EMEAA Payroll Manager

Overview:

Element is seeking an experienced EMEAA Payroll Manager to lead a high‑performing payroll team within our Finance function, based in our Global Business Services Centre in Edinburgh. This role is critical in delivering our global payroll strategy, ensuring operational excellence, and supporting the rollout of a unified payroll solution across EMEAA countries.

You will partner closely with Finance, HR, Legal and external vendors to ensure payroll operations are accurate, compliant and delivered on time across multiple jurisdictions.

Responsibilities:

Payroll accuracy & governance — Ensure accurate, timely and compliant payroll processing across all EMEAA countries, including review and approval of payroll documentation

Cross‑border compliance — Maintain strong knowledge of regional statutory requirements, tax rules, social security obligations and reporting deadlines

Payment management — Oversee all regular and ad‑hoc payroll payments, ensuring correct funding, approvals and reconciliation

Process & system optimisation — Analyse and enhance payroll processes, controls and system workflows; monitor vendor performance and drive governance improvements

Team leadership — Lead, coach and develop the Payroll team based in Edinburgh and Dubai, fostering a culture of accountability, accuracy and continuous improvement

Efficiency & innovation — Identify opportunities to streamline processes, automate manual tasks and introduce best‑practice ways of working

Change leadership — Drive payroll‑related change initiatives, ensuring alignment with global transformation programmes and business priorities

Integration & onboarding — Lead payroll integration for new acquisitions, ensuring smooth onboarding, data accuracy and adherence to Element standards

Controls & audit readiness — Maintain strong internal controls, support internal/external audits and ensure full documentation and compliance

Stakeholder management — Build strong relationships with Finance, HR, Legal, IT and external payroll providers to ensure seamless end‑to‑end payroll delivery

Global collaboration — work closely with the AMRS region Payroll Lead to standardise processes, systems and controls

Skills / Qualifications:

Extensive payroll expertise across multiple EMEAA jurisdictions, with strong knowledge of statutory requirements and compliance

Experience with Dayforce or Deel is advantageous but not essential

Proven experience leading a regional payroll team, embedding best practices, strong controls and continuous improvement

Analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to manage complex, high‑volume, multi‑country payrolls

Strong understanding of payroll accounting, reconciliations and financial controls

Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy and quality

A payroll‑related qualification is required

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To apply please email derek.grist@element.com

Company Overview:

Element is one of the fastest growing testing, inspection and certification businesses in the world. Globally we have more than 9,000 brilliant minds operating from 270 sites across 30 countries. Together we share an ambitious purpose to ‘Make tomorrow safer than today’.

When failure in use is not an option, we help customers make certain that their products, materials, processes and services are safe, compliant and fit for purpose. From early R&D, through complex regulatory approvals and into production, our global laboratory network of scientists, engineers, and technologists support customers to achieve assurance over product quality, sustainable outcomes, and market access.

While we are proud of our global reach, working at Element feels like being part of a smaller company. We empower you to take charge of your career, and reward excellence and integrity with growth and development.

Industries across the world depend on our care, attention to detail and the absolute accuracy of our work. The role we have to play in creating a safer world is much bigger than our organization.

Diversity Statement:

All suitably qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment on the basis of objective work related criteria and without regard for the following: age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, race, religion, responsibility of dependents, sexual orientation, or gender identity or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws or other characteristics in accordance with the applicable governing laws.