URBN - International Payroll Manager in London

URBN UK Limited is part of the URBN Group, a global retailer, with its European Head Office located in London. Its retail offering in Europe takes the form of three brands. With stores in more than 10 European countries and a strong e-commerce presence, we’re driven by the same core values as our customers, and we approach our work with a sense of community and purpose that sets our brands apart.

This position is located at 146 Brick Lane, London, E16RU United Kingdom.

The International Payroll Manager will be responsible for overseeing and managing payroll processing and compliance across several countries (UK, Germany, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Austria, Poland, India and Turkey) and potentially more as we continue to grow. This critical role ensures the accurate, timely, and compliant payment of salaries for all International employees, adhering to local legislations and internal policies. The role will manage a team of payroll team leaders and administrators, and is a key role in the overall finance process. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in multi-country payroll management (with a UK focus), be systems-proficient, and possess excellent leadership and problem-solving skills.

What You'll Be Doing

• Oversee End-to-End Payroll: Manage the full payroll lifecycle for all International entities, including input, calculation, reconciliation, and delivery.
• Vendor Management: Act as the primary point of contact and manage relationships with third-party payroll providers across different countries, ensuring service level agreements (SLAs) are met.
• Ensure strict adherence to all local country payroll regulations, tax laws, social security contributions, and statutory reporting requirements (e.g., PAYE, P60s, social declarations, pensions, etc.).
• Stay current on changes in tax and employment legislation that impact payroll and implement necessary process adjustments.
• Manage, train, and develop the payroll processing team, fostering a high-performance team environment.
• Responsible for month end and year end close process related to payroll costs, benefits and liabilities.
• Primary point of contact for payroll related audits, both internal and external including ownership and delivery.
• Collaborate closely with HR, Finance, Retail and Distribution operations, and HRIS to ensure seamless data flow and process alignment.
• Ensure timely and accurate query resolution for employees while maintaining a high level of confidentiality and customer service.
• Implement and maintain strong internal controls and audit trails for payroll processing across all regions.
• Support with ad hoc payroll projects.
• Support global expansion including team and systems.
• Drive automation and process improvement to enhance efficiency and reduce risk.
• Partner with the US based global HQ to ensure alignment with corporate standards and US SOX compliance where applicable.

What You'll Need

• Proven experience in a senior payroll leadership role, ideally within a multinational or consumer goods company.
• Working knowledge of employment tax, pensions, benefits and statutory reporting.
• Experience managing outsourced payroll providers.
• Strong knowledge of UK and European legislation and requirements.
• Demonstrated experience with People/HR/Payroll Systems.
• Be able to demonstrate team management and leadership abilities especially with senior stakeholders/leadership team.
• Proactive collaboration with all departments across the business.
• Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, and strong analytical/problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to clearly articulate complex payroll issues to non-payroll stakeholders.
• CIPP qualification preferred.
• Advanced level excel.
• Experience in using a variety of payroll systems and external platforms.

The Perks

• Work-life balance: Flexible start and finish times.
• Bring your dog to work.
• Wellbeing: Employees Assistance program to support with mental, physical and financial health.
• Fully equipped free gym and on-site wellness room in Brick Lane and 50% discount off 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.

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.