Senior Payroll Specialist

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

📋 Description

• Take ownership of the entire native in-house German payroll cycle, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely execution.

• Verify payroll master data, which encompasses hires, terminations, salary adjustments, variable compensation, benefits, absences, and garnishments.

• Perform pre- and post-payroll validations, identify discrepancies, and apply corrective measures.

• Manage statutory filings and related activities, including Lohnsteueranmeldung, SV-Meldungen, Jahresmeldung, U1/U2 claims, and ELStAM data.

• Establish and oversee necessary government access.

• Configure and sustain the in-house payroll system while testing legislative updates.

• Resolve payroll system issues and collaborate with the Product team to enhance automation and scalability.

• Provide guidance on German wage tax law, social insurance law, labor law, and collective agreement interpretation to the business.

• Supervise payroll journals, GL mappings, Finance reconciliations, and uphold data integrity.

• Address complex client payroll escalations as a primary technical and customer-focused contact.

• Generate statutory and ad-hoc reports, including pay transparency, works council pay assessment, and GDPR-related documentation.

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

• Optimize processes, mentor junior specialists, support Regional Managers, and maintain playbooks, SOPs, and a shared knowledge base.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 5 years of experience managing the complete native in-house payroll process for Germany.

• Proven ability to independently handle a high volume of German payslips monthly.

• Proficiency in German at C1/C2 level for effective communication with local authorities.

• Fluent in English to collaborate with a globally distributed team asynchronously.

• Advanced, practical experience with DATEV.

• Extensive and up-to-date knowledge of German wage tax, social insurance, and labor law.

• Capability to provide direct advice to stakeholders on payroll and employment law issues.

• Experience in managing complex and sensitive client escalations.

• Analytical mindset with a focus on productivity and automation.

• Ability to create and enhance processes from the ground up.

• Comfort in navigating ambiguity and facilitating cross-functional change.

• Experience in coaching or mentoring less experienced team members.

• Adaptability to work asynchronously in a dynamic, remote-first setting.

• Completion of Kaufmännische Ausbildung and/or Lohnbuchhalter qualification is preferred.

• A broader accounting background or qualification, such as Bilanzbuchhalter, is advantageous.

• Experience in executing cross-functional HR/payroll projects is a plus.

• Hands-on experience with AI tools for payroll or operational workflows is desirable.

• Strong data transformation capabilities and practical experience with data analytics platforms are preferred.

• Must possess the legal right to work in Germany.

🏝️ Benefits

• Work remotely from anywhere, provided you are authorized to work in your location.

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

• Access to mental health support through Plumm.

• Monthly wellbeing allowance via the ThanksBen wallet.

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

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

• Work-from-home stipend for laptop and home office setup.

• Flexible, asynchronous, and collaborative remote-first work environment.

• An inclusive workplace that provides reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process.