URBN - Head of Payroll, Europe

URBN Head of Payroll, Europe

URBN UK Limited is part of the URBN Group, a global retailer. Its European Head Office is located in London, and its European retail offering covers three brands with stores in more than 10 European countries and a strong e-commerce presence.

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Head of Payroll to lead and manage the payroll function across our UK, EU and APAC entities. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for all employees, while driving continuous improvement in payroll systems, processes, and controls. The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise, strong leadership skills, and a proactive approach to managing payroll operations in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing for all UK, EU and APAC entities and jurisdictions, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and compliance with local employment laws and tax regulations.
• Manage multi-entity payroll across over thirteen regions in Europe/APAC, all through outsourced service providers.
• Manage relationships with external payroll providers, monitor performance and ensure SLA’s are met. Ensure cost control with service providers and input into the budget process for payroll costs.
• Ensure correct and timely submission of all statutory filings and payments (i.e. HMRC submissions, pension contributions, etc.).
• Implement and maintain strong internal controls and audit trails for payroll processing across all regions.
• Lead and develop an in-house payroll team (5 people), fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Act as the internal payroll subject matter expert and stay current with changes in payroll legislation and best practices, collaborating with Finance, HR and IT to optimize payroll systems and integrate with other business functions.
• Lead the implementation, upgrade, and integration of payroll systems and technology platforms.
• Drive automation and process improvements to enhance efficiency and reduce risk.
• Support global expansion from a payroll perspective, including team and systems integration planning.
• Partner with the US-based Global HRIS/Payroll teams to ensure alignment with corporate standards and US SOX compliance where applicable.
• Own payroll reporting and analytics, providing insights to senior leadership.

Essential qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior payroll leadership role, ideally within a multinational retail or consumer goods company.
• Demonstrated experience managing outsourced payroll vendors across the EU and APAC.
• Strong working knowledge of UK and European payroll legislation and requirements.
• Familiarity with employment tax, pensions, benefits and statutory reporting in the UK, EU and APAC regions.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management.
• Proactive collaborator.

Preferred qualifications

• Proficiency with payroll systems such as ActivPay or similar.
• Familiarity with HRIS tools such as UKG, ICIMS, MyTime.
• Experience supporting payroll in a retail environment with hourly, seasonal and part-time staff.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• CIPP qualification is highly desirable.

The PerksWork-life Balance

• Flexible start and finish times
• Bring your dog to work

Wellbeing

• Employee Assistance program to support mental, physical and financial health
• Fully equipped free gym and on-site wellness room in Brick Lane and 50% discount of external gym memberships
• Private Medical Insurance

Employee Discount

• Up to 40% off at all URBN Brands (Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People and more!)

Community

• One paid day to either volunteer or fundraise for a charity of your choice

Travel

• Cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan

Continued Development

• We offer structured support within the business alongside continued learning and development

Details

• Seniority level: Director
• Employment type: Full-time
• Job function: Human Resources
• Industries: Retail, Retail Apparel and Fashion, and Consumer Services

Equal Opportunity Statement

URBN is an Equal Opportunities Employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We provide equal employment opportunities regardless of age, sexual orientation, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy, marital status, religion, race, or disability. We base all our employment decisions on merit, job requirements and business needs.

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