Senior Global Payroll Specialist, EMEA

Moderna Therapeutics; Warszawa; On-site; PLN 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A biopharmaceutical company in Poland is looking for a Payroll Manager to oversee payroll operations across the EMEA region. The candidate will be responsible for ensuring compliance with payroll legislation, managing vendor relationships, and optimizing payroll processes. Ideal applicants will have a BA/BS degree, 3-5 years of payroll experience, and proficiency with payroll tools. This role includes benefits such as generous paid time off and health care perks.

Benefits

Quality healthcare and insurance benefits

Lifestyle Spending Accounts

Free premium access to wellness classes

Generous paid time off

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years of experience in payroll solutions and vendor management.
• Strong knowledge of local payroll legislation/taxation for EMEA countries.
• Experience managing payroll in different delivery models.

Responsibilities

• Manage payroll calendars and ensure deadlines are met.
• Process end-to-end payroll operations with third-party vendors across EMEA.
• Drive vendor relationships and performance improvements through KPIs.

Skills

Payroll solutions

Vendor management

Proficiency with Workday

Advanced Excel skills

Clear communication skills

Organizational skills

Problem-solving skills

Education

BA/BS degree or equivalent work experience

Tools

Workday

Microsoft Office

Advanced Excel

Job description

* Manage payroll calendars, ensuring all deadlines are met and stakeholder communications are maintained.* Monitor the payroll inbox and ServiceNow tickets to address employee concerns and timesheet support within SLAs.* Partner with Global Compensation, Benefits, Mobility, Equity, Finance, Tax, and Legal teams on payroll-impacting activities and audits.* Maintain confidentiality and integrity of all payroll-related data and transactions.* Drive process optimization, vendor performance metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives.* Lead payroll-related year-end activities and support ongoing documentation and compliance.**We behave like owners. The solutions we’re building go beyond any job description.** In this role, you’ll own the payroll function for a broad EMEA region, treating the systems, processes, and outcomes with the care and accountability of an owner. You will be empowered to improve vendor performance, resolve escalations, and shape how we scale payroll operations globally.* Process end-to-end payroll operations with third-party vendors across EMEA, from data collection (e.g., salary changes, one-time payments, absences, overtime, benefits adjustments) to delivery of accurate, timely payroll results and reporting (e.g., employee pay, pay slips, tax filings, benefit contributions, reports, and compliance submissions)* Manage change requests with internal teams and with vendors to ensure compliance with policies and submit adjustment input files to vendor portals (e.g., new hires, terminations, leaves, one-time payments, etc.)* Support accurate, compliance payroll processes that meet SOX controls and audit requirements* Review and analyze current payroll procedures to identify areas for improvement and implement enhanced processes, systems, and controls to increase efficiency and accuracy* Partner with Global Compensation, Benefits, Mobility, and Equity teams on payroll-impacting events, and collaborate with Finance, Tax, and Legal teams on audit and documentation requests* Monitor the payroll inbox for ad-hoc requests and ServiceNow tickets, supporting employees with payroll inquiries and timesheets while ensuring SLAs and employee satisfaction are met* Drive vendor relationships, risks, escalations, focusing on performance metrics to deliver improvements through KPIs and action plans* Manage the payroll calendar, ensure deadlines are met, and send reminder communications to stakeholders* Ensure the accuracy, integrity, and confidentiality of all payroll data and transactions* BA/BS degree or equivalent work experience* 3–5+ years of experience in payroll solutions and vendor management* Strong knowledge of local payroll legislation/taxation EMEA countries* Proficiency with Workday, Microsoft Office, and advanced Excel (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables, linking formulas)* Proven accuracy, data integrity, and attention to detail* Clear and confident communication skills in written and spoken English* Hands-on experience with payroll files, benefit provider inputs, and outsourced vendor model* Ability to work effectively across time zones and adapt to country-specific payroll requirements* Strong organizational and problem-solving skills with a process-oriented mindset* Adapt to evolving business needs while collaborating effectively across teams.* Excellent communication skills and the ability to build collaborative relationships, influence stakeholders, and align shared objectives* Experience managing payroll in different delivery models (in-house, outsourced, and co-sourced)* Experienced with Workday; knowledge of IPPEX* Additional payroll experience across APAC and EMEA regions* thriving in a matrixed, fast-paced, deadline-driven environment* A collaborative professional with a desire to make an impact in a high-growth, transformational company that values being **Bold, Relentless, Curious,** and **Collaborative*** Quality healthcare and insurance benefits* Lifestyle Spending Accounts to create your own pathway to well-being* Free premium access to fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness classes* Family planning and adoption benefits* Generous paid time off, including vacation, bank holidays, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown* Savings and investments* Location-specific perks and extras!