Global Payroll & Benefits Implementation Lead

We are working with a leading global organisation to appoint a Global Payroll & Benefits Implementation Lead to deliver a large scale transformation programme.

Location: London (Hybrid - 3 days in office)
Contract Type: 12 - 18 months FTC (Programme role)
Salary: £100K+

This is a critical role responsible for implementing a global payroll managed service and a global benefits platform, moving from a decentralised model to a consistent, controlled, and scalable global solution.

You will lead a complex, multi country programme and play a key role in shaping the future of payroll and benefits delivery across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities You will be accountable for the end to end programme delivery, including:

Programme Leadership • Lead the delivery of the global payroll managed service and benefits platform implementation

• Define programme strategy, scope, delivery approach and governance framework


• Establish and manage programme plans, RAID logs, reporting and steering forums

Implementation & Delivery • Oversee full lifecycle delivery: design, build, testing, parallel runs, go live and stabilisation

• Lead supplier mobilisation and hold vendors accountable to milestones, deliverables and quality standards


• Deliver a phased country rollout, starting with the UK and expanding globally

Governance & Risk • Establish robust governance structures, controls and decision-making processes

• Manage programme risks, dependencies and issues, ensuring timely escalation and resolution


• Ensure all processes are audit-ready and compliant with regulatory and corporate standards

Data, Integration & Controls • Oversee payroll data readiness, validation and migration

• Own integration delivery across HR systems, finance outputs and third-party providers


• Ensure strong financial and operational controls (reconciliations, approvals, audit evidence)

Stakeholder & Supplier Management • Collaborate across People, Finance, IT, Tax, Risk and external vendors

• Engage senior stakeholders, providing clear reporting, insights and recommendations


• Coordinate global and local teams to ensure readiness for each rollout phase

Transition to BAU • Manage transition into steady-state operations

• Define service governance, SLAs, KPIs and operating model


• Ensure effective knowledge transfer and handover

Skills & Experience We are looking for a proven programme leader with:

• Significant experience delivering global payroll transformations and/or benefits platform implementations


• Track record of managing complex, multi-country programmes and phased rollouts


• Strong understanding of global payroll operations, controls, compliance and risk


• Experience working with managed service providers and third-party vendors


• Knowledge of HR and payroll systems (e.g. Workday) and integration landscapes


• Strong programme delivery expertise including planning, RAID, cutover and governance


• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at senior level


• Experience operating in regulated or complex corporate environments


• Strong leadership and ownership mindset


• Highly organised with attention to detail


• Commercially aware and solutions-focused


• Confident communicator with executive presence


• Able to navigate complexity and drive delivery across multiple stakeholders

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates

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