At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead UK payroll operations and optimise benefits across multiple entities.
- Company: Fast-growing international organisation with a focus on innovation and people.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and exposure to global operations.
- Other info: Opportunity to drive process improvements and support M&A activities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while working with senior stakeholders.
- Qualifications: Extensive UK payroll experience and strong knowledge of legislation and governance.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 ÂŁ per year.
Our client is a fast‑growing international organisation operating across multiple jurisdictions, with a strong reputation for combining scale, innovation and people‑focused operations. The business continues to expand through both organic growth and acquisition, creating an increasingly complex payroll and benefits landscape.
As part of this evolution, the organisation is seeking a Payroll & Benefits Specialist (Global) to act as the UK subject‑matter expert while contributing to international oversight. This role sits within the global payroll function and plays a critical part in ensuring robust governance, regulatory compliance and continuous improvement across payroll, benefits and pensions. The position offers a blend of operational ownership and strategic influence, with exposure to senior stakeholders, systems transformation and M&A activity. It is well-suited to an experienced payroll professional looking to operate at a global level while retaining deep UK technical responsibility.
About the role:
- Lead the end‑to‑end delivery of complex UK payroll operations across multiple entities, ensuring accuracy, compliance and strong controls.
- Act as the principal UK payroll and benefits authority, advising senior stakeholders on legislative change, risk and best practice.
- Own UK benefits administration and optimisation, including pensions governance, provider management and employee communications.
- Support global payroll oversight, including international mobility, employment tax considerations and cross‑border benefits.
- Partner with HR, Finance and systems teams to drive process improvement, system integration and data integrity across payroll platforms.
- Support payroll‑related aspects of M&A activity, including due diligence, risk assessment and post‑acquisition integration.
About you:
- Extensive experience in a senior UK payroll role, with ownership of complex, multi‑entity payroll environments.
- Strong technical knowledge of UK payroll legislation, statutory payments, HMRC processes and pensions governance.
- Proven exposure to global mobility payroll, employment tax and cross‑border working arrangements.
- Experience working with modern HR and payroll systems, ideally within an integrated or outsourced model.
- Comfortable operating in a fast‑paced, international environment with senior stakeholder interaction.
- Highly organised, detail‑oriented and confident owning issues end‑to‑end while driving continuous improvement.
Global Payroll & Benefits Specialist in City of London employer: Catalyst Partners
Contact Detail:
Catalyst Partners Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Global Payroll & Benefits Specialist in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the payroll and benefits field. Attend industry events or webinars to meet potential employers and get your name out there. Remember, it’s all about who you know!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their payroll processes and challenges they might face. This way, you can showcase how your experience aligns perfectly with their needs during the chat.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up! Be proactive and reach out directly to companies you admire. Express your interest in working with them and highlight how you can add value to their payroll operations.
✨Tip Number 4
Utilise our website to apply for roles that excite you! We’ve got a range of opportunities that could be a perfect fit for your skills. Plus, applying through us gives you a better chance of standing out!
We think you need these skills to ace Global Payroll & Benefits Specialist in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Global Payroll & Benefits Specialist. Highlight your experience with UK payroll operations and any relevant international exposure. We want to see how your skills align with the job description!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Mention specific examples from your past that demonstrate your expertise in payroll legislation and benefits administration. We love a good story!
Showcase Your Technical Skills: Don’t forget to highlight your technical knowledge of payroll systems and legislation. If you've worked with modern HR and payroll systems, let us know! We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running in our fast-paced environment.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, we love seeing applications come through our own platform!
How to prepare for a job interview at Catalyst Partners
✨Know Your Payroll Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your UK payroll legislation and statutory payments. Be ready to discuss how you've navigated complex payroll environments in the past, as this role demands a strong technical foundation.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Mindset
This position isn't just about operations; it's also about influencing strategy. Prepare examples of how you've contributed to process improvements or system integrations in previous roles, especially in a global context.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since you'll be advising senior stakeholders, practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Think of scenarios where you've successfully communicated complex payroll issues to non-experts and how you handled their concerns.
✨Be Ready for M&A Discussions
Given the focus on M&A activity, be prepared to discuss your experience with due diligence and risk assessment. Highlight any specific projects where you played a key role in integrating payroll processes post-acquisition.