Global Payroll Project Lead

We're looking for an experienced Global Payroll Project Lead to drive the successful delivery of a global payroll transformation programme, including the implementation of outsourced payroll services across multiple regions.

Working closely with HR, Finance, Technology and external service providers, you will lead the end-to-end project lifecycle, ensuring a seamless transition to a scalable, efficient and compliant payroll operating model. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of payroll delivery within a global organisation, enhancing processes, controls, reporting capabilities and service excellence.

Lead a Global Payroll Transformation Programme

• Take ownership of the end-to-end payroll outsourcing implementation, from project initiation through to go-live and post-implementation support.

• Ensure project milestones, deliverables, timelines and budgets are effectively managed and achieved.

• Drive collaboration across global and regional teams to deliver a successful business outcome.

Partner with Key Stakeholders

• Work closely with HR, Finance, Technology teams and in-country payroll stakeholders to gather requirements, define scope and align on business objectives.

• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, ensuring effective communication throughout the project lifecycle.

• Support business readiness and change management activities across impacted regions.
   

Drive Process Improvement and Operational Excellence

• Review current payroll processes and identify opportunities to standardise, streamline and strengthen controls.

• Implement improvements that enhance payroll accuracy, efficiency, compliance and employee experience.

• Help establish best practice payroll processes that support long-term organisational growth.
   

Design a Future-Focused Payroll Operating Model

• Define and implement a sustainable global payroll service delivery model.

• Reduce operational risk by addressing key-person dependencies and improving resilience across payroll operations.

• Ensure reporting, data insights and system integrations meet business and strategic requirements, working with vendors and internal teams as necessary.
   

Manage Third-Party Vendors

• Act as the primary point of contact for external payroll providers throughout implementation and transition.

• Monitor vendor performance against agreed service levels and project commitments.

• Ensure service delivery meets operational, compliance and business expectations.
   

Enable Successful Adoption

• Develop training materials and deliver knowledge-transfer sessions to HR and payroll teams.

• Support users through process changes and adoption of new tools, systems and ways of working.
   

Manage Risk and Governance

• Identify and mitigate project risks, issues and dependencies.

• Establish effective governance and reporting structures to support project delivery.

• Provide regular updates to project sponsors and senior leadership on progress, milestones and key decisions.

• Significant experience leading payroll transformation, payroll outsourcing or large-scale payroll implementation projects within a multinational organisation.

• Proven track record of delivering complex global payroll programmes from planning through to implementation.

• Strong understanding of payroll operations, outsourcing models and payroll compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

• Excellent project management skills, with experience applying structured project methodologies; Agile experience is advantageous.

• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to engage effectively at all levels of an organisation.

• Experience managing third-party suppliers and service providers.

• Confidence working with payroll systems, data, reporting and integrations.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving and process improvement capabilities.