Senior Payroll Specialist

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

📋 Description

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

• Validate payroll master data for new hires, terminations, salary modifications, variable compensation, benefits, absences, and garnishments.

• Conduct pre- and post-payroll validations, investigate any discrepancies, and implement necessary corrective measures.

• Manage statutory filings and government access, including IRS, DMR, Modelo 10, and reimbursement claims.

• Configure and maintain the in-house payroll system, test legislative updates, troubleshoot issues, and enhance automation in collaboration with Product.

• Provide guidance to stakeholders regarding Portuguese tax, social security, labor laws, and interpretations of collective bargaining agreements.

• Supervise payroll journals, GL mappings, finance reconciliations, and ensure data integrity.

• Address complex client payroll escalations with a customer-centric approach.

• Generate statutory and ad-hoc reports, including pay transparency reports, works council pay assessments, and documentation for GDPR compliance.

• Assist in internal and external audits by providing structured data and documentation.

• Enhance processes, mentor junior specialists, support Regional Managers, and maintain payroll playbooks and SOPs.

⛳️ Requirements

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

• Proven experience in independently handling a high volume of Portuguese payslips each month.

• Essential advanced hands-on experience with Cegid (Primavera or PHC) and/or Sendys.

• Possession of a recognized accounting/payroll qualification, such as Contabilista Certificado, and/or a dedicated payroll processing certification.

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

• Capability to directly advise stakeholders on Portuguese payroll-related legislation.

• Proficiency in Portuguese at C1/C2 level.

• Fluent in English for collaboration with a global asynchronous team.

• Experience in managing complex and sensitive client escalations.

• An analytical, productivity-oriented, and automation-focused mindset.

• Comfortable operating in ambiguous situations and driving cross-functional changes.

• Experience in coaching or mentoring less experienced colleagues.

• Ability to work asynchronously in a fast-paced, remote-first environment.

• Must be located in Portugal.

• Must possess the right to work in Portugal.

• A broader accounting background or qualification, such as Revisor Oficial de Contas, is preferred.

• Experience in delivering cross-functional HR/payroll projects is advantageous.

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

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

🏝️ Benefits

• Equity offerings.

• Flexible work-from-anywhere policy, subject to authorization and role/location requirements.

• 40 days off per year, including holidays and vacation, with the possibility of additional days as needed locally.

• Mental health support provided through Plumm.

• Monthly wellbeing allowance available through the ThanksBen wallet.

• At least three months of paid parental leave for all new parents.

• Job protection for up to 12 months or as required locally.

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

• Asynchronous and collaborative work environment.

• Inclusive global workplace with reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process.