Payroll Lead (Fixed-term role)

Relativity; Kraków; Remote; PLN 320,000 - 420,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plan

Parental leave

Flexible work

Company breaks

Training investment

Job summary

Relativity is seeking a Payroll Lead (EMEA) for a 12-month fixed-term contract, primarily remote with cross-country responsibilities across Poland, UK, Germany, and Ireland. You will drive regional payroll initiatives, ensure timely and compliant processing, and partner with HR, Finance, Legal, IT, and external providers.

The role requires deep payroll delivery experience, strong project management, and excellent stakeholder engagement to enable successful go-lives and stabilization in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Accounting, Finance, Business or equivalent practical experience.
• Six+ years progressive payroll experience across multi-country deliveries.
• Experience leading payroll vendor transitions and payroll implementations.
• Project management across planning, testing, cutover, go-live and stabilization.
• Knowledge of payroll operations, controls, and compliance in EMEA.

Responsibilities

• Lead regional payroll initiatives across EMEA (vendor transitions, legal entity changes, implementations, consolidations).
• Manage end-to-end project delivery: scope, requirements, design, plans, governance, testing, cutover, go-live, stabilization.
• Coordinate vendor implementations: data readiness, configuration review, integration dependencies, parallel validation.
• Maintain project plans, risk logs, status reports, contingency plans.
• Partner with stakeholders and external providers to align outcomes.

Skills

Payroll leadership

Stakeholder management

Project management

Analytical mindset

Communication

Organizational skills

Problem solving

Teamwork

Time management

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Finance/Business

Tools

Workday

Deel

Unit4 Teta HR

HRIS

Job description

Posting TypeRemoteJob OverviewThe Payroll Lead (EMEA) is a 12-month fixed-term contractor role responsible for leading payroll transformation initiatives and strategic payroll projects across Poland, UK, Germany, Ireland, while supporting regional payroll operations. The position manages payroll implementations, legal entity changes, payroll vendor transitions, and process improvement initiatives from planning through go-live and stabilization.Approximately 75% of the assignment focuses on payroll projects and initiatives. The remaining 25% supports daily payroll operations and partners with Senior Payroll Analysts to help deliver accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing. The role works closely with Payroll, Human Resources, Finance, Legal, Information Technology, Procurement, and external payroll providers.Job Description and RequirementsWhat You'll DoLead regional payroll initiatives across EMEA, including payroll vendor transitions, legal entity changes, payroll implementations, consolidations, system enhancements, and process improvements within Unit4 Teta HR, Deel, and Workday.Manage end-to-end project delivery, including scope, requirements, process design, project plans, governance, timelines, testing, cutover, go-live, and stabilization.Coordinate vendor implementation activities, including data readiness, configuration review, integration dependencies, parallel payroll validation, defect resolution, and production readiness.Maintain project plans, milestone tracking, decision logs, risk and issue registers, test evidence, cutover checklists, status reporting, and contingency plans.Partner with cross-functional stakeholders and external providers to clarify responsibilities, secure decisions, manage dependencies, and maintain alignment on outcomes.Identify delivery, compliance, data, and operational risks; escalate issues appropriately and implement mitigation plans.Lead change enablement, including stakeholder communications, operating procedures, knowledge transfer, training materials, and post-implementation reviews.Provide payroll operational support and escalation assistance to Senior Payroll Analysts, including payroll reviews, reconciliations, audits, year-end activities, complex transactions, vendor issues, and issue resolution.Review payroll controls and procedures, maintain documentation, support service metrics and vendor performance reporting, and recommend improvements that strengthen payroll accuracy, scalability, and efficiency.What You'll BringMinimum QualificationsBachelor's degree in Human Resources , Accounting, Finance, Business, or equivalent practical experience.Six or more years of progressive payroll experience, including multi-country or regional payroll delivery.Demonstrated experience leading payroll vendor transitions, payroll implementations, legal entity changes, or comparable payroll transformation initiatives.Demonstrated project management capability across planning, requirements, testing, risk management, cutover, go-live, and stabilization.Working knowledge of payroll operations, controls, and compliance considerations across EMEA.Experience working with payroll providers, HR information systems, payroll platforms, time systems, and payroll data interfaces.Strong written and verbal communication, stakeholder management, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.Preferred QualificationsExperience delivering payroll transformation in a global organization with multiple entities, providers, and stakeholder groups.Formal project management, change management, or process improvement training or certification.Relativity is a diverse workplace with different skills and life experiences—and we love and celebrate those differences. We believe that employees are happiest when they're empowered to be their full, authentic selves, regardless how you identify.Benefit Highlights:Comprehensive health, dental, and vision plansParental leave for primary and secondary caregiversFlexible work arrangementsTwo, week-long company breaks per yearAdditional time offLong-term incentive programTraining investment programAll qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability or protected veteran status, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable law.Relativity is committed to competitive, fair, and equitable compensation practices.The final offered salary will be based on several factors, including but not limited to the candidate's depth of experience, skill set, qualifications, and internal pay equity. Hiring at the top end of the range would not be typical, to allow for future meaningful salary growth in this position.Required Skills:Collaboration, Communication, Customer Service, Microsoft Office, Professional Presentation, Project Management, Researching, Teamwork, Time Management, Writing