Payroll Team Lead / Payroll Specialist

PAYROLL TEAM LEAD / PAYROLL SPECIALIST ABOUT THE ROLE Career Directions Limited is recruiting an experienced Payroll Team Lead / Payroll Specialist to join an international organisation where you'll take ownership of comprehensive payroll, compensation and benefits administration. This is a full-time position working 40 hours per week, where you'll serve as a trusted expert managing complex payroll operations across internal teams and external service providers. You'll be the driving force behind accurate, timely payroll processing while maintaining rigorous controls and governance standards. Operating in a multi-stakeholder environment, you'll collaborate closely with HR, Finance and external payroll partners to ensure seamless operations and continuous improvement across all payroll-related functions. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES You will manage the complete payroll cycle from initiation through completion, ensuring schedules are met and accuracy is maintained throughout. Your oversight extends to external payroll providers, where you'll review outputs, audit performance and ensure service quality standards are consistently delivered. Your analytical expertise will be essential as you validate monthly payroll results, prepare audit-ready sign-off reports and coordinate financial reconciliations alongside benefits reconciliation activities. You'll prepare comprehensive payroll datasets and reports to support financial planning, budgeting and strategic business planning initiatives. As subject-matter expert on payroll and compensation and benefits matters, you'll champion process improvements and advise HR on policy changes and new compensation initiatives. You'll oversee the full employee lifecycle from onboarding through termination, managing compensation records, allowances, one-time payments and leave administration with meticulous attention to detail and compliance timelines. Your leadership responsibilities include coaching and developing payroll and compensation and benefits administrators, fostering a culture of service excellence and continuous improvement. You'll be the escalation point for payroll, compensation and benefits issues, investigating discrepancies, identifying root causes and implementing lasting solutions. You'll regularly identify opportunities to streamline processes and enhance operational efficiency across payroll and compensation functions. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR You bring a minimum of five years' experience in payroll, compensation and benefits administration, ideally within international or multinational organisations. Between two and five years of team or people management experience will round out your background. You hold a Master's degree in Human Resources or can demonstrate an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. A professional qualification in HR or payroll management is highly desirable, as is Workday certification. Your technical expertise spans end-to-end payroll management, compensation and benefits administration, payroll controls, audit requirements and reconciliations. You're proficient with Workday systems and demonstrate advanced Excel capabilities with strong data management and analytical skills. You've successfully developed, implemented and improved HR and payroll processes and policies. Your ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments—managing relationships across HR, Finance and external providers—is a core strength. You're an accomplished problem-solver with strong decision-making capability and genuine client-service orientation. You communicate fluently in English, with working knowledge of French considered an advantage. You demonstrate the highest standards of confidentiality, integrity and professional judgement, supported by exceptional organisational capability. KEY COMPETENCIES Payroll Management, Compensation and Benefits Administration, Workday proficiency, Payroll Controls and Governance, Payroll Reconciliation, HR Operations, Vendor and Payroll Provider Management, Audit and Compliance, Data Management and Reporting, Process Improvement, Policy Implementation, Stakeholder Management, People Management, Problem Solving and Service Delivery.