Senior Specialist GBS Payroll

Global Business Services (GBS) powers adidas with operational excellence by delivering services from hubs to markets, strengthening partnerships, and accelerating automation. The role sits within the GBS Centre in the People & Culture team and carries ownership and accountability for the accurate and timely execution of core operational activities in compliance with GBS policies, procedures, and guidelines. The position supports the delivery of payroll services by performing payroll administration and employee compensation-related operational activities accurately, efficiently, and in line with company policies, payroll regulations, and established procedures.

• Act as the payroll operations subject matter expert, providing guidance on processes, policies, systems, controls, and statutory requirements.
• Lead complex payroll administration across time management, compensation, supplemental benefits, payroll corrections, and exception handling.
• Review payroll calculations, reconciliations, outputs, and control reports to ensure accuracy, compliance, and timely delivery.
• Act as the escalation point for complex inquiries, discrepancies, and operational issues.
• Monitor service performance and risks, and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain payroll documentation and controls, and support audits, compliance reviews, and regulatory reporting.
• Lead process improvement initiatives using root-cause analysis, standardisation, and controls to deliver measurable benefits.
• Lead automation and AI transformation initiatives, driving process optimisation, standardisation, and continuous improvement across the service area.
• Lead cross-functional projects and transformation initiatives, coordinating stakeholders and delivering measurable business value.
• Build and maintain relationships with payroll teams, team leads, HR services teams, HR business partners, HR operations, compensation and benefits teams, line managers, employees, payroll service providers, benefits vendors, and government and regulatory authorities where applicable.

• Expert knowledge of payroll administration, processing, and employee compensation practices, including time management, compensation, supplemental benefits, and payroll administration.
• Strong knowledge of payroll regulations, labour laws, taxation, social insurance, and compliance standards.
• Strong understanding of payroll controls, audit requirements, data privacy, and risk management.
• Knowledge of shared services, GBS, and payroll service delivery models, with the ability to advise on complex payroll cases.
• Strong communication skills to influence stakeholders and align cross-functional teams on complex issues.
• Customer service skills to build trusted relationships, resolve escalations, and champion service excellence.
• Advanced Excel, SAP, Power Query, Power BI, AI, and automation tool skills.
• Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, management, or a related field.
• 6-8 years of relevant experience in payroll, compensation and benefits, HR operations, HR shared services, or finance operations within a multinational organisation.
• Experience as a payroll SME or senior specialist, managing complex operations, escalations, and compliance matters.
• Demonstrated experience leading process improvement, automation, standardisation, or payroll transformation initiatives.
• Experience supporting system implementations, migrations, transitions, or organisational change.
• Ability to provide functional leadership, coaching, and guidance to team members.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office and strong experience with SAP HCM, SAP SuccessFactors, case management, workflow, and service management platforms.
• Experience using reporting, analytics, automation, and AI-enabled HR solutions.

• Professional payroll, HR, accounting, or finance certifications are highly preferred.

The company believes that embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into its culture and talent processes gives employees a sense of belonging and the brand a real competitive advantage.