Payroll Manager (Service Delivery Excellence & Continuous Improvement)

At Alcon we are driven by the meaningful work we do to help people see brilliantly. We innovate boldly champion progress and act with speed as the global leader in eye care. Here youll be recognized for your commitment and contributions and see your career like never before. Together we go above and beyond to make an impact in the lives of our patients and customers. We foster an inclusive culture and are looking for diverse talented people to join Alcon.

Payroll Manager (Service Delivery Excellence & Continuous Improvement)

The Service Delivery Excellence & Continuous Improvement - Payroll role within Warsaw HRHC is responsible for strengthening end-to-end payroll service delivery process governance controls and continuous improvement for the EMEA countries supported by the Warsaw HRHC.

Serving as the key link between Payroll HR Operations HRIS MDM Finance Compliance in-scope country teams and external payroll providers this role ensures payroll processes are accurate compliant well documented consistently executed and scalable across the 15 EMEA countries supported from Warsaw.

The role drives payroll operational stability issue prevention process standardization documentation quality audit readiness vendor coordination and improvement initiatives while safeguarding timely and accurate payroll delivery and a positive associate experience across the Warsaw HRHC EMEA payroll scope.

In this role a typical day will include :

• Own and strengthen end-to-end payroll process governance across the Warsaw HRHC EMEA payroll scope ensuring clear accountability consistent execution and alignment with agreed operating models.
• Define and maintain payroll process standards roles and responsibilities inputs outputs controls calendars handoffs and escalation paths.
• Ensure payroll processes are designed and operated to support accuracy timeliness compliance audit readiness and operational continuity.
• Drive governance routines decision-making and status updates for payroll operations leadership and key cross-functional stakeholders.

• Act as the operational integrator across Payroll HR Operations HRIS MDM Finance Compliance country stakeholders and external payroll providers.
• Ensure payroll inputs data flows validations approvals outputs funding activities accounting interfaces and post-payroll activities are aligned and effectively coordinated.
• Manage cross-functional dependencies and drive execution excellence where payroll delivery depends on HR master data time and absence inputs benefits equity tax finance or vendor activities.
• Support issue resolution by clarifying ownership identifying root causes coordinating corrective actions and ensuring lessons learned are embedded into future payroll cycles.

• Monitor payroll cycle performance recurring issues missed inputs late changes manual interventions escalations and operational pain points across countries.
• Translate payroll cycle feedback audit findings compliance observations and stakeholder input into clear corrective and preventive actions.
• Partner with payroll teams and vendors to improve payroll accuracy timeliness control adherence issue closure and overall cycle discipline.
• Ensure operational risks and dependencies are visible tracked assigned and resolved before they impact payroll delivery.

• Lead payroll operational readiness for regulatory changes vendor transitions system updates payroll implementations country process changes and transformation initiatives.
• Conduct payroll impact assessments and coordinate cutover planning parallel runs testing support go-live preparation training communication and stabilization activities.
• Ensure new or changed payroll processes are transitioned into steady-state operations with clear ownership updated documentation calendars controls and escalation routes.
• Promote disciplined change adoption and ensure payroll process changes are embedded into daily operations and reflected in procedures and governance routines.

• Ensure payroll process documentation is complete accurate up to date audit-ready and easily accessible for operational teams.
• Own or coordinate the maintenance of payroll SOPs process maps cycle calendars checklists control descriptions country-specific instructions and handover materials.
• Identify documentation and control gaps and work with payroll teams process owners subject matter experts and vendors to close them in a timely manner.
• Enable smooth transitions back-up coverage onboarding process migrations and temporary ownership changes by reducing dependency on individual knowledge.

• Monitor payroll service delivery performance and drive improvements aligned with payroll accuracy timeliness compliance SLAs KPIs control adherence and associate experience.
• Lead root cause analysis and resolution of payroll-related issues using cycle trends escalations audit findings vendor feedback and stakeholder input to prioritize improvements.
• Identify opportunities for payroll standardization automation simplification control strengthening and process optimization across countries and interfaces.
• Capture lessons learned from payroll cycles incidents projects handovers and process changes and incorporate them into future operating practices.

• Ensure payroll processes and changes are implemented in a compliant controlled and audit-ready manner across the EMEA countries supported by Warsaw HRHC.
• Identify and mitigate payroll data vendor documentation control compliance and operational continuity risks.
• Maintain strong payroll governance control evidence issue tracking and remediation practices to support high-quality execution and audit readiness.
• Partner with HRIS Finance Legal Compliance HR Operations and vendors where payroll process changes require governance system updates automation or broader alignment.

• Serve as a primary operational liaison for external payroll providers country payroll teams HR Operations Finance Compliance and key stakeholders on payroll process and service delivery topics.
• Build strong partnerships across Payroll HR Operations HR Operational Excellence HRBPs COEs HRIS Finance Compliance project teams and external providers.
• Drive effective stakeholder engagement issue resolution escalation management decision-making and alignment on payroll process ownership and service expectations.
• Support vendor transitions operating model changes service reviews and stabilization activities to ensure continuity and quality of payroll service delivery.

WHAT YOULL BRING TO ALCON :

• About 5 years of prior experience in payroll in a multinational environment.
• Fluent English is a must; an additional European language would be considered a strong advantage.
• Proven track record of driving team accountability and delivering against agreed KPIs.
• Experience managing multiple stakeholders across EMEA markets.
• Continuous Improvement mindset preferably supported by Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt or Green Belt certification.
• Strong experience with ADP Workday ServiceNow or similar platforms.
• Strong process management and process improvement background with the ability to identify standardize optimize and streamline end-to-end payroll and HR processes.
• Demonstrated ability to drive operational excellence process governance and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach to decision-making.

HOW YOU CAN THRIVE AT ALCON:

Opportunity to work in a best-in-class organization in Medical Devices/Equipment sector

Opportunity to work in a high-paced agile environment

Work with people who are passionate about delivering outcomes and a culture of simplification and ownership

Truly international environment and daily interactions with colleagues from all over the world

Attractive benefits package (private medical care group insurance lunch card transportation allowance pension plan Multisport/cultural card free Alcon products for you and your significant other)

Attractive benefits package (private medical care group insurance lunch card transportation bonus)

Hybrid model of work (3/2/weekly)

Modern office in Marynarska 15 Warsaw with a lot of facilities inside

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