Payroll Expert (All genders welcome)

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We have an exciting opportunity for you as: (Assistant Manager) Payroll Expert (all genders welcome) in the People & Organization (P&O) department at the Kia Europe Headquarters in Frankfurt/Main, Germany.

This position is also available on a part-time basis.

Job Mission:

As an Payroll Expert, you will take ownership of payroll-related processes and ensure their smooth execution in compliance with German labor, tax, and social security regulations. You will act as a key interface between the external payroll provider, internal stakeholders, and employees, ensuring high-quality service and operational excellence. In close collaboration with P&O Business Partners, you will contribute to the continuous development of P&O processes and support the organization in building an effective and employee-oriented environment. You will play an active role in daily operations and be the key contact for budget related topics within your area.

Your Responsibilities:

• Take ownership of the payroll function for Kia Europe GmbH in collaboration with an external payroll provider, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timely execution.
• Act as the main point of contact for payroll-related matters, both internally and externally (e.g. employees, provider, authorities, auditors).
• Ensure excellent employee service by managing and resolving complex inquiries related to payroll, time tracking, pension schemes, parental leave, and other P&O-related topics.
• Monitor and ensure compliance with all statutory requirements (tax, social security, and other regulatory obligations), including accurate and timely payments to authorities and service providers.
• Drive and further develop payroll-related processes, systems, and projects, identifying opportunities for improvement and increased efficiency.
• Oversee reporting, preparation of employment-related certificates, and communication with external stakeholders such as health insurance providers and authorities.
• Support and coordinate monthly and annual closing activities and act as a key contact during audits and inspections.
• Support and partially steer recruitment processes, acting as a key contact for candidates and ensuring a smooth candidate experience.
• P&O budget planning, tracking and executing, ensuring transparency and effective cost management in SAP.

Your Talents:

• Fluent German and English (written and spoken), additional languages advantageous.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources/Business or the equivalent in related work experience.
• Several years of professional experience in payroll, operations, or a comparable function, ideally within an international environment.
• Solid knowledge of German payroll, tax, labor law, and social security regulations.
• Proven experience working with external payroll providers, including coordination, validation, and quality assurance of payroll outputs.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end payroll processes, including interfaces to finance, time tracking, and benefits administration.
• Experience in handling audits, reporting requirements, and communication with authorities, health insurance providers, and other external stakeholders.
• Confident handling of HRM systems (e.g. Workday or comparable) and very good Excel skills for payroll-related analysis and reporting.
• High level of accuracy, reliability, and sense of responsibility when dealing with sensitive employee data.
• Strong service orientation and ability to manage and resolve complex employee inquiries in a structured and solution-oriented manner.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize effectively, and take ownership of topics, even in a part-time role.
• Team-oriented mindset with the ability to collaborate across functions and act as an interface between payroll, P&O, Finance, and external partners.