EMEA Payroll Manager – Lead a Multi-Country Payroll Transformation | London | Hybrid | 6-Month FTC

Are you an experienced payroll leader who thrives in complex, multi-country environments? This is a unique opportunity to join Projective Group and work on-site with one of our global banking clients, taking ownership of the EMEA payroll function and playing a key role in their regional operations. You’ll need proven, hands-on experience managing payrolls across EMEA to succeed in this role.

You’ll ensure payroll runs smoothly and accurately for more than 500 employees across 10 countries, working closely with senior stakeholders and making a direct impact on both day-to-day operations and future growth.

What you’ll be doing

• Lead and manage 11 monthly payrolls across 10 EMEA countries, drawing on your in-depth regional knowledge to ensure accuracy, timeliness and compliance.

• Partner with the client’s payroll provider (TMF) and build strong relationships across Finance, HR and senior leadership.

• Maintain a robust control framework, ensuring payroll processes align with regulatory standards.

• Provide clear, actionable payroll reporting and insights to support informed decision-making.

• Contribute to process improvement and transformation initiatives across the Finance function.

• Provide leadership and guidance within the payroll function, including supporting the Payroll Associate and collaborating with wider Finance and HR teams to ensure operational excellence.

What you’ll bring

• Extensive experience leading multi-country EMEA payroll operations, ideally gained in complex, regulated environments.

• Proven expertise managing complex payroll operations and leading teams.

• A recognised accounting qualification (e.g. ACCA, CIMA, ICAS or ICAEW).

• Strong analytical, communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Advanced Excel skills and the ability to translate numbers into meaningful insight.

• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset.

Why this is a role with real impact

You’ll join Projective Group and work on-site with one of our clients, a major global banking advisory firm, stepping into a high-impact leadership role with visibility across senior stakeholders.

This is an opportunity to lead and shape a complex, multi-country EMEA payroll function, ensuring best practice across multiple jurisdictions.

For experienced payroll leaders, this is an excellent platform to drive operational excellence, influence transformation initiatives and gain exposure to strategic decision-making at a global level.

This is a 6-month initialfixed-term contract, with the potential for extension.

Who are we?

At Projective Group, we partner with leading organisations to tackle their toughest challenges and deliver innovative solutions. Specialising in Insurance, Transformation, Data, Risk & Compliance and Payments, we help financial services businesses thrive in a rapidly evolving industry.

Ready to take the next step? Apply now and let’s start the conversation…

At Projective Group, we celebrate diversity and inclusion. We welcome all candidates across all backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, religions, abilities, and neurodivergent perspectives. Please let us know if you require any adjustments during the recruitment process.