Payroll Specialist EMEA (m/f/d)

About the company

Alvarez & Marsal is an international consulting firm known for an entrepreneurial, hands-on style and a focus on outcomes. The organisation values people who think independently, take action, and help clients move forward. Its culture is built around Integrity, Quality, Objectivity, Fun, Personal Reward, and Inclusive Diversity.

Role overview

This position sits within a collaborative global payroll setup and offers a high degree of ownership, while still being supported by a colleague in Germany, the central EMEA payroll function, and partner teams across HR, Benefits, Finance, and the wider business. It is a strong opportunity for someone who wants to apply technical payroll expertise and leadership in an international environment.

The Payroll Specialist will be responsible for accurate, timely payroll delivery for more than 450 employees, with the workforce expected to expand over time. The role also includes backup coverage for other EMEA payrolls, involvement in a global payroll transformation initiative, and coordination with external vendors.

Key responsibilities

• Run the full payroll process for Germany and Austria, and potentially additional countries, making sure all payments are correct, punctual, and aligned with local laws, statutory rules, and company policies.
• Produce legally required payroll paperwork and carry out deregistration and registration tasks such as termination records and employment confirmations in line with local requirements.
• Work to payroll cut-off dates and ensure deadlines are met with both the payroll provider and business partners.
• Handle year-end payroll activities, including annual tax statements and required compliance reporting for each country.
• Partner with the payroll provider and internal payroll leadership to ensure legislative updates are implemented in a timely way.
• Confirm that the necessary approvals are in place before payroll is finalised and payments are released.
• Check that foreign exchange rates are updated where salary or bonus payments need currency conversion.
• Keep knowledge of payroll laws and internal policies current.
• Serve as the first point of contact for payroll-related questions from employees, the business, tax authorities, pension and statutory benefits providers, and payroll vendors, resolving issues promptly and maintaining service quality.
• Prepare monthly payroll reports for Finance and support Accounting with reconciliations, reporting, and audit-related requests.
• Help improve payroll processes continuously, with strong attention to controls, documentation, and audit readiness.
• Contribute to payroll digitalisation and development through the Global Payroll Integrator Project or similar initiatives.
• Work closely with the People Team, Finance, and other stakeholders to maintain a trusted, efficient, and professional payroll service.

Requirements

• Hands-on experience with German payroll and a solid understanding of labour law, social security rules, collective bargaining provisions, and employee benefits regulations; experience with other European countries is an advantage.
• Background in working with local payroll vendors and managing external supplier relationships.
• Strong working knowledge of MS Office, especially Excel, for analysis and reporting.
• German fluency and the ability to speak and write in English; additional languages are beneficial.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, high attention to detail, and comfort working with sensitive confidential information.
• Customer-focused approach with the ability to stay proactive, adaptable, and flexible while solving payroll-related issues.
• Good organisation and time management skills to juggle several payroll cycles and deadlines.
• Experience in a fast-moving, expanding environment and across multiple time zones.
• Ability to work effectively both on your own and as part of a team.
• Resilience and adaptability when payroll requirements change across different EMEA countries.

What the company offers

The company emphasises career growth, ongoing learning, and a performance-driven development approach that recognises contributions and encourages merit-based progression. Employees can benefit from structured training and learning on the job, along with resources that support personal well-being.

The culture is described as entrepreneurial, collaborative, and engaging, with strong focus on ownership, impact, and doing the right thing. The organisation also promotes inclusive diversity and values people who are ready to take responsibility and help shape meaningful results.

Equal opportunity

Employment, compensation, and other terms of work are provided on an equal-opportunity basis. The employer does not discriminate on protected characteristics including race, colour, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, physical or mental disability, family medical history, genetic information, political affiliation, or any other protected condition under applicable law.

Third-party recruiter policy

Unsolicited CVs from external recruiters are not accepted unless those recruiters have been formally engaged for a specific vacancy. Any agency, person, or organisation that submits an unsolicited CV understands that the company may choose to hire the candidate directly without paying any fee to the submitting party.