About the Role

We’re looking for a Lead Payroll Analyst to join our Global Payroll team – a high-impact individual contributor role that combines deep payroll expertise with functional leadership. You’ll serve as the subject matter expert and day-to-day guide for our International Senior Payroll Specialist, while personally driving accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement across our six-country EMEA and APAC payroll footprint.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced payroll professional ready to step into a lead role – influencing how payroll operates globally, championing automation and AI-driven improvements, and partnering closely with People, Finance, and Tech teams to build a best-in-class function.

Job location: London, UK (3 days p/week in-office)

Full-time permanent role

What You’ll Own

Functional Leadership

• Act as functional lead for international payroll operations across six countries: UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Singapore, and Australia
• Provide day-to-day guidance, quality review, and mentorship to the International Senior Payroll Specialist
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex payroll queries, compliance issues, and vendor matters
• Partner with the Global Payroll Manager to set team priorities, improve workflows, and ensure consistent delivery across all regions

 

Global Payroll Execution

• Own end-to-end payroll processing and sign-off for UK and Ireland, ensuring accuracy and on-time delivery every cycle
• Oversee and review payroll delivery for France, Germany, Singapore, and Australia through CloudPay and in-country vendors
• Manage and validate payroll inputs in Workday, ensuring data integrity from hire to pay
• Ensure full compliance with local payroll legislation, tax law, and statutory requirements across all jurisdictions

 

Finance & Compliance Partnership

• Lead payroll reconciliations, variance analysis, and internal controls across all pay cycles
• Own month-end and year-end payroll close activities with accounting partners.
• Support internal and external audits, providing documentation and analysis as needed

 

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with People Operations, HRBPs, Benefits, Finance, and People Tech to deliver a seamless employee payroll experience
• Act as a subject matter expert in cross-functional projects, including system enhancements, benefits integration, and global mobility scenarios

 

Innovation & Process Improvement

• Identify and lead initiatives to streamline, automate, and modernize payroll processes
• Champion the use of AI tools for data validation, anomaly detection, and payroll reporting insights
• Document processes, build scalable playbooks, and drive standardization across the payroll team

 

What We’re Looking For

You’re an experienced payroll professional who brings technical depth, a collaborative mindset, and a natur