Head of Payroll - EMEA, APAC and India in London

About Columbia Threadneedle Investments

Working at Columbia Threadneedle Investments you'll find growth and career opportunities across all of our businesses. We're intentionally built to help you succeed. Our reach is expansive with a global team of 2,300 people working together. Our capability is diverse with more than 550 investment professionals sharing global perspectives across all major asset classes and markets. Our clients have access to a broad array of investment strategies, and we have the capability to create bespoke solutions matched to clients' specific requirements.

As the Head of Payroll for EMEA, APAC and India you will lead a team and play a critical role within our Global Payroll Services team to ensure deliverables across EMEA, APAC and India are met, compliant and according to company policies, manage stakeholder and vendor relationships as well lead projects to ensure the global strategy is implemented. This role reports into our Director of Global Payroll.

How you'll spend your time...

• Lead the global payroll strategy in EMEA/APAC/India, ensuring scalability, compliance, and alignment with business growth plans.
• Accountable for the payroll team output in all areas including payroll processing and financial reporting, statutory reporting and analysis.
• Approval of payroll and employment tax payments as required.
• Lead, mentor and coach the payroll team supporting EMEA, APAC and India.
• Own global payroll systems landscape and drive standardisation, automation, and vendor consolidation where appropriate.
• Create payroll team policies and controls and ensure they are followed and align with Global controls.
• Contribute to stakeholder policies that impact payroll and employment tax issues.
• Lead payroll risk management, audits, and internal controls (SOX where applicable attestations and certificates).
• Test SOX controls managed by team.
• Collaborate with financial reporting team to ensure timelines are reasonable and audit requests are within the scope of capability.
• Partner with Legal, Finance, and external advisors to manage compliance risks, maintain controls, and contribute to the HR global strategy.
• Deal with escalated queries from stakeholders and 3rd parties, including local authorities in each country.
• Develop KPIs, dashboards, and reporting to measure performance and accuracy in your region.
• Lead payroll projects and ensure representation to other stakeholder projects that impacts payroll.
• Manage vendor relationships, ensuring governance is upheld and vendor risk is reduced to a minimum.
• Ensure Employment tax tasks internationally are dealt with by the team and assist on complex issues.

To be successful in this role you will have...

• Extensive experience in both UK and international payroll, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory and legal requirements that govern payroll and benefits.
• The ability to accurately interpret these laws within the framework of company policies and culture is essential.
• Proactively monitor legislative changes and assess payroll impact across jurisdictions.
• A strong background in report writing is required, including the preparation of proposals and recommendations related to payroll matters.
• Evidence of strategic thinking and thought leadership through experience.
• Hands-on experience with vendor management and governance to ensure effective oversight and risk mitigation.
• A thorough knowledge of payroll and tax processes, associated procedures, and the regulatory environment is necessary.
• Familiarity with benefits and pension administration is also expected.
• Strong communication and influencing skills are vital, alongside a high degree of professionalism, to effectively interact with stakeholders, vendors, and team members.
• Demonstrated people leadership experience, including leading and developing international payroll teams, with accountability for performance, delivery against deadlines, and capability building within a complex, regulated environment.

In-Office Collaboration

We are a client-centric, relationship-based business. Working together, in-person, is foundational to how we achieve results. By fostering a culture of face-to-face collaboration, idea sharing, productivity and personal connection, we deliver for our stakeholders — clients, advisors, employees and shareholders. Our employees work in the office at least four (4) days per week, with flexibility to work from home one (1) day per week. Some roles may require additional in-office time or different in-office expectations, and specific requirements will be discussed during the hiring process.

Full-Time/Part-Time: Full time

Worker Sub Type: Permanent

Job Family Group: Human Capital

Columbia Threadneedle is a people business, and we recognise that our success is due to our talented people, who bring diversity of thought, complementary skills and capabilities. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and performance-based culture where everyone can belong, grow, contribute and realise their potential.

We appreciate that work-life balance is an important factor for many when considering their next move so please discuss any flexible working requirements directly with your recruiter.

Columbia Threadneedle Investments is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to racial or ethnic background, religion or belief, sex or gender, nationality, genetic information, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, marital status, pregnancy or maternity or any other basis prohibited by law.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible recruitment process for individuals with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to aid your participation in the application or interview process, speak to your recruiter to discuss how we can support you.