Senior Global Payroll Manager - Mandarin Speaking

Location: London - Hybrid Working

Employment type: Permanent, Full-time

About the company

We are a rapidly scaling, technology-led business operating across multiple markets. As they continue to grow, they are looking for an experienced, European Senior Payroll Manager to lead and develop our payroll function, strengthen our processes and ensure accurate, compliant and timely payroll delivery.

The role

The Senior Payroll Manager will take ownership of end-to-end payroll operations across (insert countries/regions), working closely with Finance, People, external providers and senior stakeholders.

This is a hands-on leadership role suited to someone who thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth environment. You will combine strong payroll expertise with a continuous-improvement mindset, helping us build scalable, technology-enabled processes that support the company’s international expansion.

Fluent Mandarin is an essential requirement for this position. The successful candidate must be able to communicate confidently and professionally in Mandarin with colleagues, stakeholders and external partners.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the accurate and timely delivery of end-to-end payroll across UK and European locations
• Manage payroll inputs, calculations, reconciliations, approvals and reporting.
• Ensure compliance with applicable payroll, tax, social security and employment regulations.
• Act as the senior point of contact for payroll-related queries, escalations and audits.
• Communicate effectively in both Mandarin and English with internal teams, senior stakeholders and external providers.
• Manage and develop members of the payroll team, establishing clear responsibilities and high standards of performance.
• Oversee relationships with outsourced payroll providers and relevant technology partners.
• Partner with Finance, People, Legal and other teams to ensure payroll data is accurate and properly governed.
• Strengthen payroll controls, documentation, policies and approval processes.
• Identify opportunities to automate and improve payroll operations as the business scales.
• Support payroll-system implementations, integrations and other transformation projects.
• Produce accurate payroll reports and provide meaningful insight to senior leadership.
• Support expansion into new markets, including the introduction of compliant local payroll arrangements.
• Maintain the highest standards of confidentiality and data security.

Essential experience and skills

• Professional fluency in Mandarin and English, both written and spoken. Mandarin proficiency is mandatory.
• Significant experience managing end-to-end payroll in a complex or international organisation.
• Previous experience in a Payroll Manager, Senior Payroll Manager or comparable leadership position.
• Strong knowledge of payroll compliance, controls, reconciliations and reporting.
• Experience managing multiple payrolls, entities, jurisdictions or external providers.
• A track record of improving and scaling payroll processes in a growing organisation.
• Strong systems capability and confidence working with payroll, HRIS and finance platforms.
• Excellent attention to detail, analytical ability and problem-solving skills.
• Strong stakeholder-management and communication skills.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and deliver accurately against fixed deadlines.
• A discreet and professional approach to sensitive employee information.

Important: Professional Mandarin-language proficiency is an essential requirement of this role and will be assessed during the recruitment process.

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