Payroll Specialist

Crane Worldwide Logistics is a leader in supply chain solutions. As a full-service global freight forwarder and contract logistics provider, we help our customers manage the warehouse and transportation needs of their supply chain so they can focus on their business.

The Regional Payroll Officer is responsible for coordinating and administering payroll activities across the EMEIA region, ensuring employees are paid accurately, on time, and in compliance with local legislation, company policies, and internal controls.

Working closely with HR, Finance, external payroll providers, and local management teams, the Regional Payroll Officer supports payroll operations across multiple countries, maintaining high standards of accuracy, confidentiality, governance, and customer service.

The role is responsible for driving payroll consistency, supporting payroll projects and system improvements, maintaining payroll compliance, and ensuring all payroll processes are delivered in accordance with agreed service levels.

CONFIDENTIALITY

This role has access to highly confidential payroll, compensation and employee information. The post holder must maintain the highest standards of confidentiality and comply with all data protection legislation, company policies and information security requirements.

Essential Job Functions:

Payroll Administration

• Coordinate end-to-end payroll processing across multiple EMEIA countries.
• Ensure payroll inputs are accurate, complete, and submitted within agreed payroll deadlines.
• Validate payroll reports prior to final approval.
• Review payroll calculations including salary, overtime, bonuses, commissions, allowances, deductions, statutory payments and benefits.
• Ensure new hires, salary changes, promotions, transfers and terminations are processed accurately.
• Coordinate monthly payroll calendars across all countries.
• Support off-cycle payrolls where required.

Payroll Compliance

• Ensure payroll activities comply with local employment legislation, tax regulations and statutory requirements.
• Work closely with external payroll providers to ensure legislative updates are implemented.
• Maintain compliance with GDPR and data privacy requirements.
• Ensure statutory filings are completed by payroll providers.
• Monitor payroll governance and internal controls.
• Support internal and external payroll audits.

Payroll Systems

• Maintain payroll data within UKG Pro, OneView and associated payroll systems.
• Support payroll system testing and upgrades.
• Identify opportunities to automate and improve payroll processes.
• Maintain payroll process documentation and standard operating procedures.

HR & Finance Collaboration

• Partner with HR to ensure employee data is maintained accurately.
• Liaise with Finance regarding payroll journals, accruals and reconciliations.
• Provide payroll reports to Finance and business leaders.
• Support annual budgeting and salary review processes.
• Assist with payroll-related financial reporting.

Employee Support

• Respond to employee payroll enquiries professionally and within agreed service levels.
• Resolve payroll discrepancies promptly.
• Provide guidance on payroll-related policies and procedures.
• Support managers with payroll-related queries.

Benefits Administration

• Coordinate payroll-related employee benefits.
• Ensure benefit deductions are administered accurately.
• Support pension administration across multiple countries.
• Coordinate year-end payroll activities relating to benefits and taxable items.

Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Participate in regional payroll projects.
• Support payroll harmonisation across EMEIA.
• Assist with acquisitions, TUPE transfers and business integrations from a payroll perspective.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll efficiency and employee experience.
• Support implementation of new payroll providers and systems where required.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Requirements:

• Typically, an office environment with adequate lighting and ventilation, and a normal range of temperature and noise level.
• Minimal physical effort required. Work is mostly sedentary but does require walking, standing, bending, reaching, lifting or carrying objects that typically with less than 10 lbs. (e.g., papers, books, files and small parts, etc.).
• Moderate dexterity of hands and fingers - regular application of basic skills (calculator, keyboard, hand tools, eye/hand coordination.
• Ability to deal with high pressure situations, deadlines and moderate work stress.
• Other duties as assigned.

Other skills and abilities:

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver accurate and timely payroll across multiple EMEIA countries.
• Maintain payroll compliance with all statutory obligations.
• Build strong relationships with payroll providers and internal stakeholders.
• Ensure payroll documentation is maintained and audit ready.
• Protect confidential employee information.
• Drive continuous improvement within payroll operations.
• Support payroll governance and compliance initiatives.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

Essential

• Experience administering multi-country payroll.
• Strong understanding of payroll legislation and statutory requirements.
• Experience working with outsourced payroll providers.
• Excellent numerical and analytical skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience using HRIS and payroll systems.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple payroll cycles simultaneously.
• High level of confidentiality and integrity.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Customer Focus
• Accountability
• Integrity
• Attention to Detail
• Confidentiality
• Communication
• Teamwork
• Planning & Organisation
• Continuous Improvement
• Problem Solving
• Analytical Thinking
• Time Management

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs)

• Payroll accuracy.
• On-time payroll completion.
• Payroll query response and resolution times.
• Compliance with payroll calendars.
• Zero statutory compliance breaches.
• Audit findings and corrective actions.
• Payroll process improvements implemented.
• Employee satisfaction with payroll service.
• Data accuracy within HRIS and payroll systems.
• Achievement of departmental service level agreements (SLAs).

Education and Direct Work Experience:

Desirable

• Experience with UKG Pro and OneView.
• Experience supporting payroll across multiple EMEA jurisdictions.
• Knowledge of international payroll processes.
• Payroll qualification (CIPP or equivalent).
• Experience supporting acquisitions, TUPE transfers or business integrations.
• Knowledge of SOX controls and payroll audit requirements.

Certifications and Licences:

Certificate or relevant experience in Payroll.

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.