Payroll Lead
Job Overview
Our client is seeking an experienced, detail-driven Payroll Lead to join their HR Operations function in the UK, supporting payroll delivery across Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Germany, and Slovakia.
This is a hands-on, individual contributor role with end-to-end ownership of multi-country payroll processes. The role is pivotal in ensuring payroll accuracy, statutory compliance, and a smooth employee experience across multiple European jurisdictions.
Working closely with HR, Finance, and external payroll providers, the Payroll Lead will act as the regional subject-matter expert for payroll operations, strengthening controls, improving data integrity, and driving continuous improvement — without line management responsibility.
Key Responsibilities
In this role, you will:
* Manage end-to-end monthly payroll processing across multiple European countries, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with local statutory requirements
* Validate, reconcile, and audit payroll inputs and outputs, including new starters, leavers, salary changes, bonuses, and statutory deductions
* Act as the primary operational contact for HR, Finance, and external payroll providers to resolve discrepancies and ensure smooth payroll delivery
* Maintain accurate, secure, and audit-ready payroll records in line with local retention legislation and internal policies
* Respond to payroll-related queries from employees and managers, providing clear, professional, and timely support
* Monitor changes in payroll legislation and ensure payroll processes and controls remain fully compliant across all supported jurisdictions
* Identify and implement process improvements to enhance payroll accuracy, efficiency, and overall employee experience
* Develop and maintain comprehensive payroll process documentation, including process maps and country-specific requirements, to support operational consistency and knowledge sharing
Experience & Capability Profile
This role would suit someone who brings:
* 3–5+ years’ experience in payroll processing, ideally within a multi-country or shared services environment
* Strong working knowledge of payroll legislation and statutory requirements across multiple European jurisdictions (Nordics experience highly desirable)
* Proven experience managing payroll through external providers and complex stakeholder environments
* Advanced experience using payroll and HR systems (e.g. ADP, Workday, ServiceNow, or similar platforms)
* Exceptional attention to detail, strong organisational skills, and the ability to manage strict monthly deadlines
* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a continuous improvement mindset
* Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to explain complex payroll matters clearly and confidently
* A strong commitment to confidentiality, compliance, and high professional standards