Specialist/Senior Specialist, Payroll Services

upm; Finland; Hybrid; EUR 48,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

UPM is seeking a Specialist/Senior Specialist, Payroll Services to join its Payroll team supporting Finland payroll from Tampere or Helsinki, or Krakow. You will work with internal teams and external partners to deliver accurate payroll with compliant processes.

As the role grows, you will participate in payroll transformation projects, ensure data integrity, and collaborate across Europe to optimize payroll operations.

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of payroll operations experience in international environments.
• Direct knowledge of payroll for Finland.
• Fluent in Finnish and English; strong communication and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to Finland payroll and time management transformation projects.
• Support implementation and stabilization of new payroll/time-management technologies.
• Coordinate data flows with external providers and internal stakeholders; monitor SLAs.
• Perform pre-payroll and post-payroll reconciliations and quality checks for payroll data.
• Ensure compliance with labor laws, tax regulations, and reporting requirements; support audits and accounting reconciliations.

Skills

Payroll operations

Stakeholder management

Time management

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Tools

Workday

Time & Attendance systems

Job description

Would you like to join a global, growing company that innovates for a more sustainable tomorrow? UPM could be the team for you. We are frontrunners in developing renewable alternatives to fossil-based materials. Besides enabling both businesses and consumers make more sustainable choices, we strive to create a positive UPM experience for all our employees around the world. We live by our values - trust and be trusted, achieve together, renew with courage. Together we can renew the everyday, for a future beyond fossils!

Learn more about us as a workplace upm.com/careers

We are now looking for a Specialist/Senior Specialist, Payroll Services to join our Payroll team. The position is located in Tampere or Helsinki, Finland, or in Krakow, Poland.

Greetings from your future manager

“As a Payroll Specialist, you will join our international community of payroll professionals, where we work together to deliver accurate, compliant and reliable payroll services. Your main focus will be Finland payroll, and you will play a key role in ensuring smooth end-to-end payroll delivery together with our internal teams and external payroll partners. While Finland will be at the heart of your role, you will also be part of our broader Global Payroll organization, giving you the opportunity to collaborate across countries, learn from colleagues and contribute to how we develop payroll globally. If you are passionate about payroll, enjoy taking ownership and want to develop together with us, I hope to hear from you!” - Nina Roos, Director, Global Payroll

What you will do

• Contribute to the ongoing payroll and time management transformation project in Finland, including transition activities, process design, way-of-working development, and readiness of the new service model
• Support the successful implementation and stabilization of new payroll and time management technologies, ensuring they meet the practical needs of UPM payroll operations
• Partner closely with external payroll provider and UPM internal stakeholders to manage data flows (attendances, variable pay, benefits, and master data changes) and monitor service level agreements (SLAs)
• Perform pre-payroll and post-payroll reconciliations, audits, and quality checks on reports provided by external vendors to guarantee correct salary disbursements
• Ensure that all payroll processes comply with labor laws, tax regulations, and statutory reporting requirements, leveraging the expertise of local providers and advisors
• Work closely with Finance, HR, and People Operations to support accounting reconciliations, general ledger postings, year-end closing, and internal/external audits
• Serve as an escalation point for complex payroll inquiries regarding pay, tax deductions, benefits or international situations
• Participate in continuous improvement, process optimization, and the development of standardized payroll frameworks and digital tools; as the role matures, responsibilities may expand to support payroll operations and development initiatives across European countries

Who you are

• You have solid professional experience (3-5+ years for Specialist or 5+ years for Senior Specialist) in managing payroll operations, preferably within international corporate environments or payroll service providers
• You have direct knowledge and proven experience handling payroll operations for Finland
• You possess strong expertise in payroll administration, collective labour agreement compliance requirements, social security and compliance requirements
• You are familiar with HRIS/Payroll technologies (e.g., Workday), Time & Attendance systems and proficient with office tools and case management technologies
• You have proven ability to manage relationships with external payroll vendors and coordinate effectively across various internal and external stakeholders
• You are organized and capable of managing strict deadlines in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment
• You have very good interpersonal and communication skills, with a collaborative mindset and strong problem-solving capabilities
• You are fluent in Finnish and English, both written and spoken

This is what we offer to you

• A meaningful job: We have an inspiring purpose "We renew the everyday for a future beyond fossils". Our work is impactful and transformative.
• A caring community: Our community is built on great team spirit and shared commitment. We care about each other and the well-being of our colleagues. We support the work-life balance of all our employees.
• Development opportunities: We offer you great opportunities to learn and grow throughout your career. We are an international, multi-business organization offering plenty of avenues for personal growth.
• Responsible employer: Sustainability is at the core of everything we do. We are committed to ambitious, science-based sustainability targets in all areas, from climate change mitigation to enhancing biodiversity. We foster diversity and inclusivity, offering a work environment in which every