German Payroll Lead

General Information

Role Profile: Job Level 4S – Delivery, Lead Specialist
Reporting To: Job Level 5 – Delivery, Senior Manager
Direct Reports: None

Role Description

Overall objective of the role: To support the German payroll country solution, leveraging functional and technical expertise and country-specific knowledge to ensure operational teams are skilled, knowledgeable, and meet client deadlines. The successful candidate will act as the German Payroll Subject Matter Expert, leading a delivery team of approximately 15 FTE, driving payroll excellence, supporting implementations, ensuring legislative compliance, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

This is a fully remote position and can be based in either Spain or Poland.

Main Responsibilities

• Support Managers with client engagement, ensuring all information is accurate and provided on time.
• Support the Sales process to ensure scope of service is feasible and highlight any concerns immediately to the Senior Operations Manager.
• Provide support and guidance for all implementations and go-lives, whilst ensuring automation and standards are utilized.
• Lead projects designed to improve customer satisfaction and business performance.
• Provide daily functional support to the teams, ensuring the successful delivery of German payrolls.
• Act as a functional expert and escalation point for German payroll-related questions, issues and client requirements.
• Maintain the Country Solution workbook.
• Manage the legislation roadmap, ensuring the team is upskilled for upcoming changes and processes are updated where needed.
• Resolve technical/functional issues escalated from the team; report system issues/defects correctly and log tickets with necessary details and evidence.
• Collaborate with Operational Management, Transformation and Products to implement automation, innovation and continuous improvement programmes.
• Lead Year End activities, ensuring deadlines are met successfully.
• Identify upsell opportunities proactively.
• Support Management with the resolution of client escalations and lessons learnt.
• Upskill and develop team members through training delivery and coaching.
• Adhere to Strada Security Standards and appropriately handle sensitive and confidential information.
• Complete time recording on time and accurately.
• Contribute to team meetings and raise any issues immediately to the Operations Manager.
• Stay up to date with all Strada announcements and communications.
• Build good relationships with all lines of business and participate in projects as needed and assigned.

Key Criteria to Monitor Performance

• Adherence to all Security and Compliance procedures (100%).
• Attainment of customer SLA agreements.
• Adherence to quality standards.
• Adoption and support of innovation initiatives.
• Reduction of client escalations through knowledge transfer to both clients and colleagues.
• Demonstrate professionalism and act responsibly.
• Effective communication with all levels within the business.

Required Experience

Professional / Job Experience

• Strong knowledge of payroll inputs/outputs (e.g., third‑party interfaces, timekeeping, tax filing/compliance, benefits).
• Expert knowledge of German payroll processes, practices and associated legislation.
• Experience supporting payroll operations, client engagements, implementations and payroll transformations.
• Ability to identify and mitigate risks.
• Strong knowledge of MS Office tools (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Flexibility to support a global and fast‑paced environment.
• Attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal skills.
• Self‑motivated and willing to learn.
• Ability to collaborate and work in a team environment, as well as independently while adhering to processes and procedures.
• Fluent German and English language skills (mandatory).
• Hands‑on SAP Payroll experience (mandatory).
• Experience supporting, coaching and guiding payroll delivery teams.

Academic Degree, Education and Training

Essential: BA/BS in a business‑related field such as Accounting, Human Resources, Business Administration or equivalent combination of education & experience. 5–8 years relevant experience administering payroll in an HR consulting, HR outsourcing or corporate environment. SAP Payroll experience and German & English language proficiency.

Desirable: HRIS knowledge (Workday or PeopleSoft), experience with EuHReka, Exchange; payroll certifications (PDL, VPS); experience managing small‑medium scale projects; experience supporting geographically dispersed and remote teams.

Benefits

• Health coverage
• Wellbeing programs
• Paid leave (vacation, sick, parental)
• Retirement plans
• Learning opportunities
• Other benefits contingent on successful completion of background checks as permitted by law.

EEO Statement

Strada is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination based on legally protected characteristics. We actively support the advancement of underrepresented groups and provide reasonable accommodations for disabilities and religious practices. Applicants may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting their recruiter.

Authorization to Work in the Employing Country

To be considered for this position, you must have current and future work authorization in the country where you are applying, without the need for visa sponsorship by Strada.

Disclaimer

Nothing in this job description restricts Strada’s right to assign or re‑assign duties and responsibilities of this job to other entities, including but not limited to subsidiaries or partners. We also reserve the right to modify the duties of this position as required.