Senior German Payroll Expert (d/f/m)

Personio's intelligent HR platform helps small and medium-sized organizations unlock the power of people by making complicated, time-consuming tasks simple and efficient. Our team of 1,500 Personios is building user-friendly products that delight our 15,000+ customers and their 1.5 million employees. Ready to make an impact from day one?

This role requires 2 days per week in the office and can be based in Munich or Berlin

Join us to shape the future of software in the underserved and high-impact HR technology industry. Your work will have a direct and tangible impact on customers, offering ownership and the chance to make a meaningful difference. As we prepare for significant growth, you'll face exciting challenges and have the opportunity to influence our path toward becoming one of the world's leading tech companies.

We are looking for an experienced Senior German Payroll Expert to join our Compliance Center of Excellence for Germany . The Product Compliance Expert needs to be the Subject Matter Expert (SME) in terms of the product they are responsible for, fostering a strong relationship with product teams as well as customer-facing teams, being at the intersection between compliance and product.

This position will work closely with other Compliance SMEs, Product, Engineering, Design, and Payroll Operations as well as other stakeholders within Personio to drive success.

What you’ll do

Compliance Execution & Support

• Contribute to the planning and execution of compliance initiatives within payroll and other product areas.

• Translate regulatory requirements into clear, actionable inputs for product teams.

• Support the delivery of high-quality solutions on well-defined roadmaps.

Regulatory Expertise

• Monitor upcoming regulatory changes relevant to payroll and wage tax, and assess their impact within your scope.

• Provide structured requirements and recommendations to support product decisions.

• Help identify compliance risks or gaps and escalate appropriately with proposed mitigations.

Collaboration Across Teams

• Work closely with product managers, engineers, and designers to ensure compliance considerations are understood early in the development process.

• Clarify compliance requirements and support cross-team discussions as needed.

• Contribute to maintaining a collaborative, efficient working environment.

Knowledge Sharing & Support

• Provide guidance to team members and customer-facing teams on compliance topics within your expertise.

• Contribute to internal training or documentation to build broader team understanding of compliance processes.

Process & Efficiency Improvements

• Identify opportunities to streamline compliance-related workflows.

• Participate in workshops or reviews aimed at improving product and compliance processes.

Data & Risk Awareness

• Use data and documentation to support compliance assessments.

• Help identify compliance risks and support mitigation planning within defined areas.

What you need to succeed

Experience and Skills

• Strong knowledge of German wage tax and payroll compliance, typically with 4–6 years of relevant experience .

• Experience supporting product development with compliance insights in a complex or regulatory-focused environment.

• Comfortable working with product and engineering teams to translate regulatory requirements.

• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.

• Strong communication skills in German and English.

Personal Attributes

• Collaborative and proactive, with a hands-on approach to problem-solving.

• Ability to work independently within your scope while seeking alignment when needed.

• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and contributing to a culture of ownership and accountability.

Why Personio

Personio is an equal opportunities employer, committed to building an integrative culture where everyone feels welcomed and supported. We embrace uniqueness and understand that our diverse, values-driven culture makes us stronger. We are proud to have an inclusive workplace environment that will foster your development no matter your gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, education level, or race.

At Personio, we value in-person collaboration while also offering flexibility. This role is office-based, with 3 days a week required in your contracted office location. The remaining days can be worked from home or in the office if you prefer. In addition, you’ll have 20 Flex Days per year to work remotely from other locations.

Aside from our people, culture, and mission, check out some of the other benefits that make Personio a great place to work:

• Receive a competitive reward package – reevaluated each year – that includes salary, benefits, and pre-IPO equity

• Enjoy 28 days of paid vacation, plus an additional day after 2 and 4 years

• Make an impact on the environment and society with 1 (fully paid) Impact Day

• Receive generous family leave, child support, mental health support (including 24 sessions per year with Oli for yourself and 10 sessions for a significant other), and sabbatical opportunities

• We enjoy gathering for meals, cultural initiatives, and events like local Summer Sessions and year-end celebrations. There's also healthy snacks, drinks, and a weekly catered lunch.