Regional Payroll Specialist - Middle East / Africa

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. Desired Candidate Profile 3+ years of multi-country payroll experience, ideally within a fast-paced or multi-client environment. Practical experience processing payroll in the Middle East 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. Experience contributing to multinational payroll implementation or onboarding projects (preferred).