Global Payroll Operations Partner at Appinio

At Appinio, we are on a mission to make the world a more fact-based place. We combine an AI-powered insights platform with expert consultancy to help companies understand consumer behavior and make smarter decisions. Since our start in Hamburg in 2014, we have grown into a global team of over 260 employees across 13 countries. We are proud to support more than 2,600 international clients, delivering research from over 190 markets worldwide.

The role

We are searching for a tech-savvy and proactive Global Payroll Operations Partner to join our People Team on a full-time, remote basis. This is a senior-level position designed for an individual who wants to ensure our global workforce is supported by a world-class payroll engine. You will take ownership of our end-to-end preparatory payroll processes across international entities, ensuring we remain compliant while building scalable systems that support our continued growth.

Core responsibilities

• Global Payroll Ownership: Manage the preparatory payroll process for international entities, including Germany, Austria, France, Spain, Portugal, the UK, and the Netherlands, ensuring high accuracy and timely delivery.
• External Partner Management: Act as the primary lead for our external payroll providers, EOR, and PEO partners, overseeing compliance and resolving statutory queries with precision.
• Systems Optimization: Proactively identify inefficiencies in our current workflows to automate processes, reduce manual tasks, and enhance the overall scalability of our global operations.

Skills and experience

To thrive in this role, you should be a payroll expert with a strong analytical mindset and a passion for process improvement. We are looking for the following qualifications:

• At least 3 years of experience managing preparatory payroll for Germany, with additional experience in France or Spain preferred.
• Proven track record of managing external payroll providers, including experience with EOR and PEO models.
• Strong proficiency in Excel and Google Sheets for handling complex data.
• A product-focused mindset with experience implementing automated workflows between HRIS and payroll systems.
• Professional fluency in both English and German.
• An empathetic communication style, allowing you to explain complex payroll and tax information clearly to our team members.

Compensation and benefits

We believe in supporting our team members with a flexible and modern work environment. Benefits include:

• Unlimited vacation policy to support your work-life balance.
• A truly remote-first culture with the ability to work from abroad for up to 180 days per year if you are based in the EU.
• A dedicated coworking budget and access to office spaces in major cities where our teams are concentrated.
• All the hardware you need, including your own MacBook.
• Subsidized memberships for Urban Sports Club or ClassPass, depending on your location.

How to apply

If you are ready to help us build a world-class payroll operation, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your application in English. We value transparency in our recruitment process and encourage you to apply even if you feel you are an 80% fit for the role, provided you have a genuine passion for the work. We look forward to reviewing your application.