HR Specialist Payroll German Speaking

Primary Objective:

The HR Shared Services Payroll Specialist is responsible for the accurate and timely payment of all employee compensation and provides support to employees, managers, HR Business Partners and HR Shared Services utilizing regional expertise on the hire-to-retire process, within the global policy framework.

General Payroll Support

• Provide support and advice to HR Shared Services colleagues related to administrative processes in the payroll cycle
• Provide subject matter expertise within HR and to other cross – functional departments ensuring quality service and timely issue resolution
• Monitor & handle payroll related requests through ITSM system, email, drop-ins and calls on the general HR phone line throughout the day professionally and promptly and escalate to appropriate HR representative as needed. (eg. Legislative queries, complex situations, errors in calculation, etc)
• Maintain confidentiality and ensure security of personal and company data are in accordance with legislative guidelines, company policies and procedures
• Adhere to all applicable labour laws and regulations, vendor contracts and company policies

Day To Day Operations

•  Liaise with Payroll providers, colleagues across HR, Variable Compensation and Finance throughout the pay process
• Ensure compliance with policies, procedures and regulatory requirements
• Review and audit data entry and interfaced data processed by HRSS colleagues
• Process complex data including but not limited to Stock Option, LTIP, OTIP and Director Fee programs
• Approve and transmit payroll data to 3rdparty vendors
• Verification and reconciliation of payroll outputs, and resolution of discrepancies by collecting and analyzing information
• Approve payroll run into production
•  Ensure that all necessary government filings and remittances relative to payroll are made in a timely manner including but not limited to garnishments, tax slips and taxes
• Initiate payment and associated reporting for various benefit programs, including retirement savings programs, meal vouchers, transit passes and salary sacrifice programs
•  Liaise with Treasury team each pay period to ensure appropriate and timely bank account funding
• Calculation and processing of manual payments when required
• Identify and process taxable benefits.
• Deal with requests and correspondence promptly and efficiently.
• Stay abreast of legislative changes and compliance issues.
• Initiate and obtain required approvals for all payroll related payments (employee net pay, taxes, social taxes, benefits, etc), liaising with Treasury to ensure appropriate funding of bank accounts.  Validate that payments are released timely and as expected

Decision Making, Judgement & Autonomy

• Identify issues, problems and opportunities and provides input on appropriate actions, based on experience, established policy and practice, including recommendations on job aids, training, communication, etc.
• Collect relevant information to aid in the decision making process
• Provide insights and supporting details for complex or out of policy situations, providing input on solutions for resolution
• Understand escalation paths and involves management where appropriate/expected
• Develop first draft communications for items affecting larger bodies of employees (ie. Tax slip delivery, delayed payroll payment, etc.) and coordinate with all relevant HR streams (HRBPs, Management, etc)
• Understand changes in work tasks, situation and environment as well as the logic or basis for change
• Effective at managing high volume workload under tight deadlines while organizing own time to deliver consistent results
• Take positive action to address issues, remove conflict and maintain relationships

Problem Solving

• Identify and evaluate problems and possible causes to determine root causes and impacts.
•  Apply established policies & procedures and experience in problem resolution process and make recommendations for items that fall outside of the norm
• Provide support and expertise to the HR Shared Services Leadership for complex or widespread issues
• Provide support and expertise to the HR Shared Services Colleagues as required
• Use regional and corporate policy expertise to makes recommendations for addressing problems via communication, job aids, training, etc.
• Coordinate with others within his/her network, subject-matter experts and /or additional senior staff to interpret administrative policies, offer advice and solve related problems.

Leadership and role breadth

• Position does not have direct reports but does act in an advisory role to HR Shared Services Associates (P1 level)
• Is a self-starter, driven  to meet or exceed Service Level Agreements and other deadlines
• Provide advice and assistance to HR Shared Services Associates as required
• Is open-minded, participating in both team and individually based projects.
• Highlight inefficiencies in process and provide recommendations on areas of improvement
• Accept responsibility for outcomes; admit mistakes and refocus efforts when appropriate
• Make recommendations on policy and procedural changes, with a focus on efficiency, increased customer service and strengthened relationships

Key Relationships & Interactions

• Work with peer group in HR Operations to achieve group objectives
•  Build strong customer service centric relationships with employees/management and internal/external stakeholders
• Professional approach to all situations, demonstrating strong comprehension of all policies, process and legislative requirements
• Good understanding of internal stakeholder needs as it relates to day-to-day responsibilities (payroll accounting, ESPP administration, benefits administration etc.)
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with ability to interact with various management levels within the organization
• Maintain confidentiality and high degree of tact

Professional Expertise/Education/Skill & Knowledge Requirements

• Organized with an ability to balance multiple complex work flows/projects in a fast paced environment
• Work well in a team environment, provides regional & functional expertise and advice to team
• Contribute to a positive team environment by demonstrating respect, encouragement and cooperation
• Driven by high expectations and delivers results
•  Able to build trust based relationships with all key stakeholders
• Experience in regional payroll practices, policy & process and legislative items
• 3-5 years experience in HR Shared Services role with a focus on Payroll
• Preferred – Completed Payroll Certification/ diploma, designation or certification
• SAP or equivalent HR system experience and/or Outsourced payroll packages (ADP, Ceridian, etc.)
• Strong English and German oral and written communications with ability to communicate effectively on the telephone, and in group and face-to-face, one-on-one settings and with various levels of management