Senior Payroll Specialist in Reading

OpenText is a global leader in information management, where innovation, creativity, and collaboration are the key components of our corporate culture. As a member of our team, you will have the opportunity to partner with the most highly regarded companies in the world, tackle complex issues, and contribute to projects that shape the future of digital transformation. At OpenText, AI is at the heart of everything we do—powering innovation, transforming work, and empowering digital knowledge workers.

Your impact

As a Sr. HRSS Payroll Specialist, you will play a critical role in ensuring the timely and accurate processing of payroll for OpenText entities, with a primary focus on the UK and Ireland. Leveraging your deep expertise in payroll and HCM platforms, you will help maintain compliance, accuracy, and trust across the organization by delivering flawless payroll outcomes and supporting audits and regulatory requirements.

What the role offers

• Ownership of end-to-end payroll processing for UK & Ireland entities, with exposure to additional international payrolls.
• The opportunity to work with advanced payroll and HCM systems, including outsourced payroll vendors and SAP SuccessFactors.
• A collaborative environment with close interaction across HR, Finance, Tax, Legal, and external stakeholders.
• Involvement in payroll-related projects and process improvements that address complex, cross-functional challenges.
• A predominantly office-based role (3–5 days per week) based in Reading, UK, offering close collaboration with local teams.

What you need to succeed

• 3–5 years of direct payroll experience within a multinational organization.
• Strong, hands-on knowledge of UK and Ireland payrolls; additional international payroll experience is a strong advantage.
• Excellent (advanced-level) Excel skills are essential — intermediate proficiency is not sufficient.
• In-depth understanding of country-specific payroll rules, tax regulations, pensions, and statutory requirements.
• Proven ability to monitor payroll inputs from HCM systems and third parties, reconcile payroll outputs, benefit invoices, and accrual balances, and perform corrective actions when required.
• Experience reviewing payroll checklists, audit reports, and maintaining high-quality payroll documentation and process guides.
• Confidence in obtaining approvals for payroll release and acting as a key contact for internal and external audits.
• Experience with P11D, PSA, and STBV reporting is advantageous.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with HR Tier 1, HRIT, Tax, Legal, auditors, vendors, and local tax authorities.
• Ability to work autonomously on complex payroll matters, escalate risks appropriately, and plan ahead for quarterly and year-end activities.
• College diploma or equivalent practical experience.
• Payroll certification preferred (e.g., FPC, CPP).
• High level of integrity and confidentiality.
• Experience with systems such as ADP GlobalView, Streamline, Celergo, SAP SuccessFactors HCM, Microsoft Office, and Finance General Ledger systems.
• Foreign language skills relevant to supported countries are an advantage.
• Ability to work primarily from the office and reside within commuting distance of the Reading, UK office.

This role is ideal for a detail-driven payroll professional who thrives in a structured, compliance-focused environment and enjoys solving complex payroll challenges. If you value accuracy, ownership, and collaboration — and are looking for a role where your expertise truly makes an impact — this could be the next step in your payroll career.

OpenText's efforts to build an inclusive work environment go beyond simply complying with applicable laws. Our Employment Equity and Diversity Policy provides direction on maintaining a working environment that is inclusive of everyone, regardless of culture, national origin, race, color, gender, gender identification, sexual orientation, family status, age, veteran status, disability, religion, or other basis protected by applicable laws.