Job Title 

Job Description

This role is with KLG, a global leader in international education. KLG is now owned by Inspirit Capital and continues to deliver world-class educational experiences through its international network of schools and university partners.

As part of the establishment of a standalone HR function following the separation from Kaplan International, the Global Payroll Specialist will lead the delivery, transformation and continuous improvement of global payroll operations.

This role is responsible for ensuring employees are paid accurately, compliantly and on time across multiple countries, entities and payroll cycles, including monthly and semi-monthly payrolls. The role will oversee a diverse workforce including permanent employees, seasonal staff and sessional workers, while managing a combination of in-house and outsourced payroll models.

Working closely with HR, Finance, and external providers, the Global Payroll Manager will play a key role in building a scalable global payroll function. A key immediate priority will be the transition of UK and North America payroll operations in-house through HiBob and ADP Celergo, whilst maintaining effective oversight of outsourced providers and evaluating future opportunities for further insourcing.

The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on payroll expertise and will manage a small payroll team within the Global HR Services function.

Key Responsibilities

Global Payroll Operations

• Lead end-to-end payroll processing across multiple countries and jurisdictions.

• Ensure accurate and timely processing of monthly, semi-monthly and other local payroll cycles.

• Manage payroll activities including hires, terminations, compensation changes, variable pay, statutory and company sick pay, family-friendly payments and leave, benefits deductions, pension contributions, tax requirements and other payroll-related adjustments, ensuring compliance with local legislation, company policies and payroll practices in each jurisdiction.

• Ensure all employee payroll changes are accurately uploaded and approved in Celergo before payroll cut-off deadline.

• Review payroll calculations, reconciliations and reports prior to payroll approval, ensuring all payroll outputs are fully reconciled to funding requirements and payments released from company bank accounts, with discrepancies identified and resolved before payroll sign-off.

• Ensure robust reconciliation processes are maintained between payroll provider outputs, payroll journals, funding requests and employee payments to ensure accuracy, completeness and financial control.

• Oversee complex manual calculations and off-cycle payroll payments where required.

• Ensure payroll records are accurate, secure and audit-ready.

• Partner with Finance to support payroll funding, reporting and reconciliation activities.

Payroll Transformation & Continuous Improvement

• Lead the development of a standalone global payroll operating model.

• Manage the transition of UK and North America payroll operations in-house.

• Review outsourced payroll arrangements and identify opportunities for future migration and standardisation.

• Drive process improvements, automation and efficiency initiatives across payroll operations.

• Develop and maintain payroll procedures, controls and documentation.

• Champion change and support stakeholders through payroll transformation initiatives.

Payroll Compliance & Governance

• Ensure compliance with local employment legislation, tax regulations and statutory requirements across all operating countries.

• Maintain robust payroll controls and governance processes.

• Monitor legislative changes and implement required updates.

• Support internal and external payroll audits.

• Ensure compliance with data privacy and security requirements.

Payroll Systems & Vendor Management

• Act as the payroll lead for HiBob, ADP Celergo and other payroll platforms.

• Manage relationships with payroll vendors and outsourced service providers.

• Support payroll system implementations, integrations, testing and optimisation.

• Ensure payroll and HR data integrity across systems.

• Identify opportunities to improve system functionality and automation.

• Ensure seamless integration between payroll, HR and finance systems, including HiBob, ADP Celergo and other relevant platforms, to support accurate and timely payroll and financial reporting.

• Maintain payroll-related system configuration, coding structures and data mappings, ensuring organisational changes, compensation updates and employee data changes are accurately reflected across systems and downstream finance processes.

• Partner with HR and Finance teams to minimise manual adjustments by ensuring payroll source data is accurate, up to date and correctly integrated into finance reporting and payroll accounting processes.

Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Lead, coach and develop a small payroll team within the Global HR Services function.

• Build strong relationships with HR, Finance, and business stakeholders globally.

• Serve as a trusted advisor on payroll processes, compliance and best practices.

• Ensure payroll queries and escalations are resolved effectively and professionally.

• Collaborate effectively across multiple countries, cultures and time zones.

Experience & Qualifications

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resources or a related field.

• Significant payroll experience within a multinational environment.

• Experience managing payroll across multiple countries, legal entities and payroll frequencies.

• Experience working with both outsourced and in-house payroll models.

• Strong knowledge of payroll compliance, taxation, employment legislation and statutory requirements.

• Experience leading payroll transformation, migration or implementation projects.

• Strong analytical, reconciliation and problem-solving skills.

• Advanced Excel and payroll reporting capability.

• Experience preparing and validating payroll reports, payroll reconciliations, payroll journals and payroll data for Finance, audit and compliance purposes.

• Experience managing statutory reporting requirements, year-end payroll activities and regulatory submissions across one or more jurisdictions.

• Experience analysing payroll data, identifying trends, resolving discrepancies and providing insights to support business decision-making.

• Experience developing payroll controls, governance frameworks, process documentation and operational reporting metrics.

• Experience managing vendor relationships and service delivery against agreed SLAs and performance standards.

• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced, evolving and transformational environment.

• Experience leading, coaching and developing a small team.

• Excellent English, written and spoken.

• Experience managing payroll-to-finance interfaces, payroll reconciliations and system integrations to ensure accurate financial posting, reporting and control

Preferred

• Experience with HiBob and ADP Celergo.

• Experience supporting payroll operations across Europe, the UK & Ireland, North America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.

• Experience working within a shared services or global HR services environment.

• Professional payroll qualification.

Additional Information

This job description outlines the primary responsibilities of the role and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties. As the organisation continues to evolve and establish its standalone operating model, responsibilities may be reviewed and amended to meet changing business requirements. The role holder may be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the level and scope of the position.

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Kaplan lnternational is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. If you require any adjustments or additional support within the recruitment process, please contact us directly.