Head of Global Payroll Operations

This position is posted by Jobgether on behalf of a partner company. We are currently looking for a Head of Global Payroll Operations in Spain.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to lead and transform global payroll operations in a fast-growing, international technology company. You will be responsible for designing, standardizing, and scaling payroll processes across multiple countries and entities, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance. The position combines operational leadership, vendor management, payroll accounting, and continuous process improvement initiatives. You will also build and mentor a high-performing global payroll team, implement automation, and drive harmonization efforts. The role requires collaboration with Finance, HR, Legal/Compliance, and external vendors while providing operational clarity and risk management. This is a dynamic environment where your leadership will directly impact payroll reliability and employee satisfaction globally.

Accountabilities

• Lead end-to-end global payroll operations across all countries and vendor models, ensuring zero missed payroll runs and high accuracy.
• Assess payroll maturity and define multi-year improvement roadmaps with measurable milestones.
• Design, enforce, and monitor global payroll standards, including calendars, controls, evidence packs, and playbooks.
• Oversee payroll accounting outcomes, including journals, accruals, reversals, and balance sheet hygiene, partnering with Finance for predictable closes.
• Drive automation, integration, and harmonization initiatives to reduce manual effort, spreadsheets, and exceptions.
• Manage vendor performance, transitions, and escalations, ensuring SLAs and KPIs are met.
• Lead incident management, root cause analysis, and systemic improvements after payroll events.
• Build, develop, and mentor a global payroll operations team, reducing dependency on key individuals.

Requirements

• 10 years of payroll leadership experience in multi-country environments (in-house and/or global vendor-managed models).
• Proven success in maturing payroll operations through standardization, controls, and scalable models.
• Strong payroll accounting knowledge and experience maintaining clean payroll balance sheets.
• Demonstrated vendor governance and transition leadership experience.
• Skilled at leading change during M&A, system implementations, or organizational restructures.
• Strong people leadership, team development, and capability-building skills.
• Excellent operational discipline, systems thinking, risk management, and continuous improvement mindset.
• Strong communication and influencing skills across Finance, HR, Legal/Compliance, and external vendors.
• Experience with payroll systems integration, internal controls, or operating in high-growth environments is a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Flexible working arrangements with remote options.
• Opportunities for professional growth and leadership development.
• Dynamic and collaborative work environment valuing initiative and innovation.
• Exposure to cutting-edge AI and ML technology in a fast-growing company.

Why Apply Through Jobgether?

We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team.

We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!

Data Privacy Notice

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer. This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR). You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time.