Regional Payroll Manager – France, Belgium, Netherlands

Posted 9 Days Ago
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Reading, Berkshire, England, GBR
Hybrid
Senior level
Fashion • Retail
The Role
Leads payroll operations across France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, ensuring accurate, timely, compliant processing for high-volume retail employees. Oversees payroll teams, vendors, budgets, audits, controls, business continuity, legislation, process standardization, automation, and regional payroll strategy. Serves as the escalation point for payroll risks and failures while coaching employees and managing stakeholder relationships.
Summary Generated by Built In
Company Description

Regional Payroll Manager – France, Belgium, Netherlands

Because we strive to put people first.  
Culture, our way. 

Payroll at Primark

What’s a career at Primark all about? The positive impact you’re making, the experiences you’re having and the people you’re with. You’re our inspiration. Embrace what sets you apart, own your career and develop in ways you never expected. Leave your mark. And do it your way.  

What You’ll Get 

People are at the heart of what we do here, so it’s essential we provide you with the right environment to perform at your very best.

Let’s talk lifestyle: Healthcare, pension, and potential bonus. 27 days of leave, plus bank holidays and if you want, you can buy 5 more. Because Primark is all about tailoring to you, we offer Tax Saver Tickets, fitness centre, and a subsidised cafeteria.

Job Description

The Regional Payroll Managers are responsible for leading payroll operations across multiple markets. This includes overseeing the accurate and timely processing of payroll for store, warehouse, and head office colleagues, in line with global processes, while ensuring compliance with local labor laws, retail-specific scheduling practices, and union or collective agreements where applicable. The role is key to delivering a seamless employee pay experience and maintaining strong internal controls in a fast-paced, high-volume retail environment

Responsibilities:

  • Lead the team to drive efficient operational processing through the adoption of automation where possible, application of standardised processes and delivery of a consistent service model
  • Lead on delivery of the Payroll Roadmap for the Region
  • Senior escalation point, for payroll failures, risks and errors
  • Manage operational costs for the Region, driving a cost leadership mindset.
  • Provide input to the preparation of the annual Global Payroll budget
  • Design new payroll policies and processes where appropriate, in collaboration with the Global Process owner
  • Support in the design and delivery of the payroll strategy and agreed global ways of working.
  • Maintains a strong high-performing team through effective recruiting, training, coaching, team building, performance management and resource planning.
  • Ensure payroll compliance with regional labor laws, minimum wage regulations, tax requirements, and collective bargaining agreements.
  • Oversee the maintenance of audit-ready documentation and internal or external payroll audits.
  • Implement strong internal controls to prevent payroll errors or fraud in high-volume retail environments.
  • Foster and maintain positive relationships with internal stakeholders
  • Maintain awareness of changes to current payroll legislation to advise the business on necessary changes
  • Management of the external international payroll vendor contracts, including the on-going management of SLAs, service delivery, and ensuring compliance to in-country reporting requirements.
  • Develop and maintain robust Business Continuity plans for all payrolls.
  • Lead internal and external audits within supported countries ensuring process improvements are introduced as necessary and in line with audit findings

Qualifications

  • Minimum 7 years’ experience of managing EMEA payrolls and payroll systems.
  • CIPP qualified or equivalent.
  • Strong project management experience.
  • Strong people leadership.
  • A solid understanding of efficient and effective payroll processes.
  • Change Management.
  • Knowledge of payroll data flow from integrated systems e.g., HCM and Time and Attendance
  • Demonstrates Primark behaviours and values, coach and develop team.  Sound judgement, unquestionable ethics and integrity with a high degree of transparency and trust.
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written to build strong relationships with all internal and external stakeholders.
  • Advanced level excel/MS skills.
  • Excellent attention to detail and analytical skills.
  • Detailed company and legislative knowledge for countries supporting.
  • Demonstrates experience to work to deadlines and performing duties under pressure.
  • Organisational and time management skills in managing multiple, diverse and sometimes conflicting priorities.
  • Ability in managing sensitive matters whilst ensuring all Primark information remains confidential
  • Ability to develop effective working relationships across all levels of the organisation.
  • Effective and persuasive communication skills, including the ability to present complex information in an understandable manner to all areas of the business.
  • Ability to lead, influence and coach others.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, resilient and sees the bigger picture

