Senior People Operations & Payroll Manager (f/m/x)

Your mission

• Own the monthly payroll process across countries, including preparatory payroll accounting, inputs, handovers and sign-off with external payroll providers.
• Keep employee master data in Personio & Deel accurate, compliant and audit-ready.
• Manage core lifecycle processes (onboarding, leave, offboarding), including work time accounts, eAUadministration and work certificates.
• Act as a main contact for payroll providers, tax advisors and auditors, and resolve issues quickly and professionally.
• Spot friction in processes, systems and workflows, then fix it, using automation and exploring AI where they add real value.
• Support the alignment of employee benefits across countries while respecting local requirements.
• Partner closely with People Partners and Finance so payroll, reporting and People processes join up.
• Answer employee questions on pay and HR admin with clarity and discretion.
• Guide or mentor junior team members, own larger process and system projects, and act as a sparring partner to People leadership.

Your profile

• 5 years of experience in payroll and People / HR Operations, ideally including German payroll.
• Experience coordinating payroll across multiple countries, working with external providers. 
• Strong knowledge of relevant labor law, tax and social security requirements, with a willingness to learn new countries.
• Hands-on experience with Deel & Personio is a strong plus.
• A structured, reliable and discreet way of working, with a real eye for detail and deadlines.
• A pragmatic, improvement-minded approach: you like clean processes, but not bureaucracy for its own sake.
• Curiosity about how systems, automation and AI can make work better.
• Fluent English and German; another European language is a bonus.
• Proven ownership of multi-country payroll and experience leading process or system improvements, or guiding others.