Payroll Manager - EMEAA - #2175218

We are seeking an experienced Payroll Manager - EMEAA to lead a high‑performing payroll team within our Finance function, based in Edinburgh. This role is critical in delivering our global payroll strategy, ensuring operational excellence, and supporting the rollout of a unified payroll solution across EMEAA countries.

You will partner closely with Finance, HR, Legal and external vendors to ensure payroll operations are accurate, compliant and delivered on time across multiple jurisdictions.

Responsibilities

• Payroll accuracy & governance — Ensure accurate, timely and compliant payroll processing across all EMEAA countries, including review and approval of payroll documentation
• Cross‑border compliance — Maintain strong knowledge of regional statutory requirements, tax rules, social security obligations and reporting deadlines
• Payment management — Oversee all regular and ad‑hoc payroll payments, ensuring correct funding, approvals and reconciliation
• Process & system optimisation — Analyse and enhance payroll processes, controls and system workflows; monitor vendor performance and drive governance improvements
• Team leadership — Lead, coach and develop the Payroll team, fostering a culture of accountability, accuracy and continuous improvement
• Efficiency & innovation — Identify opportunities to streamline processes, automate manual tasks and introduce best‑practice ways of working
• Change leadership — Drive payroll‑related change initiatives, ensuring alignment with global transformation programmes and business priorities
• Integration & onboarding — Lead payroll integration for new acquisitions, ensuring smooth onboarding, data accuracy
• Controls & audit readiness — Maintain strong internal controls, support internal/external audits and ensure full documentation and compliance
• Stakeholder management — Build strong relationships with Finance, HR, Legal, IT and external payroll providers to ensure seamless end‑to‑end payroll delivery

Skills

• Extensive payroll expertise across multiple EMEAA jurisdictions, with strong knowledge of statutory requirements and compliance
• Proven experience leading a regional payroll team, embedding best practices, strong controls and continuous improvement
• Analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to manage complex, high‑volume, multi‑country payrolls
• Strong understanding of payroll accounting, reconciliations and financial controls
• Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy and quality
• A payroll‑related qualification is required