Associate Manager, Global Payroll

KAYAK

KAYAK

Accounting & Finance
London, UK
Posted on Jan 9, 2026

Location

London Office

Employment Type

Full time

Location Type

Hybrid

Department

Cost CentersG&AFinanceControllership - KAYAK

KAYAK, part of Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG), is the world’s leading travel search engine. With billions of queries across our platforms, we help people find their perfect flight, stay, rental car and vacation package. We’re also transforming business travel with a new corporate travel solution, KAYAK for Business.

As an employee of KAYAK, you will be part of a travel company that operates a portfolio of global metasearch brands including Momondo, Cheapflights and HotelsCombined, among others. From start-up to industry leader, innovation is at our core and every employee has an opportunity to make their mark. Our focus is on building the best travel search engine to make it easier for everyone to experience the world.

We are looking for an Associate Manager, Global Payroll with to join our payroll team.

This role requires you to commute to our London office at least 3 times a week.

Are you an enthusiastic self-starter with a passion for all things payroll? If so, let’s chat!

About this role

This position will report directly to KAYAK’s Senior Manager, Global Payroll.

We will count on the Associate Manager, Global Payroll to foster a culture of excellence and strong collaboration, elevate Kayak’s Payroll function, build and develop future-proof processes, and proactively guide the business to operate successfully in an increasingly complex Payroll environment.

The ideal candidate is curious and agile, has a strong growth mindset, a sense of ownership and accountability, and an entrepreneurial spirit.

In this role, you will:

  • Ensure payroll is paid in a timely and accurate manner for multiple countries and frequencies.

  • Oversee payroll processing operations.

  • Calculate and report tax liabilities, as well as the periodic, quarterly, annual, and ad hoc balancing, and validate payroll tax reporting and related activities, including the annual issuance of year-end forms.

  • Manage payroll tax reporting system processes.

  • Manage payroll vendor.

  • Manage queries via Zendesk Management system for payroll queries.

  • Researching law and regulations regarding taxes and payroll withholding procedures.

  • Assist with the preparation of special reports for senior management.

  • Point person for all payroll tax notices and regulatory payroll audits.

  • Ensure correct taxation of payroll & benefits.

  • Build strong relationships with Finance, HROps, Legal and FP&A teams, as well as Booking Holdings Payroll Team to ensure adequacy, accuracy and alignment on Payroll matters and overall strategy.

  • Develop and lead a successful Payroll Team, cultivating a high-performing, professional, and supportive environment.

  • Assist and consult on ad-hoc projects. Advise senior management and business leads on tax-related matters.

Please apply if you have:

  • A minimum of 6 years of recent hands-on payroll experience with multi-national payrolls.

  • Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or business administration preferred.

  • A certified Payroll Professional is preferred.

  • Three years of experience managing a team.

  • Experience with CloudPay and ADP would be ideal.

  • Advanced-level Excel skills and experience managing large data sets

  • Proven ability to develop and generate ad hoc reports from CloudPay and/or ADP reports.

  • Process-first mindset is a must.

  • Excellent interpersonal skills in managing processes and cross-functional relationships.

  • Ability to maintain data confidentiality with a strong sense of professional integrity.

  • Highly analytical with extraordinary organization and prioritization skills and a proven ability to meet hard deadlines.

  • Strong dedication to customer service and ability to communicate concisely, both written and verbally.

  • Dedicated, flexible, and assertive, with a creative approach to problem-solving.

Benefits:

  • 5 weeks of paid vacation + 1 day off for your birthday

  • Private health & dental insurance

  • Income protection and life assurance

  • Pension plan contributions

  • Work from (almost) anywhere for up to 20 days per year

  • Focus on mental health and well-being:

    • Company-paid therapy sessions through SpringHealth

    • Company-paid subscription to Headspace

    • Company-wide week off a year - the whole team fully recharges (and returns without a pile-up of work!)

  • No meeting Fridays

  • Paid parental leave

  • Paid volunteer time

  • Focus on your career growth:

    • Development Dollars

    • Leadership development

    • Access to thousands of on-demand e-learnings

  • Travel Discounts

  • Employee Resource Groups

  • Employee Assistance Program - including 24/7 GP & free legal advice

  • Discounted gym membership

  • Bike2Work

  • Season ticket loan

  • Social events & Thursday happy hours

  • Free lunch 2 days per week

Inclusion

At KAYAK, we want everyone to have the space to grow, share ideas and do great work. That’s why we’re focused on hiring the best talent from all walks of life and experiences, supporting them well and making sure no one feels like they have to fit a mold to belong here.

Need any adjustments for the interview, application or on the job? No problem - just give us a heads-up. We’ve got you.

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