Senior EMEA Payroll Specialist

Today, Lonza is a global leader in life sciences operating across five continents. While we work in science, there’s no magic formula to how we do it. Our greatest scientific solution is talented people working together, devising ideas that help businesses to help people. In exchange, we let our people own their careers. Their ideas, big and small, genuinely improve the world. And that’s the kind of work we want to be part of.

The EMEA Payroll Specialist will manage and oversee our payroll processes for our sites in EMEA, (Allocated various region(s) UK, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Spain etc) with our third party payroll provider for circa 5000 employees. You will be responsible for an accurate and timely payment of the salaries for Lonza employees in the responsible sites and manage all payroll relevant topics in close cooperation with internal and external partners.

This outstanding opportunity enables you to play a crucial role in our dynamic HR team, coordinating with the EMEA Payroll Manager to lead all aspects of daily operations and handle intricate payroll issues. Your proactive attitude will aid in error prevention and efficient issue resolution.

The role serves as a first point of escalation for complex issues, providing daily guidance and support to team members!

• Coordinate and lead all aspects of accurate payroll information with our third-party payroll provider for EMEA-based employees. Instruct and manage the payroll provider on all legal and company changes.

• Review and verify payroll data and ensure compliance with country-specific regulations.

• Perform payroll functions under local laws, including new hires, terminations, tax changes, wage garnishments, deductions, and direct deposits.

• Maintain payroll records and files, including sick time, vacation, and other accrued leave.

• Collect and provide monthly payroll instructions to our payroll provider, approve payroll records, and instruct Finance on payroll-related payments.

• Communicate with employees at all levels to resolve payroll issues and provide support beyond the Service Adviser scope.

• Collaborate with internal departments (HR, Finance, Tax, Legal, IT) and external partners.

• Assist with internal, external, and statutory audits as needed.

• Support HR Services in process improvement and guideline development.

• Ensure excellent customer service within SLAs and contribute to local projects impacting Payroll.

• Maintain knowledge of Payroll Legislation and provide first-line support for ad-hoc projects and central initiatives.

• Lead incident management efforts, conduct root cause analysis for recurring errors, and drive resolution.

• Monitor team performance indicators and aid the EMEA Payroll Manager in daily operations and team assistance.

• Proven experience managing high-volume EMEA payroll processes.

• Proficiency in French or German is highly desirable but not essential for this role.

• Outstanding communication and administrative skills with internal and external collaborators.

• Positive attitude towards professional development and willingness to cross-train.

• Ability to adapt and proactively respond to changing requirements.

• Demonstrated experience meeting tight deadlines efficiently.

• Knowledge of end-to-end payroll processes is advantageous.

Every day, Lonza’s products and services have a positive impact on millions of people. For us, this is not only a great privilege, but also a great responsibility. How we achieve our business results is just as important as the achievements themselves. At Lonza, we respect and protect our people and our environment. Any success we achieve is no success at all if not achieved ethically.

People come to Lonza for the challenge and creativity of solving complex problems and developing new ideas in life sciences. In return, we offer the satisfaction that comes with improving lives all around the world. The satisfaction that comes with making a meaningful difference.