Payroll Manager (Zurich)

DKSH; Zürich; Hybrid; CHF 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working hours

Home office

25 days annual leave

Meal allowances

Sports allowances

Public transport allowances

Above-average pension

Job summary

DKSH in Zurich is seeking a Manager Payroll to lead payroll operations across Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Poland, ensuring accuracy, compliance and continuous improvement in a multi‑entity, dynamic organization.

Based in Zurich‑Oerlikon with a February 2027 start, you will manage outsourced vendors, monitor tax and labor regulation changes, and collaborate with HR and Finance to deliver precise payroll reporting and LTIP support.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of multi-country payroll experience
• Fluent in German and English; French a welcome bonus
• Experience with outsourced vendors and Swiss payroll systems

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end payroll across Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Poland
• Maintain accuracy and compliance across markets
• Drive payroll process standardization and automation
• Partner with HR, Finance and external stakeholders on payroll reporting
• Oversee LTIP topics with Global Compensation & Benefits team

Skills

Multi-country payroll

Vendor management

German language

English language

Analytical thinking

Detail-oriented

Education

Business administration background

Job description

About The Role

As Manager Payroll at DKSH, you will lead payroll operations across multiple legal entities in different markets, including the Group's principal holding company in Switzerland. In this highly visible role, you will ensure operational excellence, strengthen compliance, drive continuous improvement, and help shape the future of payroll within a complex and dynamic organization.

Based in Zurich-Oerlikon, this succession-driven opportunity, with a planned start in February 2027, offers the chance to build on a well-established function while bringing your own expertise, functional leadership, and vision to its next phase of development.

What You Will Deliver

• Lead end-to-end payroll across Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Poland, maintaining accuracy and compliance
• Proactively track and respond to changes in tax law and labor regulations across multiple markets
• Oversee Board of Directors compensation and support Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) topics in collaboration with the Global Compensation & Benefits team
• Hold vendors to high performance standards, and make the call to change course when results fall short
• Drive payroll process standardization, automation, and continuous improvement across the region
• Partner closely with HR, Finance, and external stakeholders as the trusted advisor on payroll matters, ensuring accurate payroll reporting, reconciliations, and compliance
• Support operational and administrative payroll activities as needed

What You Bring

• Commercial or business administration background, with payroll and Swiss social security expertise
• 7 to 10 years of multi-country payroll experience, including managing outsourced vendors; hands‑on exposure to payroll markets beyond Switzerland is a distinct advantage
• Fluent in German and English; French is a welcome bonus
• Analytically sharp, detail‑oriented, and built for complexity
• Lead with conviction, make decisions with confidence, even in unfamiliar territory

Why Join DKSH

• A highly dynamic and exciting position in an international, entrepreneurial environment with flat hierarchies
• Flexible working hours including home office
• 25 days annual leave
• Allowances for meals, sports, and public transportation
• Above average pension fund and social insurance contributions

At DKSH, we help companies grow globally and enable people to perform at their best. You will be part of an organization that values accountability, collaboration, and long-term partnerships. We offer a dynamic environment where your contributions are visible and where you can build a meaningful career in Payroll Administration.