Payroll Operations Associate

About this role Your team The Global Payroll & Employment Tax function is responsible for accurate payroll processing and tax compliance for BlackRock’s global employee population. The team partners with internal stakeholders and external providers to maintain compliance with relevant regulations, deliver high-quality service to colleagues, strengthen operational controls, and continuously improve payroll processes. Your role and impact As an Associate in Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Payroll Operations, you will manage payroll operations for assigned countries across the region. You will apply your knowledge of regional payroll processes, employment taxes, and regulatory requirements to help deliver accurate, compliant, and timely payroll outcomes. You will work closely with external payroll vendors and internal stakeholders, with a focus on effective controls, operational risk management, employee service, and continuous improvement. Your analytical and problem-solving capabilities will help the team identify recurring issues, strengthen processes, and improve the payroll experience for employees. Your responsibilities In every role at BlackRock, you'll be expected to apply sound judgement and critical thinking to solve complex problems, adapt as the business evolves, and combine the curiosity to explore new approaches and technologies with the rigor to challenge the results. The scope of this role also includes the following responsibilities: • Perform monthly payroll controls for assigned countries, supporting accurate and timely payroll processing in accordance with established standards. • Manage relationships with payroll vendors, including service delivery, issue tracking and resolution, performance reviews, and the identification of operational improvements. • Deliver high-quality support to employees and collaborate with internal stakeholders to align payroll processes, timelines, and information requirements. • Support payroll-related audits and maintain compliance with applicable internal control requirements, including the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) control framework. • Partner with the Compensation Accounting team to support payroll account reconciliations and the timely resolution of discrepancies. • Contribute to departmental initiatives and identify continuous improvement opportunities that strengthen controls, streamline processes, and reduce operational risk. Your experience • Relevant EMEA payroll experience, including knowledge of employment and withholding tax requirements, tax filings, policies, and regulations. • Knowledge of compensation accounting and internal controls, with a risk-management mindset and focus on reducing operational risk. • Strong vendor-management, stakeholder-management, and client-service capabilities, with the ability to build effective working relationships across functions. • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to identify and develop practical process improvements. • Ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment while adapting to change and collaborating effectively across teams. • Strong Microsoft Excel skills; familiarity with Workday is advantageous. • Financial services experience, a bachelor’s degree, and a recognized payroll qualification are preferred. …