivery capabilities. You will partner with senior leaders, HR, Finance, IT, external vendors and payroll teams to drive operational excellence and deliver sustainable improvements across the EMEA payroll landscape

Responsibilities

Payroll Transformation & Programme Leadership

• Lead regional payroll transformation programmes across EMEA.
• Drive payroll operating model improvements, harmonisation and standardisation initiatives.
• Lead payroll vendor transitions, payroll RFPs, implementation projects and service delivery improvements.
• Build and manage detailed project plans, workstreams, milestones and delivery roadmaps.
• Oversee payroll technology implementations, integrations, migrations and automation initiatives.
• Ensure successful delivery of projects from business case development through implementation and post-go-live support.

Governance & Operational Excellence

• Establish and maintain governance frameworks, project controls and programme success measures.
• Develop executive reporting, KPIs, steering committee materials and status updates.
• Ensure strong compliance, controls, audit readiness and risk management practices.
• Drive process optimisation, continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives.
• Implement global payroll standards and best practices across multiple countries.

Stakeholder Management & Strategic Influence

• Partner with senior leaders across Payroll, HR, Finance, IT, Legal and Shared Services.
• Build business cases and influence decision-making at leadership level.
• Facilitate workshops, working groups, and governance forums.
• Challenge stakeholders constructively and help shape strategic direction.
• Manage relationships with payroll vendors and outsourced payroll providers.

Change Management

• Lead organisational and process change initiatives.
• Develop communication, training and adoption plans.
• Support stakeholders through transformation activities and operating model changes.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Qualifications

Essential

• 8+ years of experience in payroll, payroll transformation, payroll project management or payroll programme management.
• Strong Netherlands payroll expertise.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale payroll transformation programmes.
• Proven experience driving payroll standardisation across multiple countries and operating models.
• Experience building business cases and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Experience establishing governance frameworks, controls and programme success measures.
• Proven track record leading payroll vendor transitions, payroll implementations and RFP processes.
• Experience building and managing complex project plans and regional workstreams.
• Strong understanding of payroll compliance, controls, audit and risk management.
• Experience working within large and complex multinational payroll environments.
• Shared Services Centre (SSC), Global Business Services (GBS) or outsourcing environment experience.
• Excellent English communication skills.

Preferred

• Experience supporting payroll operations across 15+ countries.
• Exposure to Workday, SAP Payroll, SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM, ADP GlobalView, Alight, Strada or equivalent payroll platforms.
• Lean Six Sigma, PMP, Prince2 or equivalent programme/project management certification.
• Experience within a global matrix organisation.
• Additional European language(s).
• Consulting, interim leadership or payroll transformation advisory experience.

Additional information

This is a 6-month temporary assignment based in the Netherlands (Amsterdam), with the possibility of extension subject to business requirements.

We welcome applications from:

• Permanent professionals interested in fixed-term opportunities
• Interim Managers
• Independent Consultants
• ZZP Professionals
• Contractors with payroll transformation expertise

Who Will Be Successful in This Role?

We are looking for professionals who have already:

• Led complex international payroll transformation programmes.
• Managed payroll vendor selections, RFPs and transition projects.
• Driven payroll standardisation, governance and operating model improvements.
• Built business cases and secured buy-in from senior leadership teams.
• Established programme governance and executive reporting frameworks.
• Delivered measurable operational improvements across multinational payroll environments.

Important

This role is not focused on day-to-day payroll processing or payroll administration.

The successful candidate will be a transformation leader, programme manager or payroll process expert with experience driving strategic change at regional or global scale.