Global Payroll Administrator

Starting Date: February or March 2025

Contract type: Full-time and open-ended

Salary: 47,200 GBP if hired in London, 82’600 if hired in Geneva, 65’000 EUR if hired in Amsterdam

Location: London, United Kingdom or Geneva, Switzerland, or Amsterdam, Netherlands, commensurate with relevant experience and skills

Application closing date: 9th of January 2025

About the Job
Are you purpose-led and ready to embark on a journey to shape the future of sustainable cotton? Join us at Better Cotton as Global Payroll and Benefits Administrator and contribute to the growth of the world’s largest cotton sustainability initiative – we support more sustainable farming practices and farm livelihoods for nearly 3 million farmers in the Better Cotton network in 23 countries around the world. Looking ahead to 2030, we are targeting reducing GHG emissions from cotton production by half, big cuts in synthetic pesticide use, improve soil health across our network, improve farm income and support women’s empowerment among farmers and farm workers.

We are seeking a detail-orientated and experienced Global Payroll Administrator to join our People & Culture team to ensure the accurate processing of payroll, developing and maintaining employee benefits programs, and providing exceptional support to our staff regarding payroll and benefits inquiries.

We’re looking for an exceptional payroll and benefits administrator with experience of working with in house and outsourced payroll bureaus (US, UK, EU, India, Pakistan and/or additional jurisdictions) to manage the organisation’s end to end global payroll and contractor payments and benefits administration. You’ll have domain expertise in processing payroll and administering benefits in different countries. You are reliable, diligent and pay attention to details and always work towards improving current processes.

An ideal candidate for this role understands the necessity of confidentiality and maintaining the reputation of the HR organisation as a trusted department within the company. Additionally, this person should be organised and detail-oriented and possess strong analytical skills, a deep understanding of payroll systems, and a commitment to maintaining compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The candidate must be able to work independently in a remote environment if hired in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

If you are passionate about global payroll and benefits administration and highly efficient, give us a chance to meet you!

Areas that play to your strengths

We are seeking a motivated Recruiter to join our People & Culture team. In this role, you will be responsible for :

Payroll and Benefits Administration

• Own the global payroll process, which includes being present for each payroll run
• Oversee and process payroll across multiple countries, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with local regulations.
• Maintain and update employee records, including payroll, benefits, and tax information.
• Act as the primary point of contact for payroll and benefits inquiries, providing clear and professional support.
• Collaborate with external payroll and benefits providers to ensure seamless service delivery.
• Audit payroll data regularly to identify and resolve discrepancies.
• Manage benefits programs globally, including health insurance, retirement plans, and local-specific perks.

HRMS Payroll Integration

• Support the integration of payroll systems into Rippling, prioritising locations for phased implementation.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external vendors to ensure accurate data migration and system setup.
• Assist in developing training materials and providing guidance on payroll processes within the HRMS.

Strategic Projects and Policy Development

• Collaborate with external consultants on the total compensation review project by providing payroll and benefits data, insights and support.
• Assist in reviewing and updating payroll, benefits, and compensation policies to align with Better Cotton’s rewards philosophy.
• Implement updated processes to maintain competitive compensation standards globally.

Compliance and Reporting

• Ensure payroll and benefits compliance with local, regional, and international regulations, including GDPR.
• Prepare and review statutory filings and reports as required.
• Support internal and external audits by providing necessary documentation and clarifications.

Employee Experience

• Provide clear communication and resources to employees about payroll processes, benefits offerings, and policy updates.
• Assist in the onboarding and offboarding processes related to payroll and benefits setup and termination.

Process Improvement and Development

• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance payroll and benefits accuracy and efficiency.
• Stay up-to-date on best practices and changes in global payroll and benefits regulations, recommending adjustments as needed.

We are looking for someone who has

the following skills, knowledge, and experience:

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Finance or relevant field.
• Proven experience in global payroll and benefits administration.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret and manage complex data sets.
• Proficiency in payroll systems and HRMS platforms (e.g., Rippling, ADP, or similar).
• Experience with compensation frameworks and benchmarking.
• Strong understanding of global payroll systems, benefits design, and employment-related laws.
• Experience collaborating on strategic HR projects is a plus.
• Exceptional organisational and time management skills with attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interacting with employees, vendors, and consultants.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and payroll platforms.
• High level of confidentiality, integrity, and attention to detail.
• Problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities to address challenges and propose solutions.

