EMEA Payroll Analyst (London, UK based)

EMEA Payroll Specialist

Location: London, UK (occasional travel to Reading to meet with the team and participate in on site collaboration)

Fortinet EMEA payroll team forms part of the Finance department. The payroll team has overall responsibility for gathering and collating information from other departments, including the processing of complex payroll items such as RSUs and stocks. Once reconciled, the team communicates accurate, compliant instructions to third party payroll providers to ensure timely processing of multiple payrolls (circa 27 countries and 3,500+ people) for the EMEA region.

The EMEA Payroll Specialist must be professional and confident in working with individuals at all levels of the organization as well as external vendors and customers.

Working as part of a high functioning, close knit team (currently of 8) you will be required to perform against tight deadlines, maintain strict confidentiality with sensitive information, and demonstrate the ability to build and maintain relationships while exhibiting strong written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Management of assigned regional payrolls, ensuring consistent processes, resolving issues, and ensuring all employees are paid correctly and on time.
• Establish and maintain relationships with external payroll bureaus, monitoring service levels.
• Prepare monthly payroll journals.
• Ensure payroll associated payments (e.g., tax, pension) are approved and paid within the correct timeframes.
• Process RSU/stock options.
• Work with team managers to create, update, and maintain effective SOPs.
• Ensure effective SOX compliance, including SAS 70/SSAE 16 compliance where appropriate.
• Efficiently handle all payroll related queries.
• Assist with preparation and submission of statutory reporting, including year end activities, working closely with internal and external partners.
• Work with external and internal auditors, providing required information as and when requested.
• Provide support and cover for other team members within the payroll department.
• Collaborate on project management to deliver Fortinet's payroll roadmap, including transitioning to a new payroll partner (ADP) and transforming the EMEA payroll function through automation and standardisation.

Qualifications

• Significant, demonstrable knowledge of successful payroll processing.
• Experience managing multiple EMEA payrolls.
• Experience with payroll journal booking and reconciliations.
• Demonstrated experience in identifying and implementing payroll process improvements.
• Solid organisational skills with strong multitasking and time management abilities.
• Successful vendor management to achieve company goals.
• Knowledge of and experience with SOX compliance.
• Previous related accounting support experience.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to deliver under pressure.
• Intermediate Excel skills.
• Confidential, discreet, and professional demeanor.
• Strong research skills.
• Customer service orientation.