Position description

The Payroll Operations Manager is a strategic leadership role responsible for the delivery of accurate, compliant, and efficient payroll services across the Group, encompassing over 14,000 employees and pensioners in multiple jurisdictions. This position leads a high-performing payroll team, oversees all aspects of payroll operations, and ensures robust governance, continuous improvement, and alignment with organisational objectives. The role requires a strong focus on stakeholder management, process optimisation, and regulatory compliance, while maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality and data integrity.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and Develop the Payroll Team: Provide strategic leadership, mentoring, and professional development to a large payroll team, ensuring timely and accurate delivery of weekly, fortnightly, and monthly payroll cycles. Foster a culture of high performance, learning, and accountability.

Drive Operational Excellence: Oversee all aspects of end-to-end payroll processing across Ireland and international locations, ensuring compliance with statutory, regulatory, and internal policy requirements. Implement and maintain effective controls, audits, and risk management practices to protect payroll operations.

Optimize Processes and Systems: Drive process improvements, automation, and system enhancements to optimize the efficiency and accuracy of payroll operations.

Engage Stakeholders and Manage Communication: Serve as the primary point of contact for payroll matters, collaborating with HR, Finance, IT, and external partners. Manage all payroll communications across the Group, ensuring clarity, consistency, and responsiveness.

Manage Third-Party Relationships: Oversee relationships with third-party providers, including international payroll vendors and Revenue authorities, to ensure seamless payroll services and compliance.

Ensure Compliance and Robust Governance: Maintain full compliance with tax, social security, employment law, and relevant legislation. Lead the implementation of government budget changes and organizational reward models, and regularly prepare and present payroll reports and analytics to senior leadership.

Champion Continuous Improvement and Change Management: Promote a culture of continuous improvement by leveraging technology and best practices, and lead or participate in cross-functional projects such as system upgrades, policy reviews, and organizational change initiatives.

Experience and Qualifications

Essential

Minimum of 7 years’ progressive experience in payroll management, with demonstrable experience leading large teams in complex, high-volume environments.

In-depth knowledge of payroll principles, systems, and best practices, including multi-jurisdictional payroll and international compliance.

Strong understanding of employment contracts, reward models, and related HR processes.

Proven ability to manage confidential information with discretion and integrity.

Advanced stakeholder management, negotiation, and influencing skills.

Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.

Strong communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the ability to engage effectively at all organisational levels.

Track record of driving process improvements and managing change in a dynamic environment.

Bachelor’s degree in business, Finance, HR, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.

Desirable

Professional payroll or HR certification (e.g., IPASS, CIPP, CPP) is highly desirable.

Location

This position will be based in 27 Fitzwilliam Street Lower, Dublin 2, D02 KT92, Ireland.

ESB is committed to smart working – combining digital tools with a culture of trust and empowerment to enable flexible ways of working. The successful candidate may work flexibly within their jurisdiction with attendance at the workplace for in-person collaboration on at least one anchor day per week. All smart working arrangements are subject to manager approval and ongoing review, based on the operational requirements of the role, the team, and the individual.

Reporting To

People Operations Senior Manager

Why Work with Us?

Opportunity to lead Ireland’s transition to net zero carbon future

Career development through mentoring and training

Corporate Social Responsibility Opportunities

Sports and Social Clubs

Networking opportunities

Credit Union

Generous Pension

Access to staff well-being programmes

Generous parental leave entitlements

Strong values-based and inclusive culture

Strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

Great team environment working to our Core Values: Courageous, Caring, Driven and Trusted

Salary

€69,500 - €81,500 per annum, depending on experience.

Closing Date

11th November 2025.

Your application will be held in reserve for 6 months should you be suitable for the role.

Payroll Operations Manager

Benefits

Job Description