Payroll Lead

Job Description

The Payroll Lead is responsible for overseeing and managing payroll operations across multiple markets or regions, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and operational excellence. This leadership role involves managing a diverse payroll team, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders (HR, Finance, IT, Treasury, external vendors), and driving continuous improvement in payroll processes mainly in the EEMEA Region. The Payroll Lead plays a strategic role in defining payroll policies and ensuring compliance with local, regional, and international laws.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Operations Management

• Lead and manage end-to-end payroll processes including data input, review, calculations, payments, and compliance

• Ensure accurate payroll for all employees, covering salary, benefits, tax deductions, social insurance, and other payroll-related items

• Execute accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and year-end closes, including account reconciliation of payroll-related balances

• Respond to internal and external inquiries regarding payroll, social insurance, taxation, and related matters

Team Leadership and Development

• Lead, manage, and motivate a diverse payroll team across multiple markets or regions

• Set clear performance expectations, provide coaching, mentoring, and conduct evaluations

• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment focused on high performance and continuous development

• Address performance issues constructively and promptly

Compliance and Regulation

• Stay up-to-date with local, state, regional, and international payroll laws and regulations

• Ensure payroll processes comply with tax withholding, wage and hour regulations, social insurance, and reporting obligations

• Contribute to the design and implementation of payroll policies, procedures, and internal controls

• Oversee preparation of all external and internal audit deliverables related to payroll

Systems and Technology

• Oversee payroll systems such as ADP, Workday, SAP, ensuring data integrity and system updates

• Collaborate with IT and external vendors to enhance system capabilities and explore automation opportunities

• Document payroll systems and optimize processes to drive continuous improvement

Vendor and Supplier Management

• Manage relationships with external payroll vendors and suppliers

• Define and monitor service level agreements (SLAs), ensure vendor performance, and resolve payroll processing issues

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with HR, Finance, Treasury, Centers of Excellence, and other business partners to ensure seamless payroll service delivery

• Act as liaison between payroll teams, HR service delivery teams, and external HR service centers for change control processes

• Partner with HR teams to align payroll priorities with broader HR services

Process Improvement and Reporting

• Lead process improvement initiatives to standardize payroll processes, reduce complexity, and leverage best practices

• Prepare and distribute payroll reports, including earnings, tax, regulatory reporting, and department efficiency metrics

• Develop and manage payroll dashboards to monitor performance and service quality

• Act as the primary escalation point for payroll service issues

Qualifications and Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field

• Relevant payroll qualifications or equivalent experience may be considered

Experience

• 5-8+ years of payroll administration experience in a multinational or complex regional environment

• Proven experience managing payroll for multiple entities and regions

• Demonstrated leadership and team management experience, including coaching and performance management

• Experience with SLA and customer management is advantageous

Skills and Competencies

• Strong knowledge of payroll systems (e.g., ADP, Workday, SAP) and Microsoft Office tools, especially Excel and PowerPoint

• Deep understanding of payroll laws, regulations, and compliance requirements across multiple jurisdictions

• Excellent leadership, communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills

• Project management expertise with the ability to lead cross-functional initiatives

• Ability to collaborate effectively with global business and support teams

• Strong analytical, organizational, and planning abilities

• Proven confidentiality, personal integrity, and cultural awareness

• Fluent in English (written and spoken); additional regional or European languages are advantageous

• Flexibility to work in international teams and adapt to diverse cultural environments

Required Skills:

Analytical Thinking, Analytical Thinking, Coaching, Communication, Confidentiality, Cultural Awareness, Global Payroll, HR Payroll, Leadership, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Payroll, Payroll Administration, Payroll Compliance, Payroll Laws, Payroll Management, Payroll Processing, Payroll Systems, People Management, Performance Management (PM), Personal Leadership, Planning, Practical Leadership, Stakeholder Management, Supervision {+ 3 more}

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:

Yes

Travel Requirements:

10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:

No

Hazardous Material(s):

N/A

Job Posting End Date:

03/29/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.

Requisition ID: R390136