Job Description

Global Payroll Team Lead (D/M/W)

Your Challenge

Are you ready to take ownership of global payroll at Blacklane? As our Global Payroll Team Lead, you will lead our worldwide payroll operations from our Berlin headquarters. You will be a trusted payroll expert, partnering with our international teams, coordinating with our external payroll vendors, and working closely with Finance to ensure seamless, accurate, compliant, and efficient payroll processes across all regions.

You will:

• Own and lead our global payroll operations across 7 countries, including EOR setups, ensuring everything runs smoothly, compliantly, and on time.
• Lead end-to-end payroll operations by coordinating day-to-day activities with global payroll vendors.
• Orchestrate the monthly payroll cycle worldwide, working closely with local teams and our global payroll vendor while navigating country-specific tax and social security requirements. You will directly manage payroll for a few smaller countries.
• Conduct comprehensive payroll reconciliations and variance reviews, maintaining compliant and up-to-date payroll records in accordance with regulatory standards.
• Oversee payroll funding requirements and prepare monthly payroll forecasts for timely submission to the Treasury team.
• Deliver a seamless, on-time payroll experience for every employee by ensuring statutory filings, payments, and workflows are executed accurately and consistently.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with People, Finance, and Technology to design, test, and roll out scalable payroll systems and solutions.
• Identify opportunities to standardize, optimize, and automate payroll processes, helping us work smarter as we grow.
• Provide clear payroll reporting and meaningful insights to Finance and senior leadership to support sound decision-making.
• Partner with external advisors and internal stakeholders to resolve complex tax cases and special payroll topics.
• Act as a trusted payroll expert during audits, ensuring timely, accurate, and well-structured documentation.

About You

You have:

• A proven track record of owning and managing multi-country payroll operations, ideally across EMEA, North America, and APAC.
• Deep knowledge of international payroll, tax regulations, and compliance, and the ability to navigate complex requirements effectively.
• Clear communication, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills that help you build trust across teams and regions.
• A high level of attention to detail paired with an analytical mindset that helps you identify issues before they become problems.
• Excellent communication skills in English, combined with a highly service-oriented attitude and a passion for supporting employees. German is a plus.