Payroll Specialist

About the company

Waystone is a global provider of asset-servicing and specialist support services for financial institutions. The business brings together governance, administration, risk, and compliance expertise, with more than 25 years of experience helping clients structure, run, and scale their operations. Its services are supported by innovation, digital tools, and the operational capacity needed for international growth.

Role overview

This position reports to the Head of People & Development for Ireland and is focused on delivering accurate, on-time payroll across several jurisdictions for around 1,800 employees worldwide. The role covers the full payroll cycle and involves working with external payroll vendors, HR, Finance, and employees to keep payroll compliant, well-controlled, and aligned with statutory obligations.

Alongside day-to-day payroll administration, the role includes pension payments, payroll reporting, handling queries, and maintaining strong controls and procedures. It also plays an important part in improving how payroll operates by streamlining processes, increasing efficiency, and supporting the company’s continued expansion. This is a strong opportunity to join a collaborative People team in a dynamic international environment.

Key responsibilities

• Review existing payroll workflows and data handling practices, then improve and standardise them where needed.
• Partner with HR Business Partners to align payroll-related processes with company policy and best practice, and help communicate these across the organisation.
• Drive automation of repetitive payroll tasks by using technology wherever possible to improve efficiency.
• Manage accurate and timely monthly payroll processing from start to finish.
• Prepare and extract payroll reports for multiple jurisdictions.
• Build effective working relationships with external payroll providers and ensure deliverables are received on time, while resolving complex issues and complaints.
• Check monthly payroll submissions from outsourced providers to confirm all details are correct.
• Ensure all payroll changes are captured and reflected accurately each month.
• Maintain payroll systems and records using Bamboo HR and Microsoft Excel by collecting, calculating, and entering data.
• Respond to payroll questions from employees, internal teams, vendors, and other external partners.
• Work with HR, Finance, auditors, pension providers, social welfare bodies, revenue authorities, and other institutions as required.
• Perform manual payroll calculations and payments when necessary.
• Stay current with payroll law and regulatory updates that may affect the business.
• Prepare pension payment submissions for external pension providers.
• Handle regional tax requirements such as P11D medical insurance preparation, IR86 Health Returns for Asia, and similar tasks when needed.

Requirements

• Recent, relevant experience in a senior payroll role.
• A proactive approach to keeping payroll operations running smoothly.
• Strong understanding of the full end-to-end payroll process.
• Well-developed organisational skills and working knowledge of HRIS systems and Microsoft Office tools, especially Outlook.
• Advanced Excel capability.
• High attention to detail and a proven background in a similar position.
• Self-driven, motivated, and eager to achieve results.
• Comfortable using initiative and asking for guidance when needed.
• Able to identify issues early and propose practical solutions.
• Strong communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Capable of working to tight deadlines and achieving targets.
• Able to manage multiple priorities and balance competing demands.

Education

Third-level education is preferred. A Payroll Technician qualification is an advantage.

Additional information

The payroll function supports approximately 1,800 employees across multiple jurisdictions. The role may require manual calculations and payments, as well as regional tax work such as P11D medical insurance preparation and IR86 Health Returns for Asia.