People Operations & Payroll Manager

Company Description People Can Fly is one of the leading independent AAA game development studios. Our international team consists of hundreds of talented individuals working from offices in Poland, the UK, Ireland, the US, and Canada, as well as remotely across the globe. Founded in 2002, we made our mark on the shooter genre with titles such as Painkiller, Bulletstorm, Gears of War: Judgment, and Outriders. As one of the most experienced Unreal Engine studios in the industry, we continue to expand on our expertise and push the boundaries of what’s possible in game development. Our creative teams are currently working on several exciting titles: Gears of War: E-Day developed in collaboration with Microsoft; Project Echo for KRAFTON; and Lost Rift, an original IP we are developing in-house under our self-publishing model. We are also exploring new platforms and experiences with VR and other unannounced projects. With over 20 years of experience, PCF continues to explore new horizons. We aim to combine our expertise with the creativity of the best and most forward-thinking talent in the industry, building the next generation of action games for players worldwide. If you join us on this journey, you’ll have the chance to perfect your craft, expand your knowledge, and work alongside industry leaders to create unique, unforgettable experiences for gamers everywhere. Job Description Role Purpose The People Operations & Payroll Manager will be the operational backbone of our People function, ensuring that payroll, employee administration and core People processes are delivered accurately, efficiently and on time. This is a genuinely hands-on role for someone who is highly organised, comfortable working with systems and data, and enjoys supporting people. Alongside coordinating the team and wider People Operations activity, the successful candidate will personally manage key operational responsibilities, including payroll processes, employee administration and HR systems. This position is not suited to someone looking for a purely managerial role focused primarily on delegation and oversight. We are looking for someone who wants to remain close to the work, take direct ownership of deliverables, resolve operational issues and lead through their own contribution as well as through others. The role covers payroll, onboarding, contracts, employee changes, benefits administration, HR systems, mobility, immigration and offboarding. It will also identify practical opportunities to simplify processes, improve accuracy and reduce manual administration through better systems, automation and appropriate use of AI. We are looking for someone who genuinely enjoys making People Operations work well. This person will take pride in creating order, maintaining accuracy and ensuring employees receive reliable and helpful support. The successful candidate will be naturally organised, attentive to detail and comfortable managing multiple deadlines and recurring processes. They will take ownership of their responsibilities, anticipate potential issues and follow actions through to completion without needing continual direction. They will be practical, approachable and service-minded, with the patience to support employees and the confidence to work effectively with senior stakeholders. When something goes wrong, they will remain calm, investigate the details and focus on finding a workable solution. Key Responsibilities: Payroll and People Operations Delivery: Manage the end-to-end monthly payroll process across multiple countries, working closely with Finance, internal stakeholders and external payroll providers. Prepare, check and submit accurate payroll data, including new starters, leavers, salary changes, bonuses, absences and other employee changes. Complete payroll reconciliations and checks, investigate discrepancies and ensure issues are resolved promptly. Maintain clear payroll calendars, controls, records and approval processes. Coordinate employee onboarding, contract preparation, employee changes and offboarding. Maintain accurate employee records, personnel files and HR system data. Manage benefits administration and respond to employee questions relating to payroll, contracts, benefits and People processes. Coordinate immigration, work permits, relocations and international employee movements with internal teams and external providers. Ensure People Operations activities comply with employment requirements, data protection obligations and company policies. Act as a reliable point of contact for operational People queries, providing clear, timely and helpful support. Systems, Data and Reporting: Own the day-to-day administration, accuracy and effective use of our HR systems and tools. Use Excel, HR systems and payroll data to identify discrepancies, resolve data issues and provide accurate information to stakeholders. Produce regular payroll, headcount and People Operations reports. Document operational processes and create clear, practical guidance for employees and managers. Process Improvement, Automation and AI: Assess and document existing People Operations workflows during the first 90 days, establishing a clear baseline for current manual processing. Identify and prioritise opportunities to simplify processes, improve controls and systems, and reduce repetitive administrative work. Develop and implement a practical automation roadmap across agreed priority areas. Deliver a measurable reduction of at least 25% in manual processing effort within the first 12 months. Use existing systems, automation and appropriate AI-enabled solutions to improve operational efficiency and scalability. Ensure that process improvements maintain or enhance accuracy, compliance, data protection and the employee experience. Measure and report the impact of improvements, including time saved, reduced manual activity, accuracy and service quality. Team and Cross-functional Support: Coordinate the work of People Ope