Senior Payroll Manager – Ireland / UK

Permanent Contract
Location: Anngrove, Carrigtwohill, Cork
Hybrid Position

Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Payroll & Workforce Management (WFM) Manager to lead payroll operations across Ireland and the UK. The successful candidate will oversee the administration, preparation, and submission of multiple payrolls, ensuring compliance with local and international legislation. This role involves managing a dedicated team, optimizing performance, standardizing processes, and ensuring high-quality service delivery to internal stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Payroll and WFM team, providing coaching, mentoring, and ongoing professional development.

• Oversee all payroll and WFM processes, ensuring compliance with international laws and regulations across multiple entities and pay cycles.

• Ensure accurate and timely processing of weekly and monthly payrolls through effective procedural controls and validations.

• Approve payments related to payroll, pensions, payroll taxes, and other related items.

• Deliver excellent customer service as part of Tier 2 support, resolving issues and escalating where necessary.

• Partner with Finance teams to ensure proper administration of payroll accounting, employee-related accruals, and audit support.

• Implement and maintain SOX controls and collaborate with internal and external auditors to ensure smooth audit processes.

• Drive continuous improvement by recommending and developing operational efficiencies within payroll and WFM functions.

• Partner cross-functionally with HR, Finance, Internal Audit, IT, and external vendors to support system enhancements and process improvements.

• Manage relationships with third-party providers to ensure compliance, streamlined operations, and adherence to service-level expectations.

• Coordinate communication and updates with internal and external stakeholders regarding payroll-related matters.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification required.

• Minimum of 10 years’ relevant experience, including HR or payroll leadership roles.

• Proven experience managing payroll across Ireland and the UK; exposure to global payroll operations is an advantage.

• 4+ years of people management experience preferred.

• Strong understanding of payroll systems, time and attendance (T&A) software, and international payroll compliance.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a focus on process improvement and efficiency.

• Fluent English required; an additional European language is an advantage.

Key Competencies

• Adaptive Thinking

• Collaboration & Communication

• Strategic Influence

• Analytical & Critical Thinking

• Creativity & Problem Solving

• Empathy & Resilience

• Social Intelligence