Cooper Parry Finance Recruitment
Process Owner - Payroll
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Payroll Workstream Lead
Hybrid Working | Competitive Salary + Benefits
A leading international organisation is seeking an experienced Payroll Workstream Lead to play a pivotal role in delivering payroll transformation initiatives across a complex global business.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of payroll operations, driving standardisation, efficiency, and continuous improvement across multiple regions. Working closely with senior stakeholders, finance leaders, and project teams, you will lead the design and implementation of a modern payroll operating model while supporting a wider finance transformation agenda.
The Opportunity
As Payroll Workstream Lead, you will be responsible for defining the future direction of payroll processes, systems, and controls. You will oversee a portfolio of payroll-related projects, ensuring initiatives are delivered effectively, governed appropriately, and aligned to the organisation's long-term strategic objectives.
This role combines payroll expertise, programme delivery, and process improvement, making it ideal for someone who enjoys driving change and influencing business-wide transformation.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development and implementation of a future-focused global payroll operating model.
- Define payroll process standards, governance frameworks, and best practice ways of working.
- Review and optimise payroll processes to improve efficiency, consistency, and scalability.
- Assess current payroll activities and costs to support future operating model decisions.
- Create and maintain payroll process documentation, standards, and controls.
- Develop and manage workstream plans, ensuring milestones, priorities, and objectives are clearly defined.
- Identify and manage risks, issues, and dependencies across payroll transformation projects.
- Act as the payroll subject matter expert within broader finance and business transformation programmes.
- Support the implementation of payroll system enhancements and payroll technology initiatives.
- Develop and maintain a multi-year payroll roadmap aligned to business objectives.
- Design meaningful payroll performance metrics and reporting frameworks.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives and identify opportunities to enhance payroll service delivery.
- Support change management, stakeholder engagement, and communication activities across all payroll-related projects.
- Collaborate with finance, HR, operations, and programme teams to ensure successful project delivery.
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About You
We are keen to speak with payroll professionals who combine strong operational expertise with experience delivering change and transformation initiatives.
You will have:
- Significant payroll experience, ideally within a complex or multi-national environment.
- Experience leading payroll workstreams within finance transformation, process improvement, ERP, or systems implementation programmes.
- Strong knowledge of payroll processes, controls, governance, and compliance requirements.
- Experience designing and improving end-to-end payroll processes.
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
- The ability to translate complex operational requirements into structured, practical solutions.
- Strong project planning and organisational skills.
- A continuous improvement mindset with a focus on standardisation and operational excellence.
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Desirable Experience
- Exposure to global payroll environments.
- Experience with process improvement methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, or similar frameworks.
- Previous involvement in payroll technology, systems implementation, or optimisation projects.
What's on Offer?
- Competitive salary and performance-related bonus.
- Generous annual leave entitlement with flexible holiday options.
- Private medical cover and wellbeing support.
- Enhanced pension contribution scheme.
- Life assurance.
- Employee assistance programme.
- Cycle to Work scheme.
- Ongoing learning and development opportunities.
- A collaborative and supportive working environment.
- The opportunity to influence and shape payroll operations on a global scale.
Apply Now
If you're an experienced payroll professional with a passion for transformation, process improvement, and delivering strategic change, we'd love to hear from you. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead meaningful payroll initiatives and make a lasting impact within a forward-thinking international organisation.
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