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Oyster is a global employment platform enabling companies to hire, pay, and support talent anywhere in the world. As Senior Payroll Specialist for Germany, you will own end-to-end native German payroll operations, serving as the in-house expert for one of Oyster's most important markets.
You will run the complete German payroll cycle independently, managing master data validation for new hires, terminations, salary changes, variable pay, benefits, absences, and garnishments (Pfändungen). You'll execute rigorous pre- and post-payroll validations each cycle, investigate discrepancies, and implement corrective actions to ensure accuracy and compliance before issues escalate.
Key responsibilities include handling all statutory filings and government accesses: Lohnsteueranmeldung, SV-Meldungen, Jahresmeldung, U1/U2 reimbursement claims, ELStAM data retrieval and maintenance. You'll configure and maintain the in-house payroll system, test legislative updates, troubleshoot issues, and partner with the Product team to improve automation and scalability.
As Subject Matter Expert, you'll advise the business on Lohnsteuerrecht, Sozialversicherungsrecht, Arbeitsrecht, and Tarifvertrag interpretation. You'll own payroll journals, GL mappings, reconciliations with Finance, and full data integrity. You'll serve as the key point of contact for complex client payroll escalations, combining technical expertise with customer-first problem-solving.
Additional responsibilities include maintaining statutory and ad-hoc reports for regulatory compliance (EU Pay Transparency Directive, Betriebsrat documentation, GDPR compliance), supporting internal and external audits, and coaching junior specialists. You'll improve processes, maintain living documentation (playbooks and SOPs), and operate effectively in Oyster's async, remote-first environment.
Minimum requirements: 5+ years running complete native German payroll independently with high-volume processing; C1/C2 German and fluent English; advanced hands-on DATEV experience; deep current knowledge of German wage tax, social insurance, and labor law; ability to own complex client escalations; analytical, productivity-obsessed mindset with automation focus; comfort operating in ambiguity and driving cross-functional change; experience coaching or mentoring colleagues; comfort with async, remote-first work.
