Payroll Manager Europe

As Payroll Manager Europe, you will be a key strategic driver in the modernization and
standardization of Skechers' payroll operations across the European continent. Beyond
operational payroll oversight, your primary mandate will be to lead end-to-end
transformation projects – redesigning processes, harmonizing tools, and steering the
evolution of our payroll operating model across multiple countries and business activities
(Retail, Logistics, Corporate).

You will act as the European Centre of Expertise for Payroll, combining deep technical
knowledge, strong project management discipline, and a genuine ability to develop, coach
and upskill local payroll teams. You will engage stakeholders at all levels – from local HR
teams to executive sponsors and external vendors – with clear, structured, and proactive communication.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

Payroll Transformation & Project Leadership

• Own and lead the European payroll transformation roadmap: tool migrations, process harmonization, outsourcing strategy, and integration of Time & Attendance systems.

• Apply rigorous project management approaches to structure and deliver every

transformation initiative: clear scope, detailed planning, budget control, milestone tracking, risk management, and formal governance frameworks.

• Define the target operating model for European payroll, in alignment with global HR and Finance strategies, ensuring every step is written, owned, and auditable.

• Pilot and manage RFP processes for payroll provider selection, contract negotiation, and vendor onboarding – including standardization of T&A interface requirements across all

providers.

• Drive change management initiatives with strong project discipline: structured

communication plans, stakeholder alignment, training programs, adoption frameworks, and post-go-live stabilization plans.

• Build and maintain a structured project governance: scope, budget, milestones, risks, and KPIs, with regular steering committee reporting to senior leadership and executive sponsors.

• Define and implement a common KPI framework applicable to all European providers, and build a consolidated European dashboard bottom-up from local data.

Process Design, Team Coaching & Continuous Improvement

• Conduct structured assessments of local payroll teams and processes across Europe:

evaluate skills, identify gaps, and define individual and collective improvement plans - prioritizing highest-risk countries first.

• Design and implement standardized, end-to-end documented payroll processes across countries (HR cut-off → calculation → payment within defined SLA), while accommodating local regulatory requirements.

• Act as a coach and mentor for local payroll teams, supporting their growth in technical expertise, process rigor, and compliance awareness through regular process reviews and co-built action plans.

• Ensure robust internal controls before payment: formal checkpoints at every stage, not just system reliance.

• Guarantee Time & Attendance data quality: clean, timely T&A input as a prerequisite for accurate variable pay output.

• Proceduralize all complex case management: joiners, leavers, part-time, parental leave, expatriates, benefits in kind, sickness, and terminations.

• Deploy a consistent KPI approach at country level: help each local team understand, own, and continuously improve their performance indicators (on-time rate, error rate, query volume, SLA adherence).

• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and accountability within the European payroll community, through regular knowledge-sharing sessions, peer learning, and best practice dissemination.Multi-Country Payroll Operations & Compliance

• Provide strategic oversight of monthly payroll cycles across multiple European countries,ensuring zero recurring errors and full compliance with local social and tax legislation.

• Ensure all declarations are filed on time with correct contribution bases, and that every legal update is applied on its effective date.

• Serve as the ultimate point of escalation for payroll issues, complex regulatory cases, and cross-country topics.

• Define and enforce a minimum control standard per country, with a clear escalation protocol with each provider.

• Ensure full compliance with GDPR requirements and internal group policies.

• Monitor legislative evolutions across European countries and anticipate their impact on payroll processes.

• Maintain a complete and traceable audit trail: every calculation traceable, every change logged, payroll security standards upheld.

Stakeholder Management & Cross-functional Collaboration

• Act as the primary interface between HR Operations, Finance, Legal, and IT on all payroll- related transformation topics.

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with external payroll providers, HRIS vendors, and consultants – establishing a common query management standard, tools, and support model across all countries.

• Establish a proactive communication rhythm with all local payroll teams: regular touchpoints, structured updates, and anticipation of upcoming changes (legislative, organizational, or systemic) — ensuring teams are always informed and prepared well in advance, never caught off guard.

• Design and deliver training programs and toolkits (process guides, checklists, FAQ libraries) to enable local teams to operate autonomously at a high standard and continuously build their competencies.

• Translate complex regulatory or technical updates into clear, actionable guidance for local payroll and HR teams, adapting communication to diverse audiences from operational staff to executive sponsors.

• Ensure regularizations are processed without unexpectedly impacting employees' net pay.

• Define and enforce SLA-driven query response times for payslip questions, and track query volume as a key performance indicator.

• Collaborate closely with local HR Business Partners and country HR/Finance teams to ensure alignment and buy-in.• Present project progress, risks, KPI dashboards (on-time rate, error rate, correction rate,

payroll cost visibility by country), and recommendations to senior leadership and executive sponsors.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Proven ability to lead complex, multi-country transformation programs in a fast-paced, international environment.

• Demonstrated project management expertise: structured methodology, delivery discipline, and ability to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously.

• A genuine passion for developing people: experience coaching or mentoring payroll professionals, with the ability to assess skills and build individual growth plans.

• Strategic mindset combined with a hands-on approach and strong attention to detail.

• Excellent leadership, influencing, and stakeholder management skills at all organizational levels.

• Outstanding communication skills – able to adapt messaging to diverse audiences, from operational teams to executive sponsors, and to build a proactive, trust-based communication culture.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and data-driven decision-making abilities.

• Experience managing external vendors and leading RFP / provider migration processes.

• Demonstrated change management skills: ability to drive adoption and navigate organizational complexity.

• Ability to balance long-term strategic vision with operational rigor.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Payroll, Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field (Master's degree or equivalent is a plus).

• 10+ years of experience in payroll, with a significant portion in a multi-country European context.

• Demonstrated experience leading payroll transformation or HRIS implementation projects.• Strong understanding of European payroll regulations, social legislation, and compliance frameworks.

• Experience working with payroll software platforms (e.g., ADP, SD Worx, Workday Payroll, SAP) and HRIS tools (Workday).

• Familiarity with project management methodologies is an asset.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• English: Excellent command, Advanced level (C1 minimum) – working language.

• Two languages are mandatory (French recommended); a third European language is a

strong asset (German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, etc.).

WHO WE ARE:
Headquartered in Southern California, Skechers—the Comfort Technology Company®—has spent over 30 years helping men, women, and kids everywhere look and feel good. Comfort innovation is at the core of everything we do, driving the development of stylish, high-quality products at a great value. From our diverse footwear collections to our expanding range of apparel and accessories, Skechers is a complete lifestyle brand.  

 

Be You - Feel Welcome

Skechers recognises the importance and power of diversity within our business. We ensure that our people processes are fair, transparent and promote equality of opportunity for all employees and job applicants.

 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities or health conditions, who are otherwise qualified for the job position, to perform the essential functions as detailed above.