Payroll Manager, EMEA

Job Title

Payroll Manager EMEA

Line of Business

EMEA Time & Payroll Hub

Contract Type

Permanent Full Time

Location

Hammersmith, London

(4 days in office, 1 day from home)

Reports To

EMEA Senior Payroll Manager

Direct Reports

~6+ (Business Area Dependent)

Overall purpose of the role

• The management of the EMEA Payrolls across a number of lines of business within The Walt Disney Company, through the leadership of the EMEA Time and Payroll team and management of diverse stakeholders across the businesses.

• Primary lead for payroll review project supporting business change through implementation of best practice models/system solutions for 24+ countries across EMEA.

• Direct line management, core leadership inclusive of people development of multiple payroll team members.

Responsibilities

Core Responsibilities

• Support EMEA Payrolls from a centralised Time & Payroll (T&P) HUB
• Ensure Payroll Processing performed by the Payroll vendor meet or exceed the established Payroll SLA, controls and compliance standards 
• Manage and develop direct reports to support succession planning and payroll operations
• Act as senior escalation point on all Disney EMEA payroll service issues and support resolution with vendor as well as timely resolution of payroll related queries from employees and legal entity stakeholders
• Ensure employees receive accurate remuneration on the published pay dates, thereby ensuring that the Company meets its contractual obligations
• Coordinate and carefully maintain relationships between third party payroll providers and Disney internal partners to ensure timely and accurate payroll process
• Approve monthly, quarterly, annual and other periodicity reports to the management of the Company, local authorities and other recipients
• To resolve all assigned payroll related queries from employees and legal entity stakeholders in a professional and timely manner or escalate where appropriate
• To resolve legal entity concerns about the payroll process provided by the payroll provider
• Oversee required payments to third parties and ensure statutory deadlines are met
• Support and provide appropriate cover for other peer Managers within the EMEA organisation
• Oversee and ensure payroll compliance in accordance with Audit SOX controls and procedures
• Maintain relationships with internal stakeholders to ensure smooth and collaborative day to day business
• Troubleshoot SAP technical issues at a high level, ensuring improvements and efficiencies

Operational Lead

• Oversee Stock Options/RSU and LTIC payments for local and country transfers
• Support defining local technical and functional requirements as required
• Facilitate payroll involvement with global and local initiatives when appropriate
• Strategic support for ongoing operations
• Support resolution for supplier service failures
• Share best practices/processes/systems across countries

Implementation Lead (Wider EMEA Specific)

• Act as the primary vendor contact to support payroll governance
• Establish a regional strategy for best practice supplier governance methodology
• Implement standardised procedural and legal frameworks across EMEA region
• Identify and manage appropriate relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and authorities/bodies for the benefit of the business
• Provide advice and direction regarding payroll process, compliance, and best practice/processes
• Facilitate collaboration between local payroll teams and other global functional teams to implement new programs/initiatives, resolve issues, share solutions
• Ensure consistency in compliance with SOX and Internal Controls

Experience requirements

• Payroll management qualification
• Significant related experience, ideally leading a regional payroll team for a large multi-national employer
• Strong knowledge of payroll practices, regulations and taxes across a broad spectrum of countries within EMEA
• Ability to work independently, act with discretion and privy to confidential information
• Demonstrable interest/knowledge of information systems
• Experience of retail business, from a payroll perspective is desirable
• Ability to drive transformational change and lead change management
• Proven experience of reviewing and developing payroll procedures and policies
• Experience of dealing with expenses and benefits and has a good working knowledge of employee taxes
• High attention to detail with good analytical and numeracy skills

Skill requirements

• Ability to manage and lead a regional Payroll team and set individual and team objectives.
• Communicates effectively and builds strong working relationships with other functions (e.g. HR and Line of Business management)
• Flexible and able to adapt, evolve and grow with the business
• Excellent interpersonal skills - treats people with respect, is approachable, open & direct, develops effective working relationships with staff at all levels
• Good decision making skills
• Project Management skills
• Flexible approach to work, responsibilities and deadlines
• Strong focus in customer service
• Diplomatic, Discreet and Confidential

Competency requirements

• Builds relationships
• Communicates effectively
• Drives results
• Champions change/continuous improvements
• Exhibits professional excellence