Head of Payroll

The Head of Payroll is responsible for end-to-end payroll delivery across multiple countries, ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payments to over 10k employees. The role leads a team of payroll professionals that includes managers, specialists, and officers delivering monthly, bi-weekly, and weekly payrolls—both in-house and outsourced. This role demands strong operational leadership, hands‑on oversight of high-volume payroll transactions and continuous improvement in efficiency, control and service quality.

The role requires flexibility and agility as we continue to onboard new payrolls.

• Lead day-to-day payroll operations across multiple jurisdictions, including calculations, benefits, pensions, and compliance with local laws and ensuring timely and accurate execution.
• Support implementation of Global Payroll strategy
• Manage multi-cycle payrolls (monthly, bi-weekly, weekly) with carrying structures and tax requirements
• Build readiness and operational capacity to onboard new brands and integrate new payrolls with minimal disruption.
• Monitor delivery metrics such as payroll accuracy, timeliness, variances, SLAs etc.
• Conduct regular root cause reviews to eliminate recurring issues and maintain operational stability.
• Work with vendors and partners to support executive payrolls/shadow payroll.

• Ensure the payroll process is fully compliant with all applicable laws, including tax regulations, labour laws, and social security contributions in each country.
• Maintain robust control environment consistent with
  
  X and internal audit standards.
• Proactively self-identify issues and risks and remediation.
• Oversee payroll reconciliations, variance analysis and control testing.

• Oversee external payroll providers and ensure adherence to SLAs and data protection standards.
• Partner with senior leadership in Finance, HR, and IT to ensure that payroll processes support the business goals and technology integrations.
• Act as critical issue point for complex payroll queries.

• Define and track important metrics across accuracy, timelines, first time right rates etc.
• Produce monthly business review dashboards highlighting risks, trends and efficiencies.
• Leverage data to drive automation, standardization and process improvements.

• Lead, coach and develop a geographically dispersed payroll team.
• Build operational readiness in anticipation of new brands or scope expansions and plan for succession for key roles.

• Demonstrate outstanding payroll management expertise, including deep knowledge of global and local tax, compliance, regulatory requirements, and the ability to uphold confidentiality, data privacy, and robust governance standards.
• Lead and develop a high-performing, multinational team, using strong people management, cross-cultural communication, and effective delegation to drive capability, collaboration, and operational excellence.
• Apply advanced analytical, financial and reporting skills, using data insights, strong numerical ability, and critical thinking to identify trends, resolve issues, and support decision-making.
• Drive continuous improvement and operational efficiency, using process improvement, change management, and project management skills to optimise workflows, automate processes, and enhance payroll systems.
• Utilise strong technical proficiency across payroll, HRIS and ERP systems, ensuring accurate system use, integrating new tools, and supporting upgrades or enhancements.
• Lead challenging priorities effectively, demonstrating excellent time management, organisation, diligence, and the ability to work while maintaining high-quality, compliant outcomes.

• Demonstrate strong people leadership and partner management, including effective delegation, excellent communication, cultural awareness, critical thinking, and the ability to build trusted relationships across the business.
• Show adaptability, diligence and problem-solving, demonstrating innovation and new technologies while maintaining excellent time management, prioritisation,…