Senior Payroll Specialist

About the Function:

Global Business Operations keeps our business moving, connecting markets, streamlining processes and keeping everything running smoothly at scale.

With teams across Bangalore, Budapest, Bogotá, Gurugram, and Manila, GBO delivers the essential services that support our day-to-day performance, from finance to operations and beyond. It’s a truly global environment, where collaboration across time zones and cultures is part of everyday life.

You’ll gain exposure to different markets, build skills for the future and develop a broad understanding of how a business operates at scale. It’s a great place to learn, grow and see the bigger picture.

About the role:

The Senior Specialist is responsible for the operational ownership of assigned EMEA payrolls throughout the complete payroll lifecycle. The role partners closely with HR Operations, First Point, Reward, Finance, Employment Tax, Treasury, Global Mobility and outsourced payroll providers to ensure payroll inputs are accurate, payroll outputs are validated, statutory obligations are met, and employees are paid accurately and on time.

The role combines deep payroll expertise with operational ownership, ensuring payroll governance, compliance, and an excellent employee experience while supporting continuous improvement and payroll transformation initiatives.

Dimensions

Financial

Responsible for payroll operations supporting multiple EMEA countries.

Ensures accurate salary, bonus and statutory payments.

Performs payroll reconciliations and financial validations.

Supports payroll journals, funding validation and financial reporting.

Supports internal and external audits.

Geographic Complexity

Responsible for payroll operations across multiple EMEA countries covering different:

Payroll legislation

Tax regulations

Social Security requirements

Collective agreements

Payroll vendors

Banking models

Payroll calendars

Supports complex payroll scenarios including:

New hires

Terminations

Bonus payments

Equity payments

Final settlements

Leave of absence

Expatriate payroll

Off-cycle payments

Statutory corrections

Relationships

Partners closely with:

Payroll Partners

HR Operations

First Point

Reward

Finance

Treasury

Employment Tax

Global Mobility

HR Directors

Internal Audit

External Auditors

Acts as the primary operational contact for assigned payrolls.

Purpose of Role

The Senior Specialist is responsible for delivering accurate, timely and compliant payroll operations across assigned EMEA markets through Diageo's outsourced payroll operating model.

The role leads the complete payroll lifecycle from payroll input collection through payroll validation, payroll partner management, payroll output reconciliation, payment processing and post-payroll activities.

The Senior Specialist works closely with upstream business functions and outsourced payroll providers to ensure payroll inputs are complete and accurate, payroll outputs are fully reconciled, payroll controls are implemented effectively, and all payroll activities are completed within agreed service levels.

The role also supports operational excellence through continuous improvement, audit readiness, compliance and payroll transformation initiatives.

Key Accountabilities

1. End-to-End Payroll Operations

Own end-to-end payroll operations for assigned EMEA payrolls.

Implement payroll activities throughout the complete payroll cycle.

Ensure payroll calendars and operational timelines are achieved.

Coordinate payroll readiness activities with internal stakeholders and payroll partners.

2. Payroll Input Management

Gather payroll inputs from HR Operations, First Point, Reward, Finance, Employment Tax, Treasury and Global Mobility.

Validate payroll inputs for completeness, accuracy and compliance.

Review new hires, exits, compensation changes, allowances, overtime, leave transactions, benefits and statutory inputs.

Ensure payroll inputs are submitted to payroll partners within agreed timelines.

3. Payroll Partner Management

Coordinate payroll processing activities with outsourced payroll providers.

Submit payroll input files and supporting documentation.

Respond to payroll partner queries.

Track payroll processing landmarks.

Ensure vendor adherence to payroll calendars and agreed service levels.

4. Payroll Validation & Reconciliation

Perform payroll validation activities throughout the payroll lifecycle, including:

Pre-Payroll

Input validation

Headcount reconciliation

Master data validation

Payroll readiness checks

During Payroll

Gross-to-net validation

Variance analysis

Exception management

Payroll quality checks

Post Payroll

Payroll output reconciliation

Payroll journals

Funding validation

Statutory reconciliation

Control completion

Payroll reporting

Review and validate:

Salary payments

Bonus and incentive payments

Final settlements

Off-cycle payments

Statutory deductions

Tax calculations

5. Payroll Controls & Compliance

Complete payroll controls in accordance with Diageo's governance framework.

Complete payroll checklists and maker responsibilities.

Maintain payroll documentation and audit evidence.

Support internal and external audits.

Ensure compliance with statutory requirements and internal policies.

6. Payment Processing

Prepare salary payment files.

Process salary and statutory payments.

Validate banking information.

Support payment approvals.

Coordinate funding requirements with Treasury.

7. Employee Experience

Resolve payroll-related employee queries.

Manage payroll cases through ServiceNow.

Partner with payroll vendors to resolve complex payroll issues.

Ensure queries are resolved within agreed SLAs.

Deliver a positive employee payroll experience.

8. Reporting & Analytics

Prepare payroll operational reports.

Perform payroll variance analysis.

Produce reconciliation reports.

Support payroll KPI reporting.

Analyse payroll trends and identify improvement opportunities.

9. Continuous Improvement

Find opportunities to simplify payroll processes.

Support automation initiatives.

Improve payroll controls and operational efficiency.

Update payroll SOPs and documentation.

Participate in payroll transformation initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor's degree in HR, Finance, Business Administration, Accounting or related subject area.

5–8 years of experience leading multi-country payroll operations across EMEA.

Experience working within an outsourced payroll operating model.

Strong understanding of payroll operations, statutory legislation and payroll controls.

Experience working with Workday, ServiceNow and payroll reporting tools.

Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.

Experience supporting payroll audits and regulatory compliance.

Skills & Capabilities

Payroll Expertise

Multi-country payroll operations

Payroll input validation

Payroll reconciliation

Gross-to-Net review

Payroll controls

Payroll reporting

Statutory compliance

Vendor Management

Payroll partner management

SLA monitoring

Issue resolution

Payroll calendar management

Operational Excellence

Process improvement

Automation

Continuous improvement

Data analysis

Root Cause Analysis

Behavioural Competencies

Strong analytical skills

Attention to detail

Customer management

Customer focus

Ownership and accountability

Problem-solving

Ability to manage multiple payrolls in a fast-paced environment

Role Responsibilities:

Experience / skills required:

Flexible Working Statement:

Flexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you, so that you’re supported to manage your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one.

Rewards & Benefits Statement: 

We recognise and value performance, offering our people a highly competitive Rewards and Benefits package including:

Diversity statement:

Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. And creating an inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and that they can belong, is a crucial part of this.

We adopt diversity in the broadest possible sense. This means that you’ll be welcomed and celebrated for who you are just by being you. You’ll be part of and help build and champion an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, attitudes and more.

Our ambition is to create the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world. Join us and help transform our business as we take our brands to new heights and build new ones as part of shaping the next generation of celebrations for consumers around the world.

Feel inspired? Then this may be the opportunity for you.

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