Global Payroll Operations Partner

About Appinio

Appinio is a global market research company that blends an AI-driven insights platform with expert consultancy to help businesses make data-informed decisions. Founded in Hamburg in 2014, it has grown to serve over 2600 clients across more than 190 countries, employing over 260 people worldwide in a remote-first culture.

Role Overview

We are seeking a proactive and technically adept Global Payroll Operations Partner to join our People Team. This key role involves managing the end-to-end payroll process across multiple international locations, ensuring compliance with local regulations and deadlines. You will optimize payroll procedures to enhance scalability and support company expansion.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and manage payroll preparation for international offices including Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Portugal, UK, and Netherlands, guaranteeing accuracy and timely execution.
• Lead communications with external payroll providers, EOR (Employer of Record), and PEO (Professional Employer Organization) in the US to maintain payroll compliance and address statutory issues.
• Provide primary support for employee payroll queries, handling tickets with expertise, empathy, and efficiency.
• Identify and implement automation and workflow improvements to minimize manual processes and increase global payroll efficiency.
• Collaborate with Revenue Operations to ensure precise and prompt processing of sales commissions and bonus payments.
• Assist the Finance department with staff cost reporting, audits, and workforce planning based on data insights.
• Work alongside Finance and Legal teams to assist in international grant and subsidy applications by supplying accurate personnel and salary data and compliance reports.

Candidate Profile

• A minimum of 3 years' experience managing the payroll process in Germany.
• Experience handling payroll operations in France and/or Spain, with a solid understanding of related statutory requirements; experience with Austria, UK, Netherlands, US, or Portugal is advantageous.
• Proven track record managing external payroll providers with a focus on regulatory compliance. Experience with EOR and PEO providers is a plus.
• Adept at optimizing processes with a product-oriented approach, automating workflows between HRIS and payroll systems.
• Confident in data analysis with advanced skills in Excel or Google Sheets for complex information management.
• Strong communication skills demonstrating patience and clarity when explaining complex payroll and tax concepts to employees.
• Self-driven with a strong sense of ownership, able to operate effectively in fast-growing environments ensuring payroll transparency and audit readiness.
• Professional fluency in English and German, both written and spoken.

Benefits and Perks

• Flexible vacation policy averaging 30 days with no strict maximum cap.
• Opportunity to work remotely within the EU up to 180 days annually.
• Provision of modern work hardware, including a personal MacBook.
• Transport benefits such as a Deutschland ticket or access to a mobility budget via NAVIT app for employees in Hamburg or Berlin.
• Subsidized membership to fitness programs like Urban Sports Club or ClassPass depending on location.
• Access to coworking spaces in key cities including Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, London, Madrid, Barcelona, and New York.

Additional Information

• This role reports directly to the Team Lead for Talent Acquisition & People Operations.
• The recruitment process involves multiple interviews including team leads, senior People Team members, executive leadership, and reference checks.
• Applications are accepted only in English.
• Appinio is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion across all applicant evaluations.