Senior Payroll Specialist (Europe)

Job description

Are you a payroll professional with a passion for precision and a drive for digital transformation? We are looking for a senior payroll specialist to join our team and oversee the end-to-end payroll operations for six countries across Central Europe. In this role, you will be the bridge between our internal functions and external partners, ensuring our people are paid accurately and on time while helping us build the "plug-and-play" payroll model of the future.

We are looking for you, Senior Payroll Specialist (Europe) to our Payroll team in Hoofddorp. (office relocation to Rotterdam city center in 2027) Reasons to join We operate in an inspiring and evolving business environment as a global leader in renewable fuels. We contribute to Neste’s success by living our values every day: we care, we have courage, we cooperate. We prioritize safety at all times and in every location.

We strive to create a positive and impactful work environment. Transformation brings new possibilities and fosters our courage and curiosity. As a global company, we support personal development with versatile learning and career opportunities. Collaboration is key, and we believe in flexible, smart ways of working. More about the job As a key member of our Payroll Services team, you will: Drive operational excellence by acting as the primary contact for our managed service providers across 6 countries, ensuring data integrity and strict adherence to SLAs.

You will champion the transition from manual, legacy processes to automated "plug-and-play" workflows and robotics, effectively eliminating waste. By bridging the gap between HR, Finance, and external vendors, you will safeguard statutory compliance while helping to shape the digital transformation of our global payroll infrastructure.

Your journey with us

Focus on operational stability and ensuring business continuity across all six countries. Execute regional standardization initiatives and automate manual data inputs to drive efficiency. Enhance the employee experience through error-free service that supports business growth and retention.

Main tasks and responsibilities

Serve as the primary contact for managed service providers across 6 European countries, fostering partnerships to ensure seamless service delivery and 100% adherence to strict SLAs and operational timelines. Monitor and audit the integrity of masterdata, salary, benefit, and tax data to guarantee accuracy while eliminating redundancies and helping optimize the payroll service delivery. Support the transition from legacy manual processes to automated, "plug-and-play" payroll models and robotics, reducing human error and building a scalability for Neste growth.

Resolve employee and stakeholder queries in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, providing proactive findings and data-driven insights to prevent recurring issues. Drive a collaborative way of working by participating in process-improvement initiatives and managing essential data entry, ensuring internal workflows remain agile and aligned with global standards. Keys to success in this role The best combination of experiences, skills and background is: Experienced: You have at least 5 years of payroll management experience for multiple european countries, within a multinational environment.

Educated

You hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Finance, or HR.

Tech-Savvy

You have a strong interest in robotics, automation, and HRIS/Time & Attendance integrations.

Multilingual

You are fluent in Dutch and English. Proficiency in German is a significant plus.

Expert Communicator

You can navigate complex escalations with stakeholders ranging from tax agencies and benefit brokers to internal Finance and IT teams. You can independently validate payroll data, enforce vendor SLAs, and resolve complex compliance inquiries with a high degree of autonomy. You are goal oriented, result driven and you are confident and able to stand your ground when needed; Flexibility to travel from time to other company locations within The Netherlands.

Please note that we are currently exploring a potential office relocation to Rotterdam. No decisions have been made at this stage, but flexibility regarding this location is required. What can you expect in return? We offer a competitive salary, holiday allowance, and a company bonus plan We offer a company pension plan - no employee contribution A work environment where people Care, Cooperate and have Courage; A company that cares for your work-life balance by offering options to work from home; A manager that supports and empowers you, and helps you to develop yourself in your professional career.

Let’s get you started We look forward to receiving your CV and application via our career site. Due to security and confidentiality, please submit your application through our recruitment system. Applications sent via email will not be considered. If you have any questions regarding the process or the position, please get in touch with Debbie Veldmeijer, [email protected]. We will try to contact you within 2 weeks after the application period has ended.

The recruitment process will include 2 interviews and a possible aptitude assessment. Neste in brief Neste (NESTE, Nasdaq Helsinki) is the world's leading producer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with production on three continents. The company’s renewables production capacity is expected to reach 6.8 million tons annually in 2027. Neste also produces high-quality oil products at its Porvoo refinery in Finland.

The company has a network of nearly 1,000 fuel stations with expanding service offering, such as EV charging, in Finland and in the Baltics. Neste’s strategy focuses on growth in renewable fuels, which help its customers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Neste is included in many international indices for its sustainability performance. In 2025, Neste's revenue stood at EUR 19.0 billion.

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