Job Category: Finance Multifunction/General

Job Description

As a Payroll Analyst at EF, you will work in an international and dynamic environment with a strong scope for development. The Payroll Analyst will report directly to the Payroll Manager and work closely with other functional areas and other EF organizations around the world.

The Payroll Analyst supports accurate and timely payroll delivery by validating employee and payroll data from Oracle HCM, coordinating payroll processing through ADP Celergo, performing reconciliations, monitoring interfaces, and resolving exceptions. The role serves as a key link between Payroll, HR, Finance, employees, and ADP across assigned countries.

The successful candidate will be encouraged to proactively identify and initiate internal improvements as well as to broaden your responsibilities beyond the job description. EF offers an exciting opportunity to learn the procedures and legislation for weekly and monthly payroll processes, in several countries.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Operations
Review and validate payroll inputs from Oracle HCM, including new hires, terminations, compensation changes, recurring and one-time payments, deductions, and absence-related data.
Coordinate monthly payroll processing for assigned countries in line with the payroll calendar and agreed cut-off dates.
Review payroll previews and final results, investigate variances, and ensure corrections are completed before approval.
Support off-cycle payrolls, bonus payments, commissions, retroactive adjustments, and other special payments.
Payroll Controls, Reconciliations and Reporting
Perform pre-payroll and post-payroll controls, reconciliations, and variance analysis.
Reconcile payroll outputs to Oracle HCM data, payment files, statutory reports, and general ledger information.
Prepare recurring and ad hoc payroll reports for Payroll, HR, Finance, management, and audit purposes.
Maintain clear evidence of approvals, controls, reconciliations, and issue resolution.
Compliance and Audit
Support compliance with local payroll, tax, social security, employment, and data-protection requirements.
Assist with statutory filings, year-end activities, internal audits, external audits, and control testing.
Maintain current process documentation, payroll calendars, checklists, country instructions, and control procedures.
Identify payroll risks promptly and escalate material issues with clear impact and recommended actions.
Stakeholder and Vendor Management
Act as a point of contact for payroll queries and provide accurate, timely, and customer-focused support.
Coordinate with HR, Finance, employees, and other internal stakeholders to resolve payroll issues.
Work with ADP Celergo service teams to manage queries, defects, service issues, and payroll exceptions within agreed service levels.
Escalate critical or recurring vendor issues and contribute to service review meetings and improvement plans.
Continuous Improvement
Identify opportunities to standardize, simplify, automate, and strengthen payroll processes and controls.
Contribute to payroll transformation, country implementation, integration, and data-quality initiatives.
Support KPI reporting, root-cause analysis, and corrective actions to improve payroll accuracy and service quality.

Qualifications and Experience

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
Approximately 3 to 5 years of payroll experience, preferably within a multinational or shared-services environment.
Experience working with outsourced payroll providers and multi-country payroll processes.
Hands-on experience with Oracle HCM and ADP Celergo is strongly preferred.
Understanding of payroll controls, reconciliations, statutory requirements, and data confidentiality.

Technical Skills

Oracle HCM and ADP Celergo experience is a requirement.
Advanced Microsoft Excel, including PivotTables, XLOOKUP, formulas, filters, and data analysis; Power Query is an advantage.
Payroll reporting, variance analysis, data validation, reconciliation, and audit support.
Understanding of HR-to-payroll integrations, file interfaces, mandatory-field validation, and error management.

Why work at EF?

We are international. With offices across the globe, you'll be part of a worldwide payroll operation - ensuring our people, in every corner of the world, are supported and paid accurately and on time.
We are entrepreneurial. EF has grown into the largest international education company by hiring people who are street smart and “can get things done”. Our entrepreneurial spirit is at the core of what makes working at EF a ton of fun.
We embrace change. Be prepared to join a flexible organization where no day is the same. We believe change is key to business success, personal development, and career progression.

Benefits and Staff Perks

One flight per year back to home country
Annual fitness allowance
Health Insurance (Private Malta Hospital Plan)

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About Us

Some companies are in the business of banking. Others are in the business of shoes. Or sports. Or soft drinks. At EF, we're in a different kind of business. One that's a little less tangible, and a lot more important. Because our business, what we make, makes everything else possible. We're in the business of understanding. Between people. Between cultures.

For over half a century we've been the leader in international educational programs and experiences designed to foster such understanding. Through language, cultural exchange, academic studies, and educational travel, we create the kinds of immersive experiences that challenge biases, open minds, and pave the way for a more understanding world.

You'll find our offices and schools located in some of the world's greatest cities, and filled with smart, driven people (over 50,000 of us) who push each other to be better every day. But it's what we do together - building greater understanding, breaking down barriers, and creating a better world - that makes all the difference.

Founded in 1965 in Sweden, EF (Education First) is a global association of education companies that share a common mission of opening the world through education. EF has been recognized on Forbes 2025 and 2024 World's Best Employers and 2024 Top Companies for Women lists, Fast Company's 2025 Next Big Things In Tech, and was a 2024 App Store Award winner in Cultural Impact.