Payroll Manager (m/f/d)

You'll lead payroll delivery for a cluster of Western European countries, making sure every employee is paid accurately, compliantly and on time. You'll manage and develop a team of payroll professionals, steer partnerships with external providers, and serve as the go-to payroll contact for HR, Finance and local teams. As part of the European payroll leadership team, you'll drive standardisation and automation while backing up a peer manager to ensure no country depends on one person. This role blends hands-on ownership, team leadership and regional coordination. YOURS TO OWN • You own the end-to-end monthly payroll cycle for all countries in scope: maintain payroll calendars, manage input collection, perform validation, reconcile results and secure timely sign-off • You lead, coach and develop your payroll team: plan workloads, manage absences and cover, and drive cross-training so every country has a trained back-up • You manage and govern external payroll providers: set and monitor service levels, perform quality checks, handle escalations and drive continuous improvement initiatives • You collaborate closely with Finance/Accounting and Local HR to ensure data quality, correct general ledger postings and timely reconciliations • You standardise and document processes through country playbooks (deadlines, providers, contacts) and identify opportunities to automate repetitive tasks and reduce operational risk • You act as deputy for a peer payroll manager, stepping in during absences to maintain uninterrupted service delivery and knowledge continuity YOUR SKILLS MATTER • Payroll Leadership You have proven experience leading multi-country payroll operations and managing both in-house teams and external providers (min. 2 years) • Compliance Expertise You bring strong knowledge of payroll legislation, tax and social security requirements across Western Europe and a track record of ensuring compliance • People Management You excel at coaching, resource planning, cross-training and performance management • Technical & Process Excellence You have solid experience with payroll systems and robust Excel capability (pivot tables, advanced formulas), and you document playbooks, run quality controls and drive automation improvements • Stakeholder Management You communicate effectively and partner confidently with HR, Finance and local management • Language Skills You speak fluent English with languages being a plus (e.g., German, French, Spanish) WHAT WE OFFER • The SIXT Lisbon Experience Two of Lisbon's most exciting hubs — Factory Lisboa in Beato and ARTs Lisboa in Parque das Nações — are where you'll find your new home base. Expect a fast-paced, international atmosphere where ideas flow freely, people genuinely look out for each other, and no two days feel quite the same • Community & International Environment Join a truly global workplace with colleagues from many nationalities. Regular team events, community activities, and inspiring talks with internal and external speakers make our Lisbon hubs more than just an office • Flexibility & Modern Work Setup Benefit from a hybrid working model with two office days per week and flexible working hours. Our modern offices are designed for collaboration while allowing you the flexibility to work in the way that suits you best • AI at your fingertips From day one, you'll have access to Claude by Anthropic and SIXTgpt, SIXT's own AI platform, to supercharge your work. We invest in every team member's AI journey: encouraging experimentation, building knowledge, and making sure you're ahead of the curve • Time Off & Wellbeing Enjoy 28 vacation days per year, an additional day off on your birthday, one volunteer day annually, and private health insurance that also covers your spous