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