Regional Payroll Specialist - Middle East / Africa

Job description

the employer is the global workforce platform built on compliance. We help companies determine how to engage each member of their workforce and then execute with accountability built in — direct Employer of Record (EOR), Agent of Record (AOR), payroll, and compliance capabilities backed by a decade of practitioner-led expertise. Recognized as a category Leader by NelsonHall and Everest Group, the employer builds Human Experience Management into everything we do, guided by our "For People, by People" principle. The future of work is borderless, and so are we. Our people are located around the globe — in the U.S., the UK, India, Colombia, China, and beyond. Diversity and belonging are not just values; they are who we are. We are also committed to making a positive impact. Through our Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) impact initiative, we are addressing our environmental footprint and promoting social responsibility. Our impact program is central to our vision and culture, focusing on employee wellness, diversity, charitable work, and ethical corporate governance. Role Overview We are expanding our team by hiring a Regional Payroll Specialist—a collaborative, proactive team member who brings hands-on payroll expertise, fresh thinking, and a passion for continuous improvement. Reporting to the Regional Payroll Manager, you will support our European payroll operations by coordinating and processing payroll activities across assigned countries. This role requires solid experience managing payroll across the Middle East and the ability to contribute meaningfully to vendor consolidation and operational enhancement initiatives. You will work closely with HR and Finance teams on payroll-related matters, including onboarding, terminations, adjustments, compliance checks, and stakeholder support. Key Responsibilities • Serve as the first point of interaction with payroll partners and ensure the accuracy and timeliness of all payroll entries, transactions, and reports. • Follow established processes, schedules, and calendars while owning the reliability of payroll data inputs and outputs. • Coordinate payroll activities with internal teams and oversee adjustment pay, termination pay, and other payroll transactions. • Provide timely and accurate payroll data to Accounting and support reconciliation activities. • Collaborate with the Regional Payroll Manager on reporting, data analysis, audit projects, and continuous improvement initiatives. • Partner with HR to resolve employee payroll enquiries and manage garnishments, tax levies, and deductions. • Support non-standard payroll requirements (e.g., off-cycle payments, advances, urgent corrections) as needed. • Maintain and improve payroll dashboards to track progress through payroll cycles, highlight issues, and ensure timely resolutions. • Contribute to the Payroll Vendor Consolidation Project, supporting harmonisation efforts and strengthening vendor performance. • Identify opportunities to improve payroll operations, enhance efficiency, and streamline procedures. What We Value • Practical experience processing payroll in the Middle East • Experience contributing to multinational payroll implementation or onboarding projects (preferred). This position description may not describe all duties, responsibilities, and skills associated with this position. It is intended to portray the major aspects of the job. Other duties or skills may be required. What We Offer • The opportunity to work with a purpose — simplifying global expansion across borders and cultures • A diverse and inclusive environment • Country-specific benefits • Flexible PTO • Your birthday off and a day for you to volunteer and give back to the organization of your choice • Generous Parental Leave Program • Growth and development opportunities with access to a top learning content provider • The opportunity to challenge yourself in a high-performing organization and leave each day knowing you have made an impact. the employer will provide accommodation on request throughout the recruitment, selection and assessment process for applicants with disabilities. Hiring decisions are based upon the employer’s operating needs, and applicant merit including, but not limited to, qualifications, experience, ability, availability, and location. This role will be subject to a background check under local law after an employment offer has been made. Employment may be subject to results. In addition, references may be requested at the final stage of the process. the employer will only email candidates from an “ ” email address. Candidates should ignore communications purporting to be from the employer that originate from any other email address. the employer will never ask candidates or employees to purchase gift cards or otherwise make payments in connection with applying for a job with the employer

Requirements

• 3+ years of multi-country payroll experience, ideally within a fast-paced or multi-client environment.
• Strong customer-facing skills with the ability to handle queries professionally and build trust with internal and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to support process improvement or system enhancement projects.
• Excellent organisational skills and strong attention to detail, with the ability to prioritise effectively and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency with HRIS, payroll systems, and reporting tools, and the ability to quickly adapt to new platforms.

Skills