Payroll Product Owner

Strategic Product Ownership for Global Payroll & Workforce Transformation

Join a growing enterprise technology function to support a global Finance and Enterprise Technology transformation. This strategic role focuses on payroll technology deployments and managed service provider transitions across Europe, with plans for future global expansion. Acting as the key link between Payroll Operations, Digital Technology, Enterprise Architecture, and external service providers, you will own the product roadmap, drive technology delivery, and oversee the continuous improvement of enterprise payroll platforms. The scope increasingly includes Time & Attendance (T&A) and broader Workforce Management (WFM) capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and manage the product strategy and technology roadmap for enterprise payroll and workforce management platforms.
• Lead payroll technology deployments and managed service provider transitions across multiple European jurisdictions.
• Act as the primary technology contact for the payroll managed service provider, overseeing technical delivery, integrations, service levels, and release management.
• Own and prioritise the product backlog, translating business, operational, and statutory requirements into epics, user stories, and acceptance criteria.
• Drive the integration of payroll systems with Core HR, Time & Attendance, and wider workforce management platforms.
• Support the development of scalable, standardised solutions that accommodate local payroll legislation and can be expanded globally.
• Coordinate Agile delivery activities, including sprint planning, backlog refinement, demonstrations, testing, and release readiness.
• Oversee User Acceptance Testing (UAT), parallel payroll runs, cutover planning, and post-go-live stabilisation.
• Ensure compliance with country-specific payroll regulations, GDPR, employment legislation, and relevant Works Council requirements.
• Collaborate with HR, Payroll, IT, Enterprise Architecture, Information Security, and external vendors to deliver reliable, secure, and user-friendly solutions.

Essential Experience

• At least 5 years of experience in payroll technology, product ownership, business systems analysis, or enterprise payroll solution delivery.
• Strong experience with enterprise payroll platforms, such as SAP Payroll, ADP GlobalView/Streamline, Workday Payroll, Dayforce, or local European payroll engines.
• Hands-on exposure to Time & Attendance or Workforce Management solutions, such as UKG/Kronos, WorkForce Software, Reflexis, or integrated HCM modules.
• Proven experience managing third-party payroll providers or managed service partners, including technical delivery, service performance, and integrations.
• Experience delivering payroll solutions across multiple European countries, with an understanding of local statutory requirements and data privacy.
• Practical experience with Agile/Scrum or Kanban, product backlog management, and cross-functional technology delivery.
• Strong understanding of payroll integrations, data mapping, gross-to-net processes, batch processing, and exception handling.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to align global technology teams, local payroll operations, and external providers.

Desirable Experience

• Experience transitioning from decentralised legacy payroll systems to centralised or SaaS-based managed payroll services.
• Knowledge of Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM Cloud, or other Core HR platforms and their integration with payroll.
• Experience with APIs, middleware, flat-file interfaces, and cross-system data flows.
• Exposure to global workforce management, shift scheduling, time capture, leave management, and employee/manager self-service.
• Experience supporting payroll expansion beyond Europe into additional international markets.
• Relevant Product Owner or Agile certifications.

Why Join?

• Play a key role in a major global payroll and workforce technology transformation.
• Influence product strategy, technology roadmaps, and the future operating model for payroll services.
• Work across enterprise technology, HR transformation, integrations, and managed service delivery.
• Join a long-term initiative with a 12-month initial contract, extension potential, and the possibility of a permanent position.