URBN UK Limited is part of the URBN Group, a global retailer, with its European Head Office located in London. Its retail offering in Europe takes the form of three brands.
With stores in more than 10 European countries and a strong e-commerce presence, we’re driven by the same core values as our customers, and we approach our work with a sense of community and purpose that sets our brands apart. We love what we do.
We are seeking an experienced and strategic Head of Payroll to lead and manage the payroll function across our UK, EU and APAC entities, who is operationally strong and influential. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for all employees, while driving continuous improvement in payroll systems, processes, and controls. The ideal candidate will bring deep technical expertise, strong leadership skills, and a proactive approach to managing payroll operations in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
What You'll Be DoingOversee end-to-end payroll processing for all UK, EU and APAC entities and jurisdictions, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and compliance with local employment laws and tax regulations.
Manage multi-entity payroll across over thirteen regions in Europe/APAC, all through outsourced service providers.
Manage relationships with external payroll providers, monitor performance and ensure SLA’s are met. Ensure cost control with service providers and input into the budget process for payroll costs
Ensure correct and timely submission of all statutory filings and payments (i.e. HMRC submissions, pension contributions, etc.)
Implement and maintain strong internal controls and audit trails for payroll processing across all regions
Lead and develop an in-house payroll team (5 people), fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Act as the internal payroll subject matter expert and stay current with changes in payroll legislation and best practices, collaborating with Finance, HR and IT to optimize payroll systems and integrate with other business functions.
Lead the implementation, upgrade, and integration of payroll systems and technology platforms.
Drive automation and process improvements to enhance efficiency and reduce risk.
Support global expansion from a payroll perspective, including team and systems integration planning.
Partner with the US-based Global HRIS/Payroll teams to ensure alignment with corporate standards and US SOX compliance where applicable.
Own payroll reporting and analytics, providing insights to senior leadership.
What You'll NeedEssential
Proven experience in a senior payroll leadership role, ideally within a multinational retail or consumer goods company.
Demonstrated experience managing outsourced payroll vendors across the EU and APAC
Strong working knowledge of UK and European payroll legislation and requirements
Familiarity with employment tax, pensions, benefits and statutory reporting in the UK, EU and APAC regions
Strong leadership and stakeholder management
Proactive collaborator
Preferred
Proficiency with payroll systems such as ActivPay or similar.
Familiarity with HRIS tools such as UKG, ICIMS, MyTime
Experience supporting payroll in a retail environment with hourly, seasonal and part-time staff
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
CIPP qualification is highly desirable
The PerksWork-life balance:
Flexible start and finish times Bring your dog to work
Wellbeing:
Employees Assistance program to support with mental, physical and financial health Fully equipped free gym and on-site wellness room in Brick Lane and 50% discount of external gym memberships Private Medical Insurance
Employee Discount:
Up to 40% off at all URBN Brands (Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People and more!)
Community:
One paid day to either volunteer or fundraise for a charity of your choice
Travel:
Cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan
Continued Development:
We offer structured support within the business alongside continued learning and development
#LI-GH1 #UrbanEU
Equal Opportunity StatementURBN is an Equal Opportunities Employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We provide equal employment opportunities regardless of age, sexual orientation, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy, marital status, religion, race, or disability. We base all our employment decisions on merit, job requirements and business needs. Options ApplyApplyShareSubmit a ReferralRefer Sorry the Share function is not working properly at this moment. Please refresh the page and try again later. Share on your newsfeed Not finding the perfect fit?
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