Head of HR Operations & Payroll

The Head of HR Operations & Payroll is responsible for the overall leadership and delivery of payroll and HR operations, ensuring efficient, accurate and compliant services across the employee lifecycle.

• Leadership & Team Management: Lead, coach and develop a team of 3–4 HR Operations & Payroll specialists, ensuring clear responsibilities, effective workload allocation, high service standards and business continuity.
• Payroll Management: Hold overall accountability for the end-to-end monthly payroll process for approximately 900 employees based in Hinwil, ensuring accurate, timely and compliant payroll delivery.
• Payroll Compliance & Expertise: Ensure compliance with Swiss payroll, taxation and social security legislation, including AHV, IV, EO, ALV, BVG and UVG. Act as the senior escalation point for complex payroll and international employee matters.
• International Coordination: Work closely with the HR responsible in Neuburg, Germany, and Bicester, UK, on international hires and transfers, including the assessment and coordination of social security and tax implications.
• HR Operations & Employee Lifecycle: Oversee the quality and delivery of HR administration, including employment contracts, employee documentation, master data management and all employee lifecycle processes, from onboarding to offboarding.
• Governance & Internal Controls: Establish and maintain robust operational processes, internal controls and risk management standards, ensuring compliance with legal requirements and internal policies.
• Financial Reporting & Controlling: Oversee monthly and year-end payroll closing, reconciliations, statutory reporting and audit requirements. Ensure reliable payroll data and support personnel cost budgeting and forecasting in collaboration with Finance and Controlling, including reporting in accordance with FIA financial guidelines.
• Systems & Digitalisation: Drive the further development and optimisation of HR systems and processes, including SAP HCM and SAP SuccessFactors. Lead the HR Operations & Payroll workstream within the SAP SuccessFactors implementation, ensuring appropriate business requirements, testing and operational readiness.
• Stakeholder Management: Partner closely with the CHRO, HR Business Partners, Finance, Controlling and international HR colleagues, providing expert advice and ensuring consistent, service-oriented support to managers and employees.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify and implement opportunities to standardise, simplify and automate HR operational processes, improve service quality and ensure scalable and efficient delivery.

• Higher education qualification in Human Resources, Finance, Accounting or a related field.
• Advanced certification as a Payroll Specialist or CAS Payroll Expert, or equivalent professional qualification.
• Substantial experience in payroll management and HR operations, including responsibility for complex payroll environments and team leadership.
• Fluency in English and German, written and spoken.
• Proven ability to lead, develop and motivate a specialist team.
• Strong expertise in Swiss payroll, social security legislation, taxation and year-end processes.
• Sound understanding of HR administration, employee lifecycle management, personnel costs and financial controls.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and SAP HCM; experience with SAP SuccessFactors and HR system implementations is an advantage.
• Strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills, combined with excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to advise senior management and collaborate across functions.
• High level of integrity, discretion and professionalism, with a proactive and solution-oriented approach.