Additional Information

Does this sound like you? Great, because we can’t wait to see what you’ll bring. You’ll be supported within a team of equally capable people, celebrating who you are and aiding you reach your potential. At Primark, we’re excited about our future - and we’re excited to develop yours.  

About Primark 

At Primark, people matter. They’re the beating heart of our business and the reason we’ve grown from our first store in Dublin in 1969 to a £9bn+ turnover business and over 80,000 colleagues and over 440 stores in 17 countries today. Our values run through everything we do. In essence, we're Caring and always strive to put people first. We're also Dynamic, bravely pushing the boundaries to stay ahead. And finally, we succeed Together.  

If you need any reasonable adjustments or have an accessibility request, during your recruitment journey, such as extended time or breaks between online assessments, a sign language interpreter, mobility access, or assistive technology please contact your talent acquisition specialist. 

All offers of employment are subject to background checks, including right to work, reference education and for some roles criminal, and financial checks. If you have any concerns, please reach out to our talent acquisition team to discuss. 

Req ID: JR-13672

#LI-Hybrid

#LI-AK1

Skills Required

  • At least 7 years of experience managing EMEA payrolls and payroll systems
  • CIPP qualification or equivalent
  • Strong project management experience
  • Strong people leadership experience
  • Understanding of efficient and effective payroll processes
  • Change management experience
  • Knowledge of payroll data flows from integrated HCM and Time and Attendance systems
  • Advanced Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office skills
  • Detailed company and payroll legislative knowledge for supported countries
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Strong attention to detail and analytical skills
  • Experience working to deadlines and under pressure
  • Organizational and time management skills
  • Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information
  • Ability to develop effective relationships across organizational levels
  • Ability to lead, influence, coach, and develop others
  • Sound judgment, ethics, integrity, transparency, and trustworthiness
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage competing priorities

Primark Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Primark and has not been reviewed or approved by Primark.

  • Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is often characterized as fair or good compared to similar retail roles, and overtime availability can improve take-home earnings. Recent UK minimum-rate increases and the removal of age-related pay tiers reinforce a sense of improving pay fairness.
  • Leave & Time Off Breadth — Paid time off stands out as comparatively strong for retail, with full-time roles described as having notably generous PTO alongside sick time and paid holidays. This breadth can increase the overall value of the compensation package beyond hourly wages.
  • Parental & Family Support — Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, and surrogacy payments are positioned as meaningful additions to the rewards package. Ongoing colleague discounts and family-oriented support contribute to a more rounded benefits offering.

Primark Insights

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The Company
HQ: Dublin, Dublin
37,781 Employees
Year Founded: 1969

What We Do

Primark is an international fashion retailer employing more than 80,000 colleagues across 17 countries in Europe and the US. Founded in Ireland in 1969 under the Penneys brand, Primark aims to provide affordable choices for everyone, from great quality everyday essentials to stand-out style across women’s, men’s and kids, as well as beauty, homeware and accessories. With a focus on creating great retail experiences, Primark has over 440 stores globally and continues to expand with the aim of reaching 530 stores by the end of 2026. ­­ Primark is working to make more sustainable fashion affordable for everyone through its Primark Cares strategy, a multi-year programme that focuses on giving clothing a longer life, protecting life on the planet and supporting the livelihoods of the people who make Primark clothes. As part of this, Primark unveiled nine commitments it is working to achieve by 2030. These commitments include making all of its clothes from recycled or more sustainably sourced materials by 2030, halving carbon emissions across its value chain and pursuing a living wage for workers in its supply chain.

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