Specialist/Senior Specialist, Payroll, EMEA

UPM; Kraków; Hybrid; PLN 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

UPM in Kraków, Poland, is seeking a Specialist/Senior Specialist, Payroll, EMEA to join our international payroll team. The role focuses on end-to-end payroll for multiple countries within the EMEA region, with emphasis on France, Belgium, and Germany, in a hybrid setup in Kraków.

You will collaborate across borders with external vendors and internal Finance/HR teams to ensure compliant payroll operations and timely salary disbursements.

Qualifications

• 3–5+ years in managing multi-country payroll operations.
• Experience handling payroll for France, Belgium and Germany is a strong asset.
• Fluent in English; additional European languages are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee monthly payroll processing for multiple entities across the EMEA region.
• Coordinate data flows with external payroll providers and local service partners.
• Ensure payroll accuracy, tax calculations, and social security payments.

Skills

Payroll operations

Multi-country coordination

Excel

Tools

Workday

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 looking for a Specialist/Senior Specialist, Payroll, EMEA to join our international Payroll team. The location for this role is Kraków, Poland.

Greetings from your future manager

In this role, you will be part of an experienced and engaged community of payroll professionals, working collaboratively across borders to ensure accurate and compliant payroll operations. You will be responsible for managing the end-to-end payroll cycle for multiple countries within the EMEA region— with highly valued expertise in one or more of the following countries: France, Belgium and Germany. Acting as the primary bridge between the company and our external payroll vendors, you will ensure seamless execution. If you see yourself in this role, don't hesitate to apply! - Francesco Di Domenico, Manager, Payroll Services EMEA

What You Will Do

• Oversee and coordinate the monthly payroll processing cycle for multiple legal entities across the EMEA region (with specific focus or exposure to countries such as France, Belgium and Germany), ensuring accuracy and timeliness
• Partner closely with external payroll providers and local service partners 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, tax calculations, and social security payments
• Ensure that all regional payroll processes comply with local 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 from employees regarding pay slips, local tax deductions, or benefits
• Participate in continuous improvement projects, process optimizations, and the implementation of standardized multi-country payroll frameworks and digital tools

Who You Are

• You have solid professional experience (3–5+ years for Specialist; 5+ years for Senior Specialist) in managing multi-country payroll operations, preferably within international corporate environments or global payroll service providers
• You have direct knowledge and proven experience handling payroll operations for France, Belgium and/or Germany will be highly appreciated and considered a strong asset
• You possess strong expertise in payroll administration, compensation-related tax structures, and social security requirements within the EMEA region. You are familiar with HRIS/Payroll technologies (e.g., Workday) and advanced proficiency in MS Office (especially Excel)
• You have proven ability to manage relationships with external payroll vendors and coordinate effectively across various internal and external stakeholders
• You are organized, meticulous, 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 English (written and spoken); knowledge of additional European languages (such as French and German) will be considered an asset

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 everyone can be themselves.

Additional Information

This position offers a hybrid working model, combining remote work from home with regular on-site collaboration.

The position holder will report to Manager, Payroll Services EMEA.

For further information about the role, please contact Francesco Di Domenico, Manager, Payroll Services EMEA at [e-mail]

Country-specific information

If you have any concerns about the recruitment and selection process, you can report those online through the UPM Report Misconduct channel using the link: https://www.upm.com/investors/governance/compliance/reportmisconduct/.

UPM business information

UPM is a material solutions company, renewing products and entire value chains with an extensive portfolio of renewable fibres, advanced materials, decarbonization solutions, and communication papers. In Poland, UPM is running two factories near Wrocław, Human Resources Services in Kraków and UPM Business Hub at the heart of the city of Wrocław. At the moment, the Wrocław Hub brings together over 700 professionals in customer, supplier and financial services.

What makes us unique? The Finnish leadership culture encourages people in personal growth and self-development, and our values - trust and be trusted, achieve together, renew with courage – are visible in our everyday work. We are inspired by the limitless opportunities of the bioeconomy and we lead the way towards a future beyond fossils. Got interested? Join us on this exciting path! #growthwithUPM

Ifyou wish to get more insight about who we are, check out this page!

UPM – we renew the everyday

Read more: upm.com

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