EMEA Payroll Consultant – 6‑month Contract

About the role

We are looking for an experienced Payroll Consultant to deliver accurate, timely and compliant payroll across multiple EMEA countries on a 6‑month fixed‑term basis. The role is hybrid, with 1‑2 days per week working from home.

Key responsibilities

• Manage end‑to‑end payroll processing for assigned EMEA countries, ensuring accuracy and adherence to payroll calendars.
• Review, validate and reconcile payroll inputs and outputs, including salary changes, bonuses, allowances, deductions and statutory payments.
• Ensure compliance with country‑specific tax, social security, labour law, data‑privacy and internal control requirements.
• Coordinate payroll calendars, resolve exceptions and confirm funding and payment approvals with local providers and internal stakeholders.
• Prepare payroll reports, journal entries, variance analysis and gross‑to‑net reconciliations.
• Support year‑end activities, statutory filings and audit requests, maintaining documentation for each country.
• Respond to payroll inquiries, investigate discrepancies and provide clear resolutions.
• Maintain up‑to‑date payroll documentation, standard operating procedures and process controls.
• Identify and implement improvements to increase automation and enhance the employee payroll experience.

Required profile

• Proven experience in multi‑country payroll operations, preferably across the EMEA region.
• Strong understanding of payroll compliance, statutory deductions, tax, social security, labour regulations and data‑privacy requirements.
• Experience working with third‑party payroll providers and cross‑functional teams such as HR, Finance, Tax and Benefits.
• Excellent attention to detail, organisational skills and ability to manage deadlines across multiple payroll calendars.
• Strong communication skills to explain payroll issues clearly to employees, vendors and business partners.

Required skills

• Advanced Excel proficiency.
• Experience with HR/payroll systems and third‑party payroll platforms.
• Ability to perform complex payroll calculations, reconciliations and variance analysis.