Desirable

• Interest in and commitment to sustainability.
• Experience of working in a small to medium size not for profit organization.
• A good sense of humor, positive attitude, committed to continuous improvement.

What we offer

• Competitive salary
• Fully remote or hybrid work environment.
• Opportunities for professional growth and involvement in strategic HR initiatives.
• Flexible working, with core hours from 10 am to 4 pm local time
• The opportunity to work from anywhere in the world for up to one month per year
• Learning and development opportunities
• Pension scheme
• 25 days paid annual leave, plus 8-9 Bank Holidays and a further discretionary 3 days off over Christmas
• Enhanced parental benefits
• A warm, positive working environment where everyone is valued
• The opportunity to make your mark and make a difference.

Working arrangements

The position is full-time (40 hours per week) and will be based in London. Better Cotton offers flexible working, with core hours being 10 am – 4 pm.

Apply now

Send us your CV (two pages maximum) and a brief cover letter (one-page maximum) by or before 09.01.2025 via this link.

In your cover letter, please include an explanation of why your experience is specifically relevant to this role at Better Cotton. We want to see your personal style – what makes you tick and why you think your next opportunity is here with us.

Our hiring process

Initial Screening:

Applicant screening is a crucial step in our recruitment process. This stage may involve a brief phone interview or video call to evaluate your suitability for the position. During this screening, we review resumes and cover letters, and may conduct initial background checks to narrow down the pool of applicant. Internal candidates are encouraged to inform their line manager about their application to promote transparency and help facilitate a smooth transition if selected.

Interviews:

If you successfully pass the initial screening, you will be invited for interviews. The interview process at Better Cotton may include one or more rounds of interviews with various stakeholders, such as the hiring manager, team members, and potentially senior management. As an internal candidate, you may have discussions regarding your current responsibilities and how they will transition to the new position.

Assessment and Testing:

Depending on the role, you might be required to complete assessments, technical tests, or skills evaluations to gauge your competency and suitability for the position. Internal candidates may have the option to demonstrate their existing skills through current job performance or past project outcomes.

Reference Checks:

Once you progress further in the process, reference checks are conducted to validate your work history, skills, and qualifications, and for some roles, your education and criminal history. Internal candidates may be asked for references from current or previous supervisors within Better Cotton to provide insights into their performance and capabilities.

Offer stage:

After completing interviews, assessments, and reference checks, the hiring team evaluates your performance and fit for the role. If you are selected and your references are relevant and satisfactory, you will receive a formal job offer letter outlining the terms of employment, compensation, benefits, and any other relevant details. For internal candidates, the offer process may include a discussion about how your transition to the new role will be managed and any support needed for a smooth handover.

About Better Cotton

Better Cotton is a global not-for-profit organisation supporting the production of more equitable and sustainable cotton at farm level. We exist to catalyse the cotton farming community with partners, governments and others to continuously drive positive impact by setting standards and facilitating the supply and demand of more sustainable cotton from farm to brand. In just 15 years we have aligned more than a fifth of the world’s cotton with our standard and helped farmers and farming communities thrive. Join us in building a better, more sustainable future for cotton worldwide.

About our Values

The post holder will be expected to operate in line with our workplace values which are:

• Trustworthy (including honest, transparent, credible)
• As having Integrity (including responsible, authentic)
• Positive (including problem-solving, pragmatic)
• Engaging (including adaptable, inclusive, holistic)
• Daring (including courageous, innovative, game-changing)

Being you @ Better Cotton

Better Cotton is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to good practice and transparency in the management of natural, human, and financial resources.

We have a zero-tolerance approach to any attitudes or behaviours that put children or adults at risk of harm. Safeguarding incidents are acts of serious misconduct and are grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including, dismissal and referral to relevant authorities for criminal prosecution. Therefore, all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.