Payroll Partner, EMEA

About the Role

As a Payroll Partner, EMEA, you will focus on EMEA payroll while contributing to selected global projects and helping shape longer-term payroll capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Own accurate, efficient EMEA payroll operations, including payroll processing, region-specific securities regulations and employment tax requirements, reconciliations, and month-end and year-end close procedures.
• Provide strategic direction across payroll operations, service delivery, control frameworks, advisory, cost reduction, and system improvements.
• Lead payroll implementations and improvements, including the rollout of a unified global payroll solution for each entity and the optimisation of system integrations, workflows, and data automation.
• Analyse global payroll data and provide insights that help Finance and HR understand employee-cost trends and improve forecasting, while supporting global payroll projects where needed.
• Partner with Legal and HR on new entity setup and Employment of Record services as part of Airwallex’s international expansion, and support the evolution of payroll systems and tools.
• Advise employees and stakeholders on pay issues, award changes, new policies, and payroll enquiries, resolving queries raised through JIRA and Slack professionally.
• Build a practical payroll knowledge repository, including process documentation, FAQs, and response templates, while driving improvements that strengthen efficiency, accuracy, and the employee experience.

Requirements

Essentials

• At least 5 years’ regional experience managing end-to-end payroll processing, with strong EMEA payroll exposure.
• Experience providing strategic direction across payroll operations, service delivery, controls, advisory, system improvements, and stakeholder management.
• Experience leading or contributing to payroll implementation, HRIS/payroll integration, system optimisation, or workflow automation projects.
• Strong understanding of payroll compliance, employment tax requirements, reconciliations, and month-end and year-end close procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and resolve payroll discrepancies and issues with accuracy and sound judgement.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills, with the ability to analyse payroll data and produce meaningful reports for Finance and HR.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team in a high-growth environment.
• Careful handling of confidential and sensitive information.
• Familiarity with payroll vendor management and payroll-related HRIS integrations.

Preferred

• A bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field.
• Experience with private equity, RSU, ESOP schemes, and related reporting requirements.
• Experience supporting entity setup and Employment of Record services.
• Experience leading a team or coordinating work across payroll operations and implementation projects.
• Experience working with JIRA, Slack, or similar tools to manage employee and stakeholder queries.

Team and Culture

Finance & Corporate Development helps Airwallex grow with control. We’re a trusted partner to the business, providing actionable insights on performance, supporting market and product expansion and helping to shape the future of our product.