Payroll Partner (m/w/d)

About the Role

Hansefit, part of Epassi, operates in the fitness, health training, wellness, and swimming space and supports employers with corporate health management and employer branding. The business is growing in a digitally driven, future-focused market. This position sits within the People & Culture team and is being filled as a succession role. It can be performed either full-time or part-time, with a minimum of 30 hours per week.

Your Mission

In this role, you will take ownership of accurate, compliant, and timely payroll processing for employees in Germany. You will also be the first point of contact for employees and managers with compensation-related questions. The position is based in Bremen with a hybrid setup.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare and run monthly payroll in DATEV Lohn & Gehalt in close coordination with the external payroll provider.
• Process all pay-relevant changes, including hires, exits, salary revisions, bonuses, and variable compensation.
• Review and maintain inputs that affect payroll, such as working hours, absences, sickness, parental leave, and other leave types.
• Handle communication with tax offices, health insurance funds, and social security institutions.
• Administer employee benefits such as company pension plans, meal vouchers, and mobility budgets.
• Keep payroll-related master data updated in the HR information system.
• Prepare compensation reports and statistics for leadership and Finance.
• Manage employee and personnel data in a GDPR-compliant and audit-proof way.
• Support employees and managers with questions about payroll, net-to-gross calculations, and benefits.
• Contribute to year-end closing activities and annual payroll tax equalisation.

Requirements

• Completed commercial training or a degree focused on payroll, taxation, or human resources, such as tax clerk or HR/payroll specialist qualifications.
• At least 3 years of independent payroll experience in the German market, ideally covering a workforce of at least 100 employees.
• Strong knowledge of German payroll tax, social security, and labour law.
• Excellent DATEV Lohn & Gehalt skills are mandatory.
• Experience with HRIS platforms, such as HiBob, and digital HR tools.
• Working knowledge of year-end closing, annual payroll tax equalisation, and payroll audit preparation.
• Familiarity with electronic reporting procedures such as ELStAM, SV notifications, and DESKA.
• Confident use of MS Office 365, especially advanced Excel.

Profile and Language Skills

• You should have already managed payroll independently for at least three years in Germany, using DATEV and meeting all statutory deadlines and requirements.
• Experience supporting annual closing work and payroll tax equalisation is expected, along with the ability to prepare successfully for tax audits.
• German must be spoken at a business-fluent level or equivalent native proficiency.
• Basic English is considered an advantage.

Core Competencies

• Strong comfort with numbers and a highly structured, accurate working style.
• High discretion and reliability when handling sensitive compensation and personnel information.
• Strong deadline discipline, even during busy payroll cycles.
• Excellent service mindset and clear communication with employees and managers.
• Ability to spot issues early and resolve them proactively.

Why Join Us

• Be part of the Epassi group, which is active in more than 10 countries and employs over 1,000 people across Europe.
• Benefit from a personal development plan, an annual training budget, and access to Coursera and Babbel.
• Gain access to a nationwide wellbeing network with more than 13,000 sports and wellness partners and over 50 sports options.
• Enjoy a structured onboarding experience across local and international teams, including in Bremen, Hamburg, Munich, or remote.
• Work in modern offices in Bremen, Hamburg, and Munich with drinks, fresh fruit, monthly office lunches, and regular team events.
• Use the option to work from anywhere in Europe for up to 4 weeks per year.
• Receive bicycle leasing through JobRad for commuting or private use.
• Get 30 days of vacation per year based on a 5-day work week.
• Access Auntie, a professional mental health coaching service at no cost.

Additional Information

This role is based in Bremen and is offered in a hybrid format. It can be filled either full-time or part-time, with a minimum of 30 hours per week. The position is intended as a successor hire.