Global Payroll Project Lead

Type: Full Time
Duration: Fixed Term - 9 Months 
Location: London
Working Pattern: +2 days working from the office, 3 days remote

The Role

We're looking for an experienced Global Payroll Project Lead to drive the successful delivery of a global payroll transformation programme, including the implementation of outsourced payroll services across multiple regions.

Working closely with HR, Finance, Technology and external service providers, you will lead the end-to-end project lifecycle, ensuring a seamless transition to a scalable, efficient and compliant payroll operating model. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of payroll delivery within a global organisation, enhancing processes, controls, reporting capabilities and service excellence.

What You'll Be Doing

Lead a Global Payroll Transformation Programme

• Take ownership of the end-to-end payroll outsourcing implementation, from project initiation through to go-live and post-implementation support.

• Ensure project milestones, deliverables, timelines and budgets are effectively managed and achieved.

• Drive collaboration across global and regional teams to deliver a successful business outcome.

Partner with Key Stakeholders

• Work closely with HR, Finance, Technology teams and in-country payroll stakeholders to gather requirements, define scope and align on business objectives.

• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, ensuring effective communication throughout the project lifecycle.

• Support business readiness and change management activities across impacted regions.
   

Drive Process Improvement and Operational Excellence

• Review current payroll processes and identify opportunities to standardise, streamline and strengthen controls.

• Implement improvements that enhance payroll accuracy, efficiency, compliance and employee experience.

• Help establish best practice payroll processes that support long-term organisational growth.
   

Design a Future-Focused Payroll Operating Model

• Define and implement a sustainable global payroll service delivery model.

• Reduce operational risk by addressing key-person dependencies and improving resilience across payroll operations.

• Ensure reporting, data insights and system integrations meet business and strategic requirements, working with vendors and internal teams as necessary.
   

Manage Third-Party Vendors

• Act as the primary point of contact for external payroll providers throughout implementation and transition.

• Monitor vendor performance against agreed service levels and project commitments.

• Ensure service delivery meets operational, compliance and business expectations.
   

Enable Successful Adoption

• Develop training materials and deliver knowledge-transfer sessions to HR and payroll teams.

• Support users through process changes and adoption of new tools, systems and ways of working.
   

Manage Risk and Governance

• Identify and mitigate project risks, issues and dependencies.

• Establish effective governance and reporting structures to support project delivery.

• Provide regular updates to project sponsors and senior leadership on progress, milestones and key decisions.

What You'll Bring

• Significant experience leading payroll transformation, payroll outsourcing or large-scale payroll implementation projects within a multinational organisation.

• Proven track record of delivering complex global payroll programmes from planning through to implementation.

• Strong understanding of payroll operations, outsourcing models and payroll compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

• Excellent project management skills, with experience applying structured project methodologies; Agile experience is advantageous.

• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to engage effectively at all levels of an organisation.

• Experience managing third-party suppliers and service providers.

• Confidence working with payroll systems, data, reporting and integrations.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving and process improvement capabilities.

What’s in it for you  

• Modern, flexible working – A minimum of 2 days each week required from the office, 3 days from home.   

• Join an award-winning global firm: Clyde & Co is ranked Band 1 in multiple practice areas by Chambers and Legal 500.   

• Career progression and development - Structured learning and development programs, secondment opportunities and internal mobility across global offices   

• Award-winning for pro bono work and recognised as an inclusive firm, with global DEI initiatives, leadership programmes, and community impact through volunteering and sustainability. 

• Perks include life assurance from day one, season ticket loans and lifestyle discounts, an annual Wellbeing Day each year, 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme and more.   

Please note: eligibility for benefits may vary based on location and length of service. Full details will be confirmed upon joining. 

The Firm

When you work at Clyde & Co, you join a team of 500 partners, 2,400 lawyers, 3,200 legal professionals and 5,500 people in nearly 70 offices and associated offices worldwide. Our values are the principles that guide the decisions we make, unite us in our endeavours and strengthen our delivery, for both our clients and our firm. We work as one, excel with clients, celebrate difference and act boldly. We are committed to operating in a responsible way by progressing towards a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the communities and clients it serves. We are devoted to providing an environment in which everyone can realise their potential, using its legal and professional skills to support its communities. We do this through pro bono work, volunteering and charitable partnerships, and minimising the impact it has on the environment, including through our commitment to the SBTi Net-Zero standard and the setting of ambitious emissions reduction targets.

Our Commitment

Clyde & Co is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. Our values encourage us to support fairness, celebrate diversity and prohibit all forms of discrimination in the workplace to allow everyone to excel at work. Therefore, we welcome and encourage all applications from suitably qualified individuals, regardless of background or identity. Learn more about our interview process.

A Note on Privacy

Please take a moment to read our privacy notice. This describes what personal information Clyde & Co (we) may hold about you, what it’s used for, how it’s obtained, your rights and how to contact us as a data subject.

If you are submitting a candidate as a Recruitment Agency Partner, it is an essential requirement and your responsibility to ensure that candidates applying to Clyde & Co are aware of this privacy notice.

This is the job description as constituted at present; however, Clyde & Co reserves the right to reasonably amend it in accordance with the changing needs of the business.