Payroll Specialist

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Germany.

📋 Description

• Accurately and compliantly produce the designated stream of German payroll on schedule each period.

• Process and verify payroll master data, which includes new hires, terminations, salary adjustments, variable pay, benefits, absences, and garnishments.

• Execute pre- and post-payroll validations, identifying and flagging issues before they impact team members, customers, or Finance.

• Manage statutory filings and accesses, such as Lohnsteueranmeldung, SV-Meldungen, Jahresmeldung, U1/U2 claims, and ELStAM data.

• Maintain payroll system procedures and conduct testing of legislative updates as instructed.

• Utilize knowledge of German wage tax, social insurance, labor law, and collective agreements.

• Review payroll journals and General Ledger mappings to ensure alignment with payroll outputs.

• Address assigned client payroll tickets and escalate issues that exceed the defined scope.

• Generate statutory and ad-hoc reports, including those related to pay transparency, works council, and GDPR compliance.

• Supply data and documentation for both internal and external audits.

• Adhere to SOPs, identify process gaps, share insights, and assist peers along with the payroll knowledge base.

⛳️ Requirements

• 1–3 years of experience managing native, in-house German payroll processes while independently handling a defined monthly payslip volume.

• Practical experience with DATEV processing.

• Completion of Kaufmännische Ausbildung, such as Steuerfachangestellte/r, and/or Lohnbuchhalter qualification.

• Proficient understanding of German wage tax, social insurance, and labor law.

• German language proficiency at C1/C2 level for effective communication with local authorities.

• Fluent in English for collaboration with the globally distributed team.

• Ability to manage client inquiries and escalate issues beyond the defined scope with clear context.

• Meticulous and detail-oriented approach with a commitment to thorough self-checking and issue identification.

• Capability to navigate ambiguity within the assigned workstream and escalate matters outside of scope.

• Willingness to share knowledge and support colleagues.

• Comfortable working predominantly asynchronously in a fast-paced, remote-first setting.

🏝️ Benefits

• 40 days off annually, including holidays and vacation, or more as mandated by local regulations.

• Access to mental health support through Plumm.

• Monthly wellbeing allowance available in the ThanksBen wallet.

• Minimum of three months’ paid parental leave for all new parents.

• Job protection for up to 12 months or as required by local laws.

• WFH stipend for laptop and home office equipment.

• Flexibility to work from any location where authorized and supported by the team.

• A remote-first, asynchronous working atmosphere.

• An inclusive workplace with reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process.