Senior Payroll Specialist– International (EMEA & APAC)

About This Opportunity

We are representing a fast-growing cloud infrastructure organization that is expanding its international operations across EMEA and APAC. Our talent team is seeking a Senior Payroll Specialist to own day-to-day multi-country payroll delivery for employees in Poland, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Norway, Spain, and Sweden.

This senior-level position reports to the Global Payroll Manager and requires deep expertise in end-to-end international payroll processing, cross-border compliance, and systems management. You will serve as a subject matter expert, support team members, and partner closely with HR, Finance, Legal, and Stock Administration stakeholders to ensure accurate and compliant compensation delivery across multiple jurisdictions.

Responsibilities

Payroll Processing & Systems Management

• Own day-to-day end-to-end payroll processing for employees across Poland, Singapore, the UK, Norway, Spain, and Sweden, partnering with in-country payroll providers and ADP Celergo within agreed governance frameworks
• Manage relationships with ADP Celergo, in-country payroll providers, and Employer of Record providers; monitor service levels and escalate material concerns
• Maintain international payroll calendars including input deadlines, approval deadlines, funding dates, statutory payment dates, and year-end requirements
• Prepare each payroll for approval with clear summaries of material changes, exceptions, funding requirements, and reconciliations before release
• Review and audit timesheets, attendance records, leave balances, and country-specific inputs to ensure accurate payment calculations
• Coordinate approved off-cycle payroll runs, retroactive adjustments, and manual payments across multiple countries and currencies
• Oversee country-specific statutory deductions including UK PAYE/NI, Polish ZUS and PIT, Norwegian tax contributions, Spanish Seguridad Social and IRPF, Swedish arbetsgivaravgifter, and Singapore CPF
• Coordinate payroll processing for RSU vesting, stock option exercises, and share purchase plan transactions, partnering with specialists for cross-border tax treatment
• Support integrations between ADP Celergo, in-country vendors, general ledger, HRIS, and benefits platforms across multiple currencies and languages
• Manage payroll queries through case-management processes with accurate documentation and timely resolution

Compliance, Tax & Risk Management

• Maintain strong international payroll knowledge with direct operational expertise in covered countries; proactively identify legislative updates and coordinate operational changes
• Manage day-to-day multi-country payroll tax compliance including registrations, statutory filings, payments, and correspondence with tax and social security authorities
• Support new-country payroll assessments, registrations, implementation, testing, and operational readiness
• Review and reconcile statutory in-year and year-end filings for each country, prepare for approval, and resolve routine agency notices
• Support design and operation of robust payroll controls to comply with GDPR and local data-privacy requirements
• Maintain complete payroll control evidence, approval records, reconciliations, and audit trails for every cycle
• Complete periodic system access reviews, bank-detail change controls, variance analysis, and post-payroll reconciliations
• Coordinate statutory and external audit activities including preparation of payroll documentation across jurisdictions
• Address payroll discrepancies, tax issues, and employee escalations across multiple time zones with urgency and professionalism
• Partner with Finance on payroll journal entries, multi-currency reconciliations, flux analysis, and accruals

Process Improvement, Training & Leadership

• Champion continuous improvement by identifying and implementing process enhancements, automation opportunities, and best practices
• Support ADP Celergo implementation and optimization including requirements gathering, testing, defect management, and change management
• Create and maintain comprehensive country-specific process manuals, SOPs, control documentation, and training materials
• Provide effective payroll cover across assigned countries and participate in cross-training to ensure business continuity
• Provide functional guidance, coaching, and training to junior payroll team members on multi-country practices
• Manage operational relationships with in-country vendors, monitor SLA performance, and provide improvement recommendations
• Collaborate with HR, Legal, Benefits, and works councils to effectively communicate and resolve payroll matters

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field, or equivalent professional experience
• 7–10+ years of progressive end-to-end international payroll experience supporting EMEA and APAC employees, with at least 3 years in a senior or lead capacity
• Experience with international payroll systems required; hands-on ADP Celergo experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience managing high-volume, multi-country payrolls with strong accuracy and on-time delivery
• Proven experience managing cross-border payroll across multiple EMEA and APAC jurisdictions including statutory filings and social security contributions
• Strong knowledge of international payroll regulations, tax codes, and compliance requirements with direct experience in several of Poland, Singapore, UK, Norway, Spain, and Sweden
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data modeling) and financial reporting tools
• Strong understanding of multi-currency payroll accounting principles including journal entries, GL reconciliation, and month-end close
• Experience operating within documented payroll controls and audit frameworks with strong understanding of segregation of duties
• Working knowledge of GDPR and local data-privacy requirements related to payroll processes
• Exceptional attention to detail with unwavering commitment to data accuracy, integrity, and confidentiality
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to diagnose root causes and implement sustainable solutions
• Excellent organizational and time management abilities with capacity to manage multiple priorities across time zones under strict deadlines
• Superior verbal and written communication skills; able to translate complex payroll matters to non-payroll stakeholders
• Proactive, self-directed work style with continuous improvement mindset and ability to lead through influence
• High level of professional integrity and discretion handling sensitive compensation data

Preferred Qualifications

• Global payroll certification (CIPP International, GRP, or GPMA)
• Experience with Workday HR (HCM), particularly HR-to-payroll data integration
• Experience with HRIS and payroll system implementations including requirements gathering, testing, and post-implementation optimization
• Experience processing equity transactions including RSU vestings and stock option exercises with understanding of cross-border tax treatment
• Proficiency leveraging AI tools and automation to streamline payroll workflows and enhance data analysis

How We Work With You

Get A Job.ai serves as the exclusive recruiting partner for this position. When you apply through our platform, one of our experienced recruiters will review your qualifications and conduct an initial screening. If there is a strong match, we will submit your profile to our client for consideration and guide you through their interview process.

Please apply only through Get A Job.ai. Do not attempt to contact the employer directly, as all applications must come through our firm to be considered.

Pay

Compensation details will be discussed with qualified candidates during the screening process.

Equal Opportunity

Get A Job.ai is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.