Associate Director EMEA Payroll
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: Sep 19, 2024
Description
About the firm:
Companies, investors and government entities around the world turn to Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) for leadership, action and results. Privately held since its founding in 1983, A&M is a leading global professional services firm that provides advisory, business performance improvement and turnaround management services. When conventional approaches are not enough to create transformation and drive change, clients seek our deep expertise and ability to deliver practical solutions to their unique problems.
With over 10,000 people providing services across six continents, we deliver tangible results for corporates, boards, private equity firms, law firms and government agencies facing complex challenges. Our senior leaders, and their teams, leverage A&M’s restructuring heritage to help companies act decisively, catapult growth and accelerate results. We are experienced operators, world-class consultants, former regulators and industry authorities with a shared commitment to telling clients what is really needed for turning change into a strategic business asset, managing risk and unlocking value at every stage of growth.
To learn more, visit: AlvarezandMarsal.com.
Position Summary:
A&M is looking for an Associate/Director of EMEA Payroll who brings vast payroll expertise to our Global Payroll Operations. You will partner and collaborate with EMEA Benefits, People Operations and Finance and HRIS teams to deliver payroll services that optimize operational excellence and create a deeper bench of experienced talent within the payroll team. This leader will be a key partner in assisting with the development and implementation of strategies to systematically scale the payroll operations and related systems while maintaining quality, accuracy, internal controls, and compliance. This position within the Finance organization will be based out of the London Office and will report to the Senior Director of Global Payroll.
Responsibilities:
- Lead, direct and support in conjunction with the senior payroll manager the EMEA payroll full cycle processing for all EMEA entities and countries.
- Maintain and develop the best-in-class talented payroll specialist that will be subject matter experts and points of contact for all internal and external payroll inquiries.
- Work with the Global Payroll governance to develop and execute a strategic plan to scale and optimize the EMEA payroll administration that can support new and existing country payrolls within the various regions.
- Proactively engage and collaborate with cross functional teams and leadership to ensure business objectives and priorities are met and executed effectively.
- Lead in the design and implementation of workflows and standard operating procedures to maintain strong internal controls within systems and EMEA payroll processes.
- Partner with the Senior Director and incorporating the EMEA payroll team to support special projects, including process documentation and improvements, system updates, integrations, upgrades, or implementations.
- Keep abreast of the latest regulatory changes and ensure that all changes are timely incorporated into the payroll systems. Manage statutory and tax requirement changes
- Ensure monthly, quarterly, and annual wage and tax filings and reporting requirements are executed with accuracy and are filed timely.
- Lead or assist on special tasks and projects as needed (e.g., external/statutory/compliance audits and filings, entity set up, system implementation, etc.,)
- Able to communicate effectively with teammates and various levels of management as well as external contacts. Work in collaboration with regional-based cross-functional partners.
- Represent payroll in various cross-functional strategy and alignment meetings.
- Work through the Payroll Governance Manager to lead third-party vendors and to submit governmental and regulatory filings.
- Oversee the preparation, analysis, and maintenance of all payroll-related reports, payroll, and reconciliations.
- Develop a continuous culture of mentorship, process improvement, training, and within the Payroll Team.
- Provide leadership, strategic planning, tactical direction and day-to-day management and governance of the EMEA payroll function.
- Direct and coordinate the implementation and administration of payroll policies, procedures and regulations and the approval of the EMEA payroll calendars and processing schedules.
- Maintain standard operation and statutory procedures with respect to audit, privacy, tax reporting and controls.
- Work closely with Corporate Finance and Internal Audit teams to ensure all financial controls and reporting are correct and ensures that payroll solutions developed align with the corporation's overall business strategy.
- Work closely and build strong relationships with cross functional teams, HR, HRIS, IT, Accounting, etc.,
Requirements:
- Bachelor's Degree in Business, Finance / Accounting, or a related discipline CIPP (Charted Institute of Payroll Professionals) qualification preferred
- The ideal candidate has 10+ years of experience in payroll operations and managing a payroll operations team at a regional setting.
- Workday Payroll experience required.
- Experience transforming a payroll function to maximize automation, scalability, and cost effectiveness.
- Highly analytical, aptitude for quantitative and qualitative analysis
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
- Must be able to prioritize tasks to meet deadlines and demands.
- Excels in hyper-growth environments; versatile, capable of managing multiple projects and tasks.
- Reliable, with a strong work ethic. Hands-on and willing/able to navigate / manage processes at a detailed level while also able to summarize key issues and manage at a conceptual level.
- Expert knowledge of international payroll regulations, including payroll tax, reporting, and required filings.
- Experience with onboarding new countries across EMEA regions.
- Strong organizational, change management, and execution skills, along with the ability to prioritize and drive multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Strong written and oral communication
- Great people and collaboration skills.
- Serve as a Subject Matter Expert & point of escalation for the department and for internal teams on payroll related matters.
- Drive productivity and efficiency through process improvement and technology solutions while improving executive transparency and controls.
Diversity & Inclusion
A&M’s entrepreneurial culture celebrates independent thinkers and doers who can positively impact our clients and shape our industry. The collaborative environment and engaging work—guided by A&M’s core values of Integrity, Quality, Objectivity, Fun, Personal Reward, and Inclusive Diversity—are the main reasons our people love working at A&M. Inclusive Diversity means we embrace diversity, and we foster inclusiveness, encouraging everyone to bring their whole self to work each day. It runs through how we recruit, develop employees, conduct business, support clients, and partner with vendors. It is the A&M way.
Equal Opportunity Employer
It is Alvarez & Marsal’s practice to provide and promote equal opportunity in employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, sex or gender, gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, family medical history, genetic information or other protected medical condition, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by and in accordance with applicable laws. Employees and Applicants can find A&M policy statements and additional information by region here.
Unsolicited Resumes from Third-Party Recruiters
Please note that as per A&M policy, we do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters unless such recruiters are engaged to provide candidates for a specified opening and in alignment with our Inclusive Diversity values. Any employment agency, person or entity that submits an unsolicited resume does so with the understanding that A&M will have the right to hire that applicant at its discretion without any fee owed to the submitting employment agency, person or entity.