Associate Payroll Accountant

Job Posting Organization:
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is a pioneering international financial institution established in 199

• The EBRD's mission is to foster the transition towards open market-oriented economies and to promote private and entrepreneurial initiative in countries from Central Europe to Central Asia and the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean. The organization operates in over 30 countries and employs a diverse workforce of approximately 2,000 employees. The EBRD is committed to promoting sustainable development and inclusive growth, and it plays a crucial role in supporting the private sector and enhancing the economic resilience of the regions it serves.

Job Overview:
The Associate Payroll Accountant is responsible for executing the end-to-end accounting for the EBRD’s payroll, ensuring the accuracy of the General Ledger, and providing critical analytical support to the Position Management function. This role involves managing payroll accounting cycles, collaborating with various teams to resolve discrepancies, and ensuring that payroll expenses accurately reflect the organizational structure. The position requires a proactive approach to problem-solving and the ability to work closely with Human Resources and Finance Business Partners to maintain position governance. The Associate Payroll Accountant will also develop training materials to enhance data quality and coordinate process improvements to streamline payroll integration with the General Ledger.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage the month-end payroll accounting cycle, preparing and posting all journals and accruals to ensure that labor expenses accurately reflect the organizational structure.
• Collaborate daily with People Operations and the HROD Payroll team to troubleshoot and resolve data discrepancies, ensuring payroll can be accurately booked into the General Ledger.
• Administer the payroll reclassification and recharge processes, including maintenance of master data and assurance that costs are accurately identified and recovered according to specific funding agreements.
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of the balance sheet for payroll-related activities.
• Maintain and update all payroll posting schemas and reclassification rules, ensuring that logic within the accounting engine correctly maps payroll outputs to the appropriate cost centers.
• Resolve position management queries from HROD and Finance Business Partners, providing guidance on position availability, budget alignment, and data hierarchy.
• Support the Principal, Position Management by analyzing the position population and impacts on payroll accounting outcomes.
• Develop training materials and FAQs for Line Managers to improve the quality of data at the point of entry and reduce month-end errors.
• Coordinate small-scale process improvements to the integration between HRIS and the General Ledger to enhance automation and accuracy. 1
• Perform other relevant duties as required by business needs.

Required Qualifications:

• A recognized professional accounting qualification (e.g., ACCA, CIMA, CPA, AAT Level 4) or equivalent substantial experience in a payroll accounting or financial control environment.
• Advanced understanding of cost recharging and the ability to manage complex data reclassification and mapping rules.
• High proficiency in Excel for manipulating large datasets and performing 'position vs. budget' variance analysis.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work cross-functionally with People Ops and Business Partners to resolve technical issues.
• Proven experience in a role requiring high-volume reconciliations and a working knowledge of headcount governance or position management.

Educational Background:
Candidates should possess a recognized professional accounting qualification such as ACCA, CIMA, CPA, or AAT Level

• Alternatively, substantial experience in a payroll accounting or financial control environment may be considered in lieu of formal qualifications. A strong educational background in finance, accounting, or a related field is preferred.

Experience:
Candidates should have proven experience in payroll accounting or financial control roles, particularly those that involve high-volume reconciliations and a solid understanding of headcount governance or position management. Experience in managing complex data reclassification and mapping rules is essential, as is the ability to work collaboratively across departments to resolve issues and improve processes.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, as strong communication skills are essential for this role. Additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly those relevant to the regions in which the EBRD operates, but are not required.

Additional Notes:
This position is a regular contract with a contract length that is not specified. The role is based in London, United Kingdom, and the EBRD promotes a hybrid workplace that offers flexibility to teams and individuals. The organization values diversity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of their background. The EBRD provides a comprehensive suite of competitive benefits and prioritizes employee wellbeing.