Head of Payroll

We Do Group is exclusively partnering with a leading global technology company to recruit a highly skilled and motivated professional to head its Group Payroll function, focusing on process optimisation, automation, and innovation.

The Role

The Payroll function is a vital part of the People team, responsible for ensuring accurate and efficient payroll processing and reconciliation. This role is fundamental to the organisation’s success and demands a strategic mindset combined with a commitment to operational excellence.

In this role, you will develop and execute the organisation's global payroll vision and strategy, fostering excellence within the payroll team while ensuring seamless delivery of processes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading payroll operational and strategic initiatives.
• Managing payroll teams and vendor relationships across the organisation.
• Developing and executing a global payroll strategy, including governance, procedural, and technological roadmaps.
• Streamlining processes and driving compliance through the adoption of an optimised payroll model.
• Overseeing end-to-end global payroll operations, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing.
• Establishing and monitoring key service level agreements (SLAs) and performance metrics with payroll vendors and internal teams.
• Staying updated on best practices to continuously enhance payroll processes and inform strategic direction.
• Collaborating with key stakeholders on cross-functional transformation initiatives to drive efficiencies.
• Providing insights, analysis, and guidance on payroll matters to senior leadership.
• Ensuring compliance with audits and overseeing year-end external audit processes for payroll.

This role requires more than technical expertise. We are looking for someone who can apply their experience to elevate the payroll function and scale it to meet the demands of a global organisation.

The Candidate

This position blends expertise in global payroll processing and accounting with strong communication, business acumen, and technological skills to lead payroll transformation and process optimisation.

Ideal Experience Includes:

• At least 5+ years of payroll experience within a complex group structure.
• Leadership in payroll operations or payroll process implementation.
• Strong knowledge of end-to-end global payroll processes and international payroll procedures.
• Experience with large-scale payroll technical transformations.
• Exposure to post-merger payroll integrations.
• Familiarity with payroll systems such as ADP, NetSuite, or similar ERP tools, as well as Power BI.
• Proven ability to manage the complexities of a global payroll function and collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.

Key Attributes for Success:

• Exceptional leadership and team management skills.
• Strong communication abilities to engage and influence internal and external stakeholders.
• Strategic thinking with the ability to identify and drive business requirements and process improvements.
• Capability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while ensuring timely delivery.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office programs (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word).

Minimum Requirements:

• 5+ years of post-qualification experience.
• 5+ years of leading a payroll function.
• A 1.1 or 2.1 degree in any discipline is preferred but not essential.