Payroll Specialist 1 year contract

Payroll Specialist (1 year contract)
Ireland/UK
Full-time
Hybrid

About the Role

We’re looking for a detail-oriented Payroll Specialist to enable end-to-end payroll operations across EMEA. You will manage multi-country payroll cycles, ensure statutory compliance, partner with in-country providers (ICPs), and deliver accurate and timely payrolls for a diverse employee population. Experience with ADP Celergo (preferred) and core HRIS/payroll integrations like Oracle HCM is essential. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced, global environment and brings a strong control mindset with excellent stakeholder management.

Key Responsibilities

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End-to-End Payroll Processing
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Prepare, validate, and process monthly/fortnightly payrolls across multiple EMEA countries.
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Own gross-to-net calculations, off-cycles, retros, and reconciliations.
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Review pre- and post-payroll reports, audit files, GL postings, and variance analyses.
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Compliance & Controls
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Ensure statutory compliance with local country tax, social security, pensions, and benefit-in-kind requirements.
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Maintain robust controls, documentation, and audit readiness (internal & external).
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Coordinate year-end activities and complete on time to support employees for filing returns
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Vendor & ICP Management
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Partner with ADP Celergo (and/or other ICPs) for country-specific processing, SLAs, and issue resolution.
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Monitor vendor performance, drive root-cause analysis, and continuous improvements.
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HRIS & Integrations
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Validate and reconcile Oracle HCM/inbound/outbound payroll interfaces (new hires, terms, transfers, comp changes).
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Employee Support & Case Management
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Manage payroll queries and responding via the helpdesk/case management tool (e.g., ServiceNow, Freshservice).
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Accounting & Finance Partnership
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Reconcile payroll accounts, support journal entries, and month-end close (accruals, provisions).
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Support treasury with funding files, bank payments, net pay, and statutory remittances.
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Operational Excellence
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Maintain and enhance SOPs, process maps, and control checklists.
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Lead/participate in projects: country transitions, M&A integrations, system enhancements, and new market entries.
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Track KPIs and drive continuous improvement (quality, timeliness, cost, and employee experience).
Required Qualifications & Experience
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6–8 years of progressive payroll experience, with multi-country exposure inEMEA.
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Strong command of payroll processing and statutory compliance across APAC and EMEA countries.
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Hands-on experience working with ADP Celergo, ADP Vantage and ADP Streamline will be added advantage
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Proficient with Oracle HCM payroll integrations and data validation.
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Experience using a helpdesk/case tool (e.g., ServiceNow) for payroll tickets and SLAs.
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Good understanding of GL mapping, payroll accounting, and bank/payment files.
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Advanced Excel (lookups, pivots, reconciliations); strong data accuracy and numerical reasoning.
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Excellent communication and stakeholder management across time zones.
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Country-specific expertise (e.g., Belgium, Lux, Switzerland, Netherland and Nordic countries.
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Knowledge of benefits in payroll, shadow payroll, and mobility/expat cases.
Core Skills & Competencies
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Technical: payroll calculations, statutory filings/remittances, year-end reporting, GL & reconciliations, interface validations.
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Compliance: country payroll laws, social security, pensions/super, tax deadlines, reporting formats.
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Systems: ADP Celergo (preferred), Oracle HCM, Workday, helpdesk tools
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Behavioural: ownership, integrity, attention to detail, problem-solving, discretion with sensitive data, collaboration.
Education & Certifications
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Bachelor’s degree or master’s in accounting/finance/HR or related field (or equivalent experience).
Work Schedule

• Ability to support cross-regional time zones during payroll cycles and critical cut-offs.