EMEAA Payroll Manager in Edinburgh

Element is seeking an experienced EMEAA Payroll Manager to lead a high‑performing payroll team within our Finance function, based in our Global Business Services Centre in Edinburgh. This role is critical in delivering our global payroll strategy, ensuring operational excellence, and supporting the rollout of a unified payroll solution across EMEAA countries. You will partner closely with Finance, HR, Legal and external vendors to ensure payroll operations are accurate, compliant and delivered on time across multiple jurisdictions.

Responsibilities

• Payroll accuracy & governance — Ensure accurate, timely and compliant payroll processing across all EMEAA countries, including review and approval of payroll documentation.
• Cross‑border compliance — Maintain strong knowledge of regional statutory requirements, tax rules, social security obligations and reporting deadlines.
• Payment management — Oversee all regular and ad‑hoc payroll payments, ensuring correct funding, approvals and reconciliation.
• Process & system optimisation — Analyse and enhance payroll processes, controls and system workflows; monitor vendor performance and drive governance improvements.
• Team leadership — Lead, coach and develop the Payroll team based in Edinburgh and Dubai, fostering a culture of accountability, accuracy and continuous improvement.
• Efficiency & innovation — Identify opportunities to streamline processes, automate manual tasks and introduce best‑practice ways of working.
• Change leadership — Drive payroll‑related change initiatives, ensuring alignment with global transformation programmes and business priorities.
• Integration & onboarding — Lead payroll integration for new acquisitions, ensuring smooth onboarding, data accuracy and adherence to Element standards.
• Controls & audit readiness — Maintain strong internal controls, support internal/external audits and ensure full documentation and compliance.
• Stakeholder management — Build strong relationships with Finance, HR, Legal, IT and external payroll providers to ensure seamless end‑to‑end payroll delivery.
• Global collaboration — Work closely with the AMRS region Payroll Lead to standardise processes, systems and controls.

Skills / Qualifications

• Extensive payroll expertise across multiple EMEAA jurisdictions, with strong knowledge of statutory requirements and compliance.
• Experience with Dayforce or Deel is advantageous but not essential.
• Proven experience leading a regional payroll team, embedding best practices, strong controls and continuous improvement.
• Analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to manage complex, high‑volume, multi‑country payrolls.
• Strong understanding of payroll accounting, reconciliations and financial controls.
• Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy and quality.
• A payroll‑related qualification is required.

To apply please email derek.grist@element.com

Diversity Statement

At Element, we always take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognises diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our Vision of becoming “the world’s most trusted testing partner”. All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work related criteria and without regard for age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.