Payroll Specialist (50% working degree)

The Payroll Specialist (50 % working degree) will join Swiss Re, a global leader in reinsurance and risk‑transfer solutions. The company protects clients against a wide range of hazards, from natural disasters to cyber threats, and employs more than 15 000 people worldwide. In this position you will support the payroll function for Switzerland and several European markets, ensuring every pay run meets legal and internal standards. Your daily work will involve overseeing the full payroll cycle, from data collection to final payment, for both local staff and internationally mobile employees. You will process social‑security contributions, manage share‑plan entries, and perform detailed plausibility checks before sending information to the external payroll provider. Additionally, you will review the provider's calculations, generate ad‑hoc reports for finance, pension funds and health insurers, and define system requirements while assisting HR Operations and IT during changes. The role requires a meticulous payroll professional with three to five years of experience in an international setting. You must possess deep knowledge of Swiss payroll law, including social security, labour regulations and tax treaties, and be proficient in the SAP Payroll module. Advanced Excel abilities for building and validating complex data sets are essential, as is fluency in both German and English, the team's primary languages. You will become part of a close‑knit, multicultural payroll team of seven based in Zurich, delivering services across nine countries. The position offers a salary band of CHF 94 000–142 000 for a full‑time role, complemented by performance‑based variable pay and a range of global and local benefits. The environment encourages continuous learning, and experience with European social‑security rules, additional language skills, relevant certifications, shadow or split payroll, and strong analytical capabilities are considered valuable assets. What the role asks for: - 3–5 years international payroll experience - In‑depth knowledge of Swiss payroll legislation - SAP Payroll Module expertise - Advanced MS Excel proficiency - German fluency (professional) - English fluency (professional) - Nice-to-have: knowledge of European social security and tax rules - Nice-to-have: certification in Social Security or HR Outsourcing - Nice-to-have: additional European language (French, Spanish, Italian, Danish) - Nice-to-have: commercial or technical education background - Nice-to-have: experience with shadow and split payroll - Nice-to-have: strong analytical and problem‑solving skills - Nice-to-have: ability to prioritize workload and meet tight deadlines