Team Manager, Payroll

Job Title: Team Manager, Payroll At Pearson, we’re committed to a world that’s always learning and to our talented team who makes it all possible. From bringing lectures vividly to life to turning textbooks into laptop lessons, we are always re-examining the way people learn best, whether it’s one child in our own backyard or an education community across the globe. We also create incredible assessment clinical and professional tests to help people to growth in their personal and professional lives. We are bold thinkers and standout innovators who motivate each other to explore new frontiers in an environment that supports and inspires us to always be better. By pushing the boundaries of technology — and each other to surpass these boundaries — we create seeds of learning that become the catalyst for the world’s innovations, personal and global, large, and small. What you’ll do   The Regional Payroll Leader – Europe will serve as the senior operational and strategic payroll leader for the region, helping modernize and stabilize operations while partnering closely with stakeholders to drive a scalable, resilient, and future-ready operating model.  This role will play a critical part in shaping and maturing that future-state operating model.   The position is designed for a leader who can navigate complexity, lead transformation, orchestrate multiple operational support layers, and help modernize operations within a highly matrixed global organization.   Pearson’s Global Payroll team has earned industry recognition for innovation and leadership, with team members featured on leading podcasts, and professional publications across the payroll and workforce technology space.   Key Responsibilities   Leadership Coach team members through organizational and operational transformation  Help establish future-state role expectations centered on expertise, governance, stakeholder partnership, operational orchestration, and continuous improvement Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, operational excellence, and modernization Stakeholder Partnership & Governance Support executive-level discussions involving payroll risk, controls, compliance, and operational performance  Build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders across the organization  Operational Transformation & Modernization Lead Europe transformation initiatives, including vendor transitions and operating model redesign  Support the continued evolution of operations through optimization and standardization, governance enhancement, and vendor optimization  Lead automation and AI-readiness strategies  Help evolve the function to an expertise-led and strategically aligned operating structure Risk, Compliance & Operational Resilience Strengthen governance and operational controls across the region  Reduce key-person dependency and operational fragility through scalable support models and documentation  Improve operational resilience and continuity planning across supported markets  Oversee audit readiness and support remediation activities where needed  Ensure appropriate escalation management and operational transparency across all supported countries      Success Metrics   Operational Delivery Achieve sustained accuracy and on-time delivery across the region Reduce manual workarounds year-over-year  Reduce sustained overtime dependency  Improve operational continuity through strengthened backup coverage and documentation maturity  Transformation & Modernization Increase process standardization and reduce fragmented/manual workflows across the region  Improve operational readiness for automation and AI-enabled operations  Successfully implement and mature the Europe hybrid operating model  Governance & Risk Improve audit readiness and controls maturity across the region Reduce key-person dependency and operational fragility  Strengthen transparency, governance, and escalation management across the region  Achieve positive outcomes from internal audit, tax, and compliance reviews Stakeholder & Organizational Impact Increase stakeholder confidence and satisfaction across Finance, HR, Tax, and business leadership  Improve visibility and communication regarding operational risks and priorities    Candidate Profile   Experience Significant experience leading complex multinational payroll operations in Europe Demonstrable understanding of European payroll governance, compliance, and operational risk  Strong UK employment tax awareness strongly preferred  Experience operating within matrixed multinational organizations  Experience leading transformation, vendor transitions, or operating model redesign initiatives preferred  Experience working with outsourced vendors and hybrid delivery models preferred    Skills & Capabilities   Strategic & Operational Leadership Ability to operate effectively in highly nuanced and evolving operational environments  Strong judgment and decision-making capability  Comfortable balancing operational delivery with strategic transformation  Stakeholder Management Strong communication and influencing skills  Ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments diplomatically and effectively  Change Leadership Comfortable leading through ambiguity and organizational change  Strong process improvement and operational redesign mindset  Interest in modernization, automation, and AI-enabled operations  Governance & Risk Management Strong operational governance mindset  Ability to identify and mitigate operational risks  Experience supporting audit and compliance activities      The region encompasses over 16 countries, inclusive of the U.K., Spain, Italy, Poland, and the DACH, Benelux and Nordic regions  Top of Form