Global Payroll Manager at Kognitiv Inc.

United Kingdom

At Kognitiv Inc., we’re redefining what it means to be a Workday partner. As one of the fastest-growing companies in the ecosystem, we bring deep expertise, innovative thinking, and a people-first mindset to everything we do. We’re not just building better Workday solutions—we’re building a company where talented people thrive. Ready to do your best work? Join us. The Payroll Manager leads the end-to-end payroll function for the company across multiple global entities (North America, EMEA, APAC). This role ensures accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing, drives operational excellence, develops the payroll team, and provides strategic insights on payroll-related matters in a multi-entity, remote/global environment. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Owns end-to-end payroll operations for the entire company, including processing, tax withholdings, benefits integration, garnishments, reporting, and compliance across multiple jurisdictions and entities. Ensures adherence to all applicable local, state, federal, and international payroll laws, tax regulations, and internal controls. Drives process improvements, system enhancements, automations, and policy updates to increase efficiency, accuracy, and scalability. Provides strategic insights on payroll metrics, labor costs, and compliance risks; influences cross-functional decisions with global stakeholders and leadership. Oversees payroll-related audits, year-end processes, and ad-hoc projects. Acts as the primary point of contact for payroll inquiries, escalations, and vendor relationships in a remote/global setting. Builds team capabilities through training, knowledge sharing, and high-impact contributions. Core Competencies & Behaviors Full Process & Team Leadership: Treats payroll processes as their own “business unit”; leads the team with full accountability and continuously optimizes results. Strategic Ownership: Translates payroll data into recommendations that support broader company goals (labor cost management, compliance, employee experience). Team Stewardship & Mentorship: Actively develops team members, shares expertise, and positions payroll as a high-impact, compliant function. Stakeholder Influence & Innovation: Identifies improvements, influences global changes, and resolves complex, multi-jurisdiction issues scalably. Expectation: High-impact leader whose contributions are felt company-wide through ownership, innovation, and results. Qualifications 6–10 years of progressive payroll experience, including 2+ years in a people-management or team-lead role. Deep knowledge of global/multi-jurisdiction payroll, tax, and labor regulations required. Proficiency in payroll systems (e.g., ADP, Workday, or equivalent), ERP integrations, and advanced Excel. Strong leadership, analytical, project-management, and communication skills for remote, cross-cultural, global environments. Pay Transparency Statement Kognitiv is committed to a transparent and equitable compensation structure, which is determined by a variety of factors including skill set, experience, education, market data, and internal equity. Candidates invited to a recruiter screen can expect a candid discussion of our compensation philosophy, the specific salary range for this position, and the variable pay opportunities that may be available for this role. For details on our comprehensive benefits package, please visit our careers website. Kognitiv is an Equal Opportunity Employer All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. Kognitiv will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in a manner consistent with the requirements of the law, including any applicable fair chance law. Work Authorization Applicants for employment in the country in which they are applying (Employing Country) must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the Employing Country and with Kognitiv. Candidates who are currently employed by a client of Kognitiv or an affiliated Kognitiv business may not be eligible for consideration. Estimated Application Deadline This job postings' application deadline is an estimate, but ultimately the fill date is flexible and the job will remain open until filled. Any updates on deadlines will be communicated through this job posting. 2026-05-29 #LI-KB1 The founders and consultants of Kognitiv live and breathe Workday®. We understand that going live with your new system is just the first step in a long partnership with Workday® and its ecosystem. Implementations are fast and furious, with work like reports, dashboards, and knowledge transfer often postponed until after a go-live. In some cases, your implementation partner has already moved on to its next project. This is why Kognitiv exists: to bridge the gap for those clients wanting to better maintain and enhance their system post a go-live.