EMEA Centralised Payroll Service Controller

As part of the EMEA Finance function, the EMEA Centralised Payroll Service Controller will report to the EMEA Regional Controller and will take responsibility for managing a centralised payroll function for the EMEA region. The role will be responsible for developing and driving the payroll strategy, process standardisation, delivering on service level agreements, maintaining compliance and control for EMEA territory payroll operations and benefits reporting. This includes management and control of all elements of the end-to-end process for payroll and managing the outsourcing relationship with payroll providers. In addition, you will be expected to develop strong working relationships with key internal stakeholders – namely EMEA HR Director, Regional Financial Controllers, the business and other back-office departments.

What You Will Do

• Drive the development and execution of country payrolls across the EMEA region accurately and timely.
• Effectively lead, manage, deploy and utilise the EMEA Payroll team resources to deliver on all EMEA Payroll activities.
• Drive cost reduction across payroll team and platforms in the region, adopting standardised services where possible to ensure operational effectiveness.
• Recommend ongoing process improvements to enhance the quality/reduce the cost of Payroll services.
• Own the outsourcing relationship with Payroll Providers, including contracts, financials and performance management.
• Responsible for the end-to-end Payroll process, including preparation, processing, post-Payroll and associated tax filing, in coordination with the outsourced payroll solution provider.
• Ensure compliance and control requirements are met and coordinate and manage the production of all external compliance reporting and deliverables.
• Ownership of the preparation of required reports and/or payment to government agencies, insurance companies or other organisations.
• Ensure all ERS/EES Pension contributions are calculated, paid and reported to the relevant investment funds timely and accurately.
• Support the internal audit and external audit requests as necessary.
• Support EMEA HR Director and local HRBPs to help resolve Payroll related issues, employee benefits in kind, irregular payments, employee or vendor inquiries.
• Ensure all employee related matters are appropriately dealt with and/or escalated via HR where relevant, particularly (but not restricted to) sickness and absence recording matters required for payroll compliance.
• Remain current on all EMEA and local regulations involving Payroll matters and understand payroll related accounting principles, partnering closely with the Financial Controllers for each company.
• Write and review payroll procedures on an ongoing basis to ensure compliance, standardisation and control.
• Prepare the timetable, requirements and task lists for the monthly activities for executing each payroll, manage and monitor the activities to ensure a smooth and timely close following best practice processes for payroll.
• Provide analysis for monthly/quarterly/annual variances to Plan/Forecast on headcount costs with significant variances investigated and justified where applicable to Regional Controller.
• Prepare and deliver each payroll and accounting month end closing procedures to strict close deadlines with ownership and first review of monthly payroll balance sheet account reconciliations. Prepare all information for review with Regional Controller monthly.
• Serve as a lead payroll representative on payroll related projects with regards to both strategic direction and requirements, ensuring all proposed changes are fully understood and executed.

What You Will Bring

• Proven experience as Payroll Manager for EMEA territory.
• Working with external auditors and managing elements of the audit process in accordance with local payroll and SOX compliance.
• Extensive technical and compliance knowledge with international payroll.
• Extensive technical and compliance knowledge with payroll accounting.
• Change management and improving process and controls.
• Experience as a functional business owner working with payroll systems.
• Working within a highly sales driven and fast-moving culture.
• Working with SAP, HRIS, ADP Streamline; local payroll providers.
• Proven staff management skills and effective team leadership across a remote location.

Desirable

• Working within a software company, ideally a global organisation.
• Worked as part of a global Finance organisation supporting global actions and initiatives.
• Experience of working cross-functionally with IT teams on enhancements and implementations.
• Experience of writing accounting papers to support business decisions and align with the relevant standard.