Assistant Director – Global Payroll - Cambridge University Press & Assessment

Ready to transform global payroll into a strategic, data-driven function that positively impacts thousands of colleagues across the world? As our Assistant Director, Global Payroll, you will lead the strategy, systems and people that make this possible across our global organisation. We are Cambridge University Press & Assessment, a world-leading academic publisher and assessment organisation and a proud part of the University of Cambridge.

About the role

As Assistant Director, Global Payroll, you will take the lead in shaping and evolving our global payroll function, ensuring our colleagues are paid accurately and reliably across more than 50 countries. This is a senior, high-impact role where you will have the opportunity to move payroll beyond a traditional operational function and develop it into a more strategic, data-driven service.

Working closely with People & Culture, Finance, Reward, Legal and other senior stakeholders, you will lead the modernisation of our payroll processes, systems and ways of working. From developing our long-term payroll strategy to driving automation and continuous improvement, you will play a key role in creating a scalable, compliant and effective global payroll operation.

In this role, you will:

1. Lead and develop a global payroll team.
2. Oversee high-volume weekly and monthly payroll cycles across multiple entities.
3. Turn complex payroll data into meaningful dashboards and insights for senior leadership.
4. Take the lead on payroll audits, tax reconciliations and year-end statutory requirements.
5. Act as the senior escalation point for complex payroll matters.
6. Build strong relationships with external payroll providers, auditors, HMRC and pension providers.

About You

You are an accomplished payroll professional with significant experience leading payroll operations within a large, complex and global organisation. You will bring comprehensive knowledge of UK and US payroll legislation, together with the technical expertise and sound judgement needed to operate effectively in a high-volume environment where accuracy, compliance and strong governance are essential.

You are an experienced people leader, with a proven track record of managing and developing high-performing teams and building effective relationships across an organisation. Comfortable working with stakeholders at all levels, you'll be able to influence senior internal and external partners, bring people together around shared priorities and remain calm and solutions-focused when navigating complex issues.

Importantly, you will bring a strategic and improvement-focused mindset. You have experience developing and implementing payroll system strategy, leading significant projects and continuously improving payroll processes. You are confident tackling new and complex problems, balancing competing needs and working through ambiguity to deliver practical and sustainable solutions.

If you meet the above minimum requirements, we encourage you to apply. Your application will be even stronger if you can also demonstrate the following desirable criteria:

1. Knowledge and experience of wider international payroll matters
2. CIPP (Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals) qualification/membership or CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) accreditation

Rewards and benefits

We will support you to be at your best in work and to live well outside of it. In addition to competitive salaries, we offer a world-class, flexible uring family-friendly and planet-friendly benefits including:

1. 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
2. Private medical and Permanent Health Insurance
3. Discretionary annual bonus
4. Group personal pension scheme
5. Life assurance up to 4 x annual salary
6. Green travel schemes

Ready to pursue your potential? Apply now.

We aim to support candidates by making our interview process clear and transparent. The closing date for all applications will be 6th of November. We will review applications on an ongoing basis, and shortlisted candidates can expect interviews to take place from week commencing 9th and 16th November 2026.

If you are shortlisted and progressed through the stages, you can expect:

1. First stage virtual interview via MS Teams. You will be provided with a brief to complete a role related task which will need to be returned by email in advance of your interview.
2. Final stage interview: in-person at our offices in Cambridge.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process due to a disability or a long-term health condition, there will be an opportunity for you to inform us via the online application form. We will do our best to accommodate your needs.

Please note that successful applicants will be subject to satisfactory background checks including DBS due to working in a regulated industry.

We are committed to an equitable recruitment process. As such, applications must be submitted via our official online application procedure. Please refrain from sending your CV directly to our recruiters. If you experience technical difficulties or require additional support with submitting your online application, contact the Recruiter.

Why join us

Joining us is your opportunity to pursue potential. You will belong to a collaborative team that is exploring new and better ways to serve students, teachers and researchers across the globe – for the benefit of individuals, society and the world. Sharing our mission will inspire your own growth, development and progress, in an environment which embraces difference, change and aspiration.

Cambridge University Press & Assessment is committed to being a place where anyone can enjoy a successful career, where it is safe to speak up, and where we learn continuously to improve together. We welcome applications from all candidates, regardless of demographic characteristics (age, disability, educational attainment, ethnicity, gender, marital status, neurodiversity, religion, sex, gender identity and sexual identity), cultural, or social class/background.

We believe better outcomes come through diversity of thought, background and approach. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and communities, actively seeking to employ people from a wide range of different communities.