Senior Payroll & Compensation Specialist

We are looking for a Senior Payroll & Compensation Specialist to own and manage our end-to-end payroll operations while contributing to the development of a robust compensation & benefits. This role combines operational excellence in payroll with a strategic mindset to improve processes and drive automation.

Key Responsibilities:

Payroll Management

• Manage the full monthly payroll cycle, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timeliness.

• Process payroll inputs, including variable elements, absences, and employee changes.

• Perform payroll controls and reconciliations.

• Handle payroll-related accounting entries, including monthly and annual closings in collaboration with finance.

• Ensure compliance with local labor laws, tax regulations, and social security requirements.

• Act as the main point of contact for payroll-related queries.

• Ensure supervision and validation of payroll processes with the abroad entities in collaboration with local HR partners and payroll providers.

• Ensure proper documentation and audit trail for all payroll activities.

Process Improvement & Automation

• Identify opportunities to improve payroll and HR processes.

• Drive automation initiatives to increase efficiency and reduce manual work.

• Document and standardize payroll and compensation processes.

• Collaborate with HRIS teams to optimize systems and workflows.

Compensation & Benefits

• Manage and calculate ad hoc compensation elements (bonuses, incentives, equity/participation plans, etc.).

• Contribute to salary benchmarking and market analysis.

• Help design and maintain salary grids and compensation structures.

• Partner with Talent Management on compensation reviews and cycles.

Budget & Reporting

• Monitor payroll and compensation budgets in collaboration with Finance.

• Prepare regular reports and dashboards (headcount, payroll costs, compensation analysis).

• Provide insights and recommendations to support decision-making.

Experience & Skills

• 5+ years of experience in payroll, ideally in an international or fast-paced environment.

• Strong knowledge of payroll processes, accounting principles, and compliance.

• Strong knowledge of Swiss payroll and Swiss labor laws & regulations.

• Experience with payroll systems and HRIS.

• Solid analytical skills with strong attention to detail.

• Exposure to Compensation & Benefits topics (benchmarking, salary structures, bonus schemes) is a strong plus.

Soft Skills

• High level of accuracy and reliability.

• Strong organizational and prioritization skills.

• Ability to work cross-functionally with HR, Finance, and external providers.

• Proactive mindset with a continuous improvement approach.

• Strong communication skills and ability to explain complex topics clearly.

SQ2