European Payroll Specialist

About Lightsource bp

Lightsource bp is a global leader in the development and management of solar energy projects. We are a 50:50 joint venture with bp with a mission to help drive the world’s transition to low carbon energy.

With solar set to increase tenfold in the next 20 years, we are well-positioned to capitalize on this growth. By joining the Lightsource bp team, you will ‘be the change’ on the world’s energy transition to a more sustainable future.

We pride ourselves on our entrepreneurial spirit as we continue to push the boundaries of an ever-changing energy landscape. By choosing a career with us, you can expect a challenging and fulfilling role surrounded by people who are passionate and have brilliant ideas about sustainable technology, innovation and making the world a better place.

Purpose of Role

As the European Payroll Specialist, you will be responsible for overseeing and managing payroll operations for our European region, ensuring that all employees are paid accurately and on time.

The European Payroll Manager will work closely with other departments to ensure compliance with local laws and tax regulations and will be responsible for developing and implementing payroll policies and procedures.

Our Europe region currently comprises colleagues in the UK, Ireland, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Italy, Poland, Greece, France and Germany.

Payroll Operations

In conjunction with the European Head of HR Operations you will have responsibility for:

• Overseeing payroll operations for all European countries where we operate, ensuring that all employees are paid accurately and on time.
• Developing and implement payroll policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations.
• Data integrity and accuracy in payroll systems, implementing appropriate audit controls and ensuring these are consistently followed.
• Documenting payroll processes and identifying and driving process improvements.
• Driving process standardisation and continuous improvement across our payrolls.
• Staying up to date with changes in local laws and regulations that affect payroll operations.
• Managing the tax year end reporting, including the UK P11D process.

Payroll Cycle Management

You will have responsibility for:

• Collaborating with other departments to ensure that all payroll-related taxes, benefits, and deductions are accurately calculated and processed.
• Maintaining accurate and complete payroll records, ensuring confidentiality and security of sensitive information.
• Performing payroll accounting related duties including GL account reconciliations.
• Providing regular payroll reports and analysis to senior management.
• Dealing with payroll queries from various stakeholders.

Payroll Vendor Management

You will:

• Develop strong and effective working relationships with our in-country payroll vendors, ensuring that service level agreements are fit for purpose and are met.
• Develop and implement payroll policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations.
• Review the current payroll providers and assess any new potential payroll providers on an as needed basis.

What are we looking for?

• Experience of UK IR35 regulations and how to apply them.
• Experience of HRIS – SuccessFactors experience is an advantage but not essential.
• Comprehensive understanding of tax and payroll laws across our countries.
• Organised work ethic and multi-tasking.
• Equally comfortable with and moving between detail, complexity and ambiguity.
• Demonstrated experience in partnering with internal teams and juggling multiple priorities.
• Great written and oral communication skills with the ability to interact and communicate across different levels of our organization.
• Fluent in English, additional languages are a plus.

Education and professional qualifications

• CIPP or equivalent highly desirable

Why you’ll want to work for us

Our company is a place where you can be yourself and grow; a place where your ideas and opinions matter.

Be you

We pride ourselves on being an inclusive community, where every individual is valued and treated with respect.

Be responsible

Our culture is driven by our core values. From operating safely to ensuring our solar projects are responsible and promote biodiversity.

Be recognized

Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a variety of benefits including annual bonus, retention bank, health insurance, pension and other local benefits.

Be inspired

Beyond your day-to-day working life at Lightsource bp, there’s a variety of initiatives that will contribute to your own personal development. Initiatives to get involved with including our charitable causes, supporting our solar honey project or our sustainability initiatives.

Our Core Values

Lightsource bp truly cares about creating a sustainable future through safe, responsible and meaningful low carbon energy projects. Our core values of Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability and Drive are the guiding principles for everything we do.