Manager, Payroll Operations EMEA and APAC

About Coursera Coursera was founded in 2012 by Stanford professors Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller to make world-class learning accessible to everyone, everywhere. Today, over 190 million learners and 375+ university and industry partners use our platform to gain skills in fields like AI, data science, technology, and business. As a Delaware public benefit corporation and Certified B Corp, we’re driven by the belief that learning can transform lives through learning.

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We’re a globally distributed team and let you choose the best way you work, whether it's from home, a Coursera hub, or a co-working space near you. Our virtual hiring and onboarding make it easy to join us and start making an impact from anywhere. If you’re ready to make a global impact, scale unique products exclusive to Coursera, and expand your career horizons, apply below.

Job Overview: Financial management is crucial to the performance and success of any company. The roles and responsibilities of the Coursera Finance team include accounting, financial reporting, analysis, planning, budgeting, and compliance. Problem solvers at heart, this team works to fuel Coursera’s growth by developing creative solutions in response to accounting and finance challenges.

As our Manager, Payroll Operations EMEA and APAC, you will have the opportunity to build on your payroll experience and knowledge while supporting Coursera’s global employees. We are looking for a motivated self-starter who enjoys diving into the details and welcomes the challenge of developing scalable processes. If you are someone who is passionate about payroll accuracy, cares about the employee experience, and enjoys building cross-functional partnerships, this position may be a great fit as the next step in your payroll career.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee and manage the end-to-end monthly EMEA and APAC payrolls; including but not limited to, stock transactions, taxes, benefits, and variable payments
• Oversee external payroll vendor relationships—monitor SLAs, implement process improvements, and ensure that data integration and reporting standards are met across systems
• Supervise and develop a 1 payroll personnel, providing direction, coaching, and quality assurance on deliverables and controls
• Review monthly payroll: journal entries, account reconciliations, and flux analyses
• Interpret and apply international employment tax and statutory regulations, proactively researching changes and advising leadership on compliance and risk mitigation
• Lead payroll-related projects such as year-end reporting, system upgrades, audit readiness, and payroll tax issue resolution, while ensuring strong internal controls and data integrity
• Partner cross-functionally with People Operations, Equity, Accounting, Finance, and Legal teams to ensure payroll accuracy, timely submissions, and consistent alignment with Coursera’s global policies
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives by analyzing current processes, identifying automation opportunities, and implementing scalable payroll operations for global growth

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• 8+ years of progressive experience in global payroll operations, with significant exposure to EMEA and APAC payroll management
• Deep knowledge of employment tax, statutory compliance, and payroll regulations in key countries, including India and the UK
• Proven experience managing vendors, partners, or team members in the administration of complex multi-country payrolls
• Demonstrated proficiency in equity-based compensation (RSUs, stock options, ESPP) and related taxation
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; able to collaborate effectively across functions and regions in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment
• Experience supporting audits, SOX controls, and payroll accounting integrations preferred.

Nice to haves:

• Led a team of 4-5
• India, UK, France, Germany, Saudi/UAE payroll experience
• Workday/Servicenow portal experience
• Service industry experience (not looking for manufacturing setup)
• experience in handling external payroll service providers (like ADP or EY)
• Experience in a mid sized multi-country set up (employee size between 1000 to 4000).
• Experience in setting up centralised payroll services in a shared services environment.

Keep Learning If this opportunity interests you, you might like these courses on Coursera:

• Business and Financial Modeling Specialization
• Data Analysis & Presentation Skills
• Business Statistics and Analysis

Coursera is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a welcoming and inclusive workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics and provide reasonable accommodations upon request at accommodations@coursera.org. Learn more in our CCPA Applicant Notice and GDPR Recruitment Notice.