Payroll Manager Europe North

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Goodyear is seeking an experienced, credible and highly motivated HR professional to lead the Payroll function for our Europe North region. Our Europe North (EN) region encompasses more than 4,000 employees across Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, UK&I and the Nordic countries. From an employee and workforce perspective, it is one of our most complex and diverse regions – we have manufacturing sites, R&D/innovation centers, a motor racing circuit, commercial and administrative employees as well as a majority of our EMEA executive leadership group located in the region. As is often the case in Luxembourg, we have employees that live in-country, we have expats, as well as many employees that commute ‘cross-border’ – the tax and legislative implications of this add to the complexity and visibility of this role.

Leading a high-performing and proactive Payroll function underwrites the operational integrity of our business and as such, this is a high visibility and challenging opportunity. Beyond the typical expectations of a Payroll function, this person will be a leader and driving force for change, both in terms of how we deliver payroll services to our business, but also part of a broader HR transformation initiative underway at Goodyear.  This person will report directly to our HR Director, Europe North. (S)he will manage a direct team of 6 employees, aligned to the countries that make up our Northern Europe region.

This role will suit individuals that have a strong technical knowledge & understanding of complex payroll functions; furthermore, this role requires someone with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. (S)he will be passionate about leading people, driving change and working strategically with a diverse set of stakeholders (internal & external) to deliver a best-in-class payroll service to our business.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Management of Payroll Function & CoE

• Responsible for the administration of all aspects of the business’s payroll data inclusive of but not limited to, processing monthly payrolls for all divisions of the business, conducting reconciliation audits, and interfacing with the business’s third-party payroll vendors or for managing the in-house Payroll Team.
• Guarantee the correct payment of employees on time and in compliance with all Company, Financial and SOX requirements, and according to local legislation(s).
• Responsible for accurate reporting to Finance and the local government for taxation and social security. Cross-functional collaboration with various stakeholders is key (i.e. Finance, Total Rewards, Audit teams).
• Management of company benefits including coordination of expat benefits in line with company polices and supported by advisors/vendors.
• Lead projects for Payroll (digitalization, optimization, automatization..)
• Represent the company & manage official audit (social security, taxation, governmental, etc.)
• Manage external outsourcing companies and contract providers.

People Leadership

• Lead, coach and develop a team of payroll specialists in charge of the operational running of the payroll(s).
• Provide strong leadership through change – able to manage the team with confidence through periods of change and transition.
• Coach, mentor and support the ongoing development of team members, develop the talent pipeline and create succession and career growth opportunities.

KEY STAKEHOLDERS & RELATIONSHIPS

• Internal – direct team, Northern Europe HR leadership group, Total Rewards, Finance, Audit and other colleagues on a regional and global basis.
• External – tax consultants, payroll service provides, pension providers, local labour administration and social security institutions.

KEY EXPERIENCES DESIRED

• Payroll Operations – possess a strong technical knowledge and practical understanding of payroll administration and management. Must bring a high level of technical authority and leadership to the role.
• People Leadership – experienced in managing and developing a team is preferred. Must possess the capability to lead, coach and develop others.
• Experience managing the transition and implementation of outsourced payroll services; including proficiency in relevant payroll and accounting software.
• Change Management – bring experience in change management and project management. Track record working in dynamic and complex environments and working with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Geographic Exposure – must possess a strong knowledge & understanding of  payroll administration in Luxembourg. Experienced in managing the technical and practical implications of a diverse workforce in the country (Tax, Legal, Regulatory considerations). Experience in other European countries would be advantageous.
• Contract Management – ideally candidates will be experience managing or working for payroll service providers; understanding of the contact value drivers, and able to hold service providers to account through performance tracking (SLAs, metrics etc).
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or comparable degree, preferable with a major in HR Management or Finance.

KEY SKILLS & LEADERSHIP COMPETANCIES REQUIRED

• Operate with the highest integrity and ethical values.
• Languages – possess very good English and French language competency (verbal, reading & writing).
• Must be able to work with discretion on sensitive topics.
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills; must be able to communicate with varied audiences and convey the practical implications of highly technical information to different groups.
• Business partnering –work collaboratively as a partner to support the business with the adoption and uptake of critical process.
• Intellectually agile & analytical; able to work across a wide portfolio of projects and topics.

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Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire companies. It employs about 71,000 people and manufactures its products in 55 facilities in 22 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

Goodyear is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individual's race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.