Payroll Manager

About the role

SGS, a global testing, inspection and certification company, is looking for a Payroll Manager in Zug to lead accurate, compliant and timely payroll services for all its Swiss entities. The role owns end-to-end Swiss payroll operations, statutory compliance, payroll governance and controls, service provider relationships, payroll systems, continuous improvement and payroll analytics and management reporting.

Key responsibilities

• Run monthly payroll for entities in different cantons and for hourly-paid employees, freelancers and board members, enter variables, run payroll, validate results, archive data and prepare bank transfers and DTA payments
• Distribute electronic payslips, coordinate monthly with pension funds, insurance providers, AVS authorities and tax administrations, and perform regular payroll checks
• Process the Long-Term Incentive Plan, including share calculations, sell-to-cover arrangements and tax documentation
• Carry out annual salary reviews, reconcile data, update the payroll system and generate compensation statements
• Coordinate post-payroll activities with Finance, reconcile HR accounts, handle withholding tax and pension fund invoices, and contribute to the annual forecast and budget
• Manage relationships with payroll providers such as Fidigit and Abacus, coordinate system upgrades and monitor service performance
• Ensure compliance with Swiss law and internal controls, maintain segregation of duties, audit trails and records, and coordinate internal and external audits
• Complete year-end formalities, including AVS and insurance declarations and share-related forms
• Produce payroll reports, dashboards and analytics for HR, Finance and management, and support budgeting, forecasting and external surveys

Required profile

• Degree in Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, Economics or an equivalent professional qualification
• At least 10 years of payroll experience at senior specialist or manager level in a multinational environment
• Expert knowledge of Swiss payroll, social security and payroll-related tax legislation, including cantonal requirements
• Experience with end-to-end payroll processing, statutory reporting, year-end activities, audits and controls
• Experience managing payroll service providers and payroll system partners
• Native-level German and very good written and spoken English

Required skills

• Abacus (essential); experience with Fidigit is an advantage
• Advanced Excel and strong reporting and analytical capability