About
British Council is the United Kingdom’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. Founded in 1934, the organization operates globally to support education, arts, culture, and English language development while promoting international collaboration and understanding.
The British Council offers employees a supportive work environment, competitive compensation, professional development opportunities, and a strong commitment to staff welfare and organizational integrity.
Job Description
The British Council is currently recruiting a Payroll Consultant MEA to manage payroll operations across multiple countries within the Middle East and Africa region.
The successful candidate will oversee end-to-end payroll processing, ensure statutory compliance, collaborate with payroll vendors and stakeholders, and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within the People Services & Solutions shared-services framework.
This role is ideal for experienced payroll professionals with strong analytical skills, compliance knowledge, and experience working in multinational or multi-country payroll environments.
Key Responsibilities
Payroll Processing
- Manage complete payroll cycles across assigned countries
- Review and validate employee payroll data for accuracy and completeness
- Coordinate payroll approvals and payment processes with HR, Finance, and payroll vendors
- Perform payroll calculations and verify payroll outputs
Compliance & Governance
- Ensure payroll processes comply with tax, statutory, and social security regulations
- Liaise with regulatory agencies and government bodies when necessary
- Maintain audit-ready payroll documentation and records
- Participate in internal and external payroll audits
Vendor & Stakeholder Management
- Work closely with Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and payroll vendors
- Monitor vendor performance and ensure SLA compliance
- Collaborate with HR, Finance, Reward, and People Data teams
Case Management
- Resolve payroll-related queries and employee concerns promptly
- Maintain detailed payroll case records and documentation
- Identify recurring payroll issues and recommend improvements
Continuous Improvement & Automation
- Support payroll automation and digital transformation initiatives
- Assist with payroll system upgrades and process optimization
- Maintain payroll SOPs, work instructions, and process documentation
Reporting & Documentation
- Generate payroll reports and analyze payroll performance trends
- Ensure secure storage and accessibility of payroll records
- Provide insights on payroll risks and operational improvements
Team Collaboration
- Support team members during peak payroll periods
- Share knowledge and provide guidance to junior payroll staff
Qualifications & Requirements
Educational Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree/HND in a relevant discipline
Experience & Skills
- Proven experience managing payroll operations across multiple countries or business entities
- Strong understanding of payroll compliance, taxation, and benefits administration
- Experience working with outsourced payroll vendors and shared-service environments
- Proficiency in HRIS and payroll platforms such as SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle, or similar systems
- Knowledge of payroll audit and governance procedures
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
Desirable Skills
- Experience supporting payroll automation or system enhancement projects
- Familiarity with analytics and reporting tools such as Power BI or Tableau
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
- Ability to collaborate effectively with Finance, HR, and IT teams
How to Apply
Interested applicants should apply by clicking the APPLY NOW button