EMEA Payroll Analyst (France based)

EMEA Payroll Specialist

Location: France

Fortinet EMEA payroll team forms part of the Finance department. The payroll team has overall responsibility for the gathering and collating of information from other departments including the process complex payroll items such as RSUs and stocks. Once reconciled, we communicate accurate, compliant instructions to third‑party payroll providers to ensure timely processing of multiple payrolls (circa 27 countries and 3500+ employees) for the EMEA region.

The EMEA Payroll Specialist must be professional and confident when working with individuals at all levels of the organization, external vendors, and customers.

Working as part of a high‑functioning, close‑knit team (currently of 8) you will be required to perform against tight deadlines, maintain the highest level of confidentiality with sensitive information, and demonstrate the ability to build and maintain relationships while exhibiting solid written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned regional payrolls, ensuring consistent processes are followed and all employees are paid correctly and on time.
• Establish and maintain relationships with external payroll bureaus and monitor service levels.
• Prepare monthly payroll journals.
• Ensure payroll‑associated payments (e.g., tax, pension) are approved and paid within correct timeframes.
• Process RSU/stock options.
• Work with team managers to create, update, and maintain effective SOPs.
• Ensure effective SOX compliance, including SAS 70/SSAE16 compliance where appropriate.
• Efficiently handle all payroll related queries.
• Assist with the preparation and submission of statutory reporting, including year‑end activities, working closely with partners both internal and external.
• Cooperate with external and internal auditors, providing information as and when required.
• Provide support and cover for other team members within the payroll department.
• Work with project management to successfully deliver Fortinet’s payroll roadmap, including transition to a new payroll partner (ADP) and transformation of the EMEA payroll function through automation and standardisation.

Qualifications

• Significant and demonstrable knowledge of successful payroll processing.
• Experience in managing multiple EMEA payrolls.
• Experience with payroll journal booking and reconciliations.
• Demonstrated experience identifying and implementing payroll process improvements.
• Solid organisational skills and ability to multi‑task; excellent time‑management skills.
• Successful management of vendors to achieve company goals.
• Knowledge of and experience with SOX compliance.
• Previous related accounting support experience.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to deliver under pressure.
• Intermediate Excel expertise.
• Confidentiality, discretion, and professionalism.
• Strong research skills.
• Customer‑service orientation.