Payroll Specialist - Netherland

MSD; Netherlands; Hybrid; GBP 44,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Pension and health insurance

5 weeks annual leave

Employee discounts

Up-to-date laptop and iPhone

Job summary

Merck & Co., Inc. in the Netherlands is seeking an Associate Payroll Specialist to oversee payroll for multiple entities, ensuring accuracy and compliance with local laws. You will collaborate with HRSC, Tax, Finance, and HR colleagues to address payroll questions and streamline processes.

You will support payroll operations across the sub-region with a focus on continuous improvement, governance, and cross‑functional partnering, while leveraging external providers and SOX controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, business or accounting or payroll qualification.
• At least 3 years in a multinational environment with focus on payroll for multiple entities.
• Experience with outsourced payroll models and HR systems (Workday).

Responsibilities

• Deliver timely and accurate payroll for multiple entities in line with local laws.
• Input data into databases and spreadsheets; monitor salary changes.
• Coordinate expatriates and commuters with Global Mobility and external providers.
• Ensure payroll controls for SOX and audits; prepare bank payment approvals.
• Contribute to payroll policies, procedures, and internal controls; respond to inquiries.

Skills

Accounting

Payroll processing

Data entry

Spreadsheets

International payroll

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor’s degree in finance, business or accounting

Tools

Workday

AFAS

BDO

Job description

Job Description

Position Overview:

The Associate Payroll Specialist EMEA is responsible for the correct processing of all payroll mutations for a given market(s), in this case the Netherland, as well as informing HRSC, Tax, Finance and HR colleagues regarding payroll related questions. The Payroll Specialist reports to Manager HR services, joining a team of peers based regionally.

The Payroll Specialist supports the structure of the payroll function and the way Payroll services are delivered. Furthermore, Payroll Specialist plays an important role in providing significant value to the entire sub-region’s organization by ensuring state-of-the-art Payroll processing, operations excellence, regulatory compliance, while acting as a liaison to multiple internal stakeholders.

For all activities, the Payroll Specialist demonstrates a continuous improvement mind‑set to have issues solved at root cause as well as experience and a passion for delivering successful results with an inclusive team ethic.

The Assoc. Specialist Payroll (P1) is responsible for:

• Independently delivering timely and accurate payroll for multiple assigned entities in compliance with local laws and regulations.
• Inputting data into databases and spreadsheets.
• Monitoring standard personnel and salary changes.
• Processing expats and commuters in coordination with Global Mobility and external providers.
• Managing all payroll controls for SOX and other audits.
• Compiling all necessary approvals for bank payments.
• Contributing to the development and implementation of payroll policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Responding to all internal and external inquiries related to payroll issues, social insurance, and taxation.
• Contributing to efforts to standardize and improve Payroll & Benefits Administration processes across sites, leveraging best practices and reducing complexity.
• Collaborating closely with all relevant parties, including the EMEA HR Service Delivery organization, HR Business Partners, and HR Centers of Excellence.
• Supporting payroll peers with documentation of payroll systems, process optimization, and continuous improvement.
• Participating in projects and working groups.
• Reporting? Payroll Reporting: Assist in generating accurate payroll reports, such as earnings statements, tax reports, and other payroll‑related reports. Collaborate with the HR Shared Service team to distribute reports to employees and stakeholders as required.
• Continuous Learning: Staying up-to‑updated on payroll, best practices, emerging trends, and technology solutions. Attend training sessions and webinars to enhance knowledge of payroll processes, compliance requirements, and software updates.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience required

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, Business or Accounting or another relevant Payroll qualification; in lieu of a degree
• At least 3 years of experience in a multinational business environment, with focus on Payroll for multiple entities. Experience in HR is a plus.
• Experience with payroll processing with outsourced provider models (AFAS, BDO etc.) and working with HR systems (Workday)
• Excellent planning and organizational skills, ability to balance and prioritize work.
• Proven ability to maintain confidentiality, strong personal integrity.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability to communicate relevant information to all levels of the organization, fluent in English (written and spoken) and Dutch.
• Demonstrated ability to work in (international) teams and collaborate / partner effectively at all levels across the organization.

What we offer:

• Exciting work in a great team, global projects, international environment
• Opportunity to learn and grow professionally within the company globally
• Hybrid working model, flexible role pattern
• Pension and health insurance contributions
• Internal reward system plus referral program
• 5 weeks annual leave, 5 sick days, 15 days of certified sick leave paid above statutory requirements annually, 40 paid hours annually for volunteering activities, 12 weeks of parental contribution
• Cafeteria for tax free benefits according to your choice (meal vouchers, sport, culture, health, travel, etc.), Multisport Card
• Vodafone, Raiffeisen Bank, Foodora, and other discount programs
• Up-to-date laptop and iPhone
• Parking in the garage for drivers or showers for bikers
• Competitive salary, incentive pay, and many more

Required Skills:

Accounting, Data Entry, Equity Compensation, International Payroll, Organizational Talent, Payment Operations, Payroll Analysis, Payroll Benefits, Payroll Compliance, Payroll Management, Payroll Processing, Payroll Queries, Payroll Reporting, Shared Service Centers, Spreadsheets

Employee Status:

Regular

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Job Posting End Date:

09/12/2026*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities.

All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.

No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place.

Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific.

Please, no phone calls or emails.