Senior Payroll Specialist & Process Expert - EMEA

Location: Colchester, United Kingdom; based in the Colchester office with in-person work three days a week or more. Remote work is available when not working in an office or at an event, with the option to work from almost anywhere for up to four weeks per year.

Company

hirify.global is an international FTSE 100 business providing live and on-demand events, digital and data-driven services, and academic research across 30 countries.

What you will do

• Act as a subject matter expert for payroll processes and systems across the EMEA region.
• Perform monthly payroll checks, prepare approval documentation and analysis reports, and process salary and third-party payments.
• Run and reconcile payroll journals, upload data to the finance system, and provide payroll cost reports to Finance, HR and managers.
• Lead the design and implementation of scalable payroll processes using AI and automation to reduce manual effort.
• Support payroll system implementations, transitions and integrations, ensuring processes are mapped and documented before BAU transition.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, Benefits teams and external payroll providers while maintaining compliance, data integrity and audit readiness.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in payroll operations within a complex, multi-country organisation, with expertise in EMEA payrolls.
• Strong knowledge of payroll legislation, including HMRC regulations and GDPR compliance.
• Experience acting as a payroll subject matter expert and advising stakeholders.
• Strong organisational, analytical and stakeholder management skills, with a high level of accuracy.
• Experience with process improvement and AI or automation technologies.
• Advanced Excel skills, including XLOOKUP and data analysis, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

Nice to have

• Payroll system administration and process automation experience.
• Experience in a shared services environment.
• Professional payroll qualification such as CIPP or equivalent.
• Project management experience or experience supporting strategic initiatives.

Culture & Benefits

• Collaborative, inclusive community with in-person and online social events and diversity and inclusion networks.
• Up to four paid volunteering days per year with charity match funding.
• Training, mentoring and access to thousands of LinkedIn Learning courses.
• 25 days of annual leave, rising to 27 days after two years, plus a birthday leave day.
• Flexible personal benefits, company-funded private medical cover, wellbeing support and health programmes.
• ShareMatch scheme, recognition programmes and opportunities to collaborate with international teams.