Payroll Specialist

JEK recruitment B.V.; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

JEK recruitment B.V. is seeking an experienced Payroll Specialist in Amsterdam to coordinate payroll for Germany and France, including expatriates and international mobility. You will manage data changes, verify outputs with ADP, and support financial closing and audits.

The role blends operational payroll execution with advisory duties in tax, social security and cross-border compliance, serving as a key liaison among HR, Finance and external providers in a dynamic international setting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor or equivalent in HR, Finance, Accounting or business administration.
• Payroll qualification or equivalent is preferred.
• Experience with international payroll and expatriates advantageous.
• Project management certification beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate monthly payroll processing for Germany and France via ADP.
• Input changes into ADP payroll platform: hires, terminations, salary changes, allowances, leave.
• Review payroll outputs, resolve discrepancies, ensure timely approvals and submissions.
• Serve as primary payroll contact for employee queries; liaise with ADP, HR and Finance.
• Back up for Netherlands and Spain payroll; reconcile with GL requirements.
• Prepare payroll journals and related financial reports; support closing and audits.
• Maintain payroll controls, documentation and compliance with local laws.
• Support expatriate and international mobility payroll scenarios and vendor coordination.

Skills

German payroll

French payroll

Dutch payroll

Spanish payroll

ADP payroll

Excel skills

Stakeholder mgmt

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Finance/Accounting/Business Admin

Tools

ADP

SF/SuccessFactors

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Payroll Specialist to coordinate and manage payroll activities for our German and French employee populations from our Amsterdam office. Operating within an international business banking environment, this role is responsible for ensuring the accurate, compliant and timely delivery of payroll services.

The role combines operational payroll execution with advisory responsibilities in the areas of payroll tax, social security, labour law and international mobility. The role oversees complex payroll cases involving expatriates, cross-border employees and international assignees, with a significant population of Japanese expats.

In addition to day-to-day payroll coordination, the payroll specialist plays a key role in the transition and centralisation of payroll activities from local country teams into Amsterdam. The position demands a professional who can balance operational excellence, regulatory compliance, stakeholder management and analytical problem-solving in a dynamic international environment. Mizuho uses ADP Celergo, an overarching global cloud-based payroll platform, through which global control is managed. Payroll processing is handled by ADP SmartPay, which is based on Loga.

Payroll Operations

• Coordinate monthly payroll processing for Germany and France through ADP.
• Accurately input employee data changes into the ADP payroll platform, including:
  • New hires and terminations
  • Salary changes
  • Variable compensation, allowances and benefits
  • Leave and absence data
  • Expatriate-related payroll adjustments
• Review and validate payroll calculations and outputs provided by ADP. Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies and exceptions.
• Ensure accurate and timely payroll approvals and submissions.
• Act as the primary point of contact for payroll-related employee queries.
• Liaise with ADP, HR, Finance and country stakeholders to ensure smooth payroll operations.
• Maintain payroll records and supporting documentation in accordance with internal policies and regulatory requirements.

Finance Responsibilities

• Monitor service quality and performance of the payroll provider.
• Serve as full back-up for Netherlands and Spain payroll.
• Reconcile payroll data with Finance and General Ledger requirements.
• Prepare payroll journals and payroll-related financial reports.
• Support monthly, quarterly and annual financial closing activities.
• Support audits by providing payroll documentation, reconciliations and evidence.
• Partner with Finance to improve payroll controls and reporting accuracy.
• Analyse payroll trends and cost movements and provide explanations to stakeholders.

Tax & Legal Compliance

• Ensure payroll processes comply with applicable German, French and relevant Dutch payroll legislation.
• Interpret and apply payroll tax regulations, social security requirements and employment legislation.
• Provide guidance on payroll-related tax matters and complex employee situations.
• Assess payroll implications of changes in legislation and recommend implementation actions.
• Coordinate interactions with tax authorities, social security institutions and other.
• Support tax audits, payroll inspections and regulatory inquiries.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislative developments affecting payroll and international employees.
• Work with internal and external advisors to ensure ongoing compliance.

International & Expat Support

• Manage payroll coordination for expatriates, international assignees and cross-border employees.
• Support complex payroll cases involving foreign nationals, including a significant population of Japanese expatriates.
• Coordinate payroll treatment of:
  • Tax equalisation and tax protection arrangements
  • International assignments
  • Relocation packages
  • Housing and expatriate allowances
• Review payroll implications of international mobility arrangements and advise HR and management accordingly.
• Coordinate with tax advisors and mobility providers to ensure accurate payroll reporting and withholding.
• Assist employees with payroll-related documentation and government requirements.

Project Management & Payroll Transformation

• Lead and support payroll transition projects as payroll activities are centralised into the Amsterdam office.
• Coordinate knowledge transfer activities from local country teams.
• Document payroll processes, workflows, controls and operating procedures.
• Develop and maintain process maps, work instructions and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Identify opportunities for process improvement, automation and standardisation.
• Participate in payroll system enhancements and implementation initiatives.
• Manage project plans, timelines, risks and stakeholder communications.
• Support change management activities and user adoption during payroll transformations.

Controls, Governance & Reporting

• Maintain a strong payroll control framework to ensure accuracy, compliance and risk mitigation.
• Perform payroll audits, validation checks and reconciliations.
• Develop, document and monitor key payroll controls.
• Ensure compliance with internal policies, governance standards and audit requirements.
• Prepare and distribute payroll reports, management information and compliance reports.
• Produce payroll metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Support internal and external audits.
• Identify risks, control deficiencies and improvement opportunities and implement corrective actions.

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or a related field.
• Professional payroll qualification or equivalent payroll certification preferred.
• Additional tax, labour law or international mobility qualifications are advantageous.
• Project management certification (e.g., Prince2, PMP, Agile) is beneficial.

Experience

• Minimum 5–8 years of payroll experience in a multinational environment.
• Proven experience coordinating payroll for Germany and/or France.
• Experience working with ADP payroll systems.
• Strong experience managing complex international payroll and expatriate populations.
• Experience dealing with payroll tax, social security and employment law matters.
• Experience interacting with government agencies and external payroll providers.
• Demonstrated experience leading payroll transition, transformation or centralisation projects.
• Experience documenting processes, controls and operational procedures.
• Banking, financial services or other highly regulated industry experience is preferred.

Knowledge & Skills Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of German, French, Dutch and Spanish payroll practices.
• Fluency in English and preferred in German.
• Understanding of international payroll, expatriate taxation and social security regulations.
• Familiarity with payroll accounting and financial reconciliations.
• Knowledge of payroll controls, compliance and audit requirements.
• Advanced Excel and reporting capabilities.
• Experience with HRIS and payroll platforms, preferably ADP and SF.

Professional Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to interpret and apply legislation and regulations to complex employee situations.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Effective stakeholder management and communication capabilities.
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgement.
• Project management and change management skills.
• Process improvement and continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information with discretion.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive and accountable.
• Service-oriented with a strong customer focus.
• Resilient and comfortable working in a complex international environment.
• Collaborative team player with the confidence to challenge and advise stakeholders.
• Adaptable and able to navigate changing priorities and regulations.