Global Payroll Process Owner

Role Overview

We are seeking an experienced and analytical Global Payroll Process Owner to support and enhance our global payroll operations, governance, and compliance framework. This role is critical in ensuring payroll accuracy, consistency, and best‑in‑class employee experience across all regions.

The successful candidate will act as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for global payroll, partnering closely with internal stakeholders and external payroll vendors. You will proactively drive continuous improvement, strengthen vendor relationships, and foster a collaborative global payroll community focused on sharing best practices and raising capability across the organization.

This role requires strong technical payroll knowledge and the ability to influence without direct authority. You will play a key role in embedding payroll best practices, upskilling payroll teams, and ensuring payroll supports the company’s purpose, culture, and people experience.

Key Responsibilities

Global Payroll Operations & Governance

• Act as a global payroll subject matter expert , providing guidance on complex payroll matters, statutory requirements, and payroll best practices.
• Support the design, maintenance, and continuous improvement of global payroll governance frameworks, controls, and standard operating procedures.
• Ensure payroll processes align with internal policies, local legislation, and global compliance standards.
• Lead or support payroll audits, risk assessments, and issue resolution across regions.

Payroll Vendor Management

• Manage relationships with global and local payroll vendors, building strong partnerships based on trust, transparency, and performance.

· Act as a key escalation point for vendor issues, ensuring timely resolution and root‑cause analysis.

· Drive vendor performance through regular reviews, KPIs, service level agreements, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Payroll Best Practice Sharing

• Encouraging collaboration and knowledge‑sharing between regional payroll teams.
• Facilitate forums or regular calls to share best practices, process improvements, and regulatory updates.
• Capture and standardize leading payroll practices to improve consistency and efficiency globally.

Capability Building & Upskilling

• Support the upskilling of payroll teams by developing guidance materials, playbooks, and training content.
• Coach and mentor payroll colleagues on complex processes, systems, and legislation.
• Act as a trusted advisor to HR, People Services, Finance, and other stakeholders on payroll‑related topics.

Continuous Improvement & Employee Experience

• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, and automate payroll processes where appropriate.
• Contribute to payroll transformation initiatives, system enhancements, or vendor transitions as required.
• Ensure payroll delivery is accurate, timely, and employee‑centric, minimizing errors and improving overall employee experience

Key Relationships

• Payroll Services and People Systems teams in all regions
• Legal, Procurement, Internal Audit and Compliance teams
• Tax Authorities
• Finance and Accounting
• 3rd party payroll providers

Skills and Experience

Essential

• Significant experience in global or multi‑country payroll , preferably within a complex, matrixed organization.
• Strong knowledge of payroll compliance, statutory reporting, and controls across multiple jurisdictions.
• Proven experience working with and managing external payroll vendors.
• Ability to act as a subject matter expert and trusted advisor on payroll matters.
• Strong analytical skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Collaborative and community-focused mindset.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder‑management skills, with the ability to influence without authority.
• Continuous improvement orientation

Desirable

• Experience in shared service or global People Services environments.
• Exposure to payroll transformation, system implementations, or process re‑engineering.
• Familiarity with global payroll operating models and best‑practice frameworks.
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Tate & Lyle is an equal opportunity employer, committed to the strength of an inclusive workforce.