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.

Our new colleague will join us based from our beautiful new office in Edinburgh Park where we enjoy state-of-the-art facilities including collaboration spaces, huddle rooms, open-concept layout, and abundant natural light. With fantastic links by train, tram, commuter routes, as well as having designated parking, we are well connected for colleagues across the central belt of Scotland.

Responsibilities

• Payroll accuracy and 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 and 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 and onboarding: lead payroll integration for new acquisitions, ensuring smooth onboarding, data accuracy and adherence to Element standards
• Controls and 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
• Payroll‑related qualification is required
• 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

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

At Element, we always take pride in putting our people first. We are an equal opportunity employer that recognizes diversity and inclusion as fundamental to our Vision of becoming “the world’s most trusted testing partner”.

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.