Payroll Manager & Treasurer

At Zaha Hadid Architects, we are seeking a Payroll Manager & Treasurer to join our London team on a permanent contract. The purpose of the role is to be responsible for the end‑to‑end management of Payroll, Treasury and cash operations, and a range of statutory and compliance activities across the Group. The position combines strong UK payroll and PAYE expertise with international exposure, including foreign VAT, overseas banking and regulatory compliance such as KYC and residence certification. The role also provides oversight and guidance to junior Finance team members on matters within its remit and acts as a key interface between Finance and HR.

Main Responsibilities

• Payroll & Employment Taxes
  • Full ownership of UK and overseas Payroll processing, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance
  • Deep technical responsibility for PAYE, NIC, statutory payments, Pensions, and year‑end processes (P60s, P11Ds, FPS/EPS)
  • Acting as the internal subject‑matter expert on Payroll tax matters
  • Liaison with HMRC and external Payroll providers where applicable
  • Supporting HR on Payroll‑related matters including starters, leavers, benefits, and policy interpretation
  • Ensuring Payroll controls, reconciliations, and audit readiness
• Treasury, Cash & Banking
  • Day‑to‑day management of cash, payments, and banking activities across the Group
  • Ownership of bank mandates, signatories, and banking relationships
  • Execution and control of domestic and international payments
  • Oversight of banking operations in China, including local payment processes and regulatory considerations
  • Cash flow visibility, monitoring, and short‑term liquidity planning
  • Ensuring strong controls over all cash movements and payment authorisations
• Compliance, KYC & Regulatory
  • Management of KYC processes with banks and counterparties
  • Handling of residence certificates, tax forms, and supporting documentation for international tax matters
  • Maintaining accurate statutory, compliance, and audit documentation
  • Supporting internal and external audits in relation to Payroll, Treasury, and tax matters
• VAT & In‑House Tax Support
  • Preparation and submission of UK VAT returns
  • Practical in‑house knowledge of foreign VAT and cross‑border VAT considerations, including coordination with advisors
  • Support on VAT registrations, deregistration, and compliance monitoring
  • Assistance with tax‑related documentation and certifications required for international operations
• Team Oversight & Collaboration
  • Oversight and review of work performed by junior Finance team members related to Payroll, payments, and Treasury
  • Providing guidance, training, and quality control within their area of responsibility
  • Close collaboration with HR to ensure aligned processes, accurate data flow, and compliance
  • Contribution to process improvements, controls, and documentation across Payroll and Treasury activities

Essential Skills Required

• Proven experience in UK Payroll management, with strong PAYE and Payroll tax expertise, gained in other businesses
• Hands‑on experience managing Payroll end‑to‑end in a multi‑employee environment
• Solid understanding of VAT compliance, including exposure to foreign VAT
• Experience managing payments, banking, and cash controls
• Strong attention to detail and control mindset
• Ability to work confidently across jurisdictions and with external advisors
• Experience overseeing or reviewing junior team members’ work

Desirable

• Language skills
• Prior experience in an international or multi‑entity organisation
• Awareness of KYC, international tax documentation, and regulatory compliance

Personal Attributes

• Reliable, discreet, and trusted with sensitive financial information
• Confident working autonomously while collaborating closely with senior stakeholders
• Practical, solutions‑focused approach to complex compliance matters
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills

How To Apply

To apply for this role, please click 'Apply' and complete the online application form. You will need to upload a cover letter and CV.

About Us

Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) redefined architecture for the 21st century with a repertoire of projects that have captured imaginations across the globe. Creating buildings uniquely tailored to the communities they serve, ZHA has been awarded the highest honours from professional and academic institutions worldwide. Founded by Zaha Hadid in 1979, ZHA is one of the world’s most consistently inventive architectural studios—and has been for four decades. These decades of pioneering research are inscribed within our architecture to become more spatially inventive, more structurally efficient, more technologically advanced, and more environmentally considerate with every new design. Combining innovative architectural solutions with ecologically sound materials and sustainable construction practices, we do not look at the disparate parts, but work to understand them as a whole to meet the aspirations of each new generation. As an employee‑owned business, we reinvest all profits back into our people and our company; continually enhancing our multidisciplinary research to address the challenges impacting communities around the world.