Senior Coordinator, European Payroll & Benefits

Duties and Responsibilities:

Lincoln's European Benefits & Payroll Senior Coordinator is responsible for coordinating European payroll execution, benefits and pension administration, HRIS data integrity, and ensuring proper accounting and reporting of payroll activities.  The role focuses on our allocated countries such as Italy, Spain, Benelux and Sweden, and works closely with HR Business Partners, Finance & Controlling, Legal, outsourced payroll providers, and US colleagues.  The role provides the opportunity to contribute to  pan-European projects such as Payroll Integration, HRIS reporting and processes optimization, Monthly Analytical Reporting, Detailed Budgeting and Forecasting, across our active locations in Europe. The position requires strong attention to detail, high confidentiality, systems affinity, cultural awareness and a structured, service-oriented approach in a professional and fast-paced, international environment.

This role is ideal for a Payroll and HR Administration Professional who enjoys detailed operational oversight, cross-functional coordination and confidential data stewardship. The European Benefits and Payroll Senior Coordinator plays an important role in ensuring accurate payroll delivery, benefits and HR administration, HRIS data quality and payroll accounting processes across Lincoln International’s European offices.

Key responsibilities include:

• Payroll Execution and HR Administration
  • Coordinate the timely preparation, review and submission of monthly payroll data for select European offices.
  • Act as a key European contact for outsourced payroll providers in collaboration with local Finance team coordinating payroll, tax and employee-data queries through to resolution. Align European processing while also considering unique in-country requirements.
  • Maintain clear payroll calendars, documentation and controls to support accurate and timely processing.
  • Ensure payroll-relevant employee changes and supporting paperwork are captured accurately and reflected in the HRIS and payroll processes.
  • Coordinate payroll processes relating to joiners, leavers, contractual changes, absences and other employee lifecycle events.
  • Support Workday payroll integrations, enhancements and process improvement initiatives in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
  • Coordinate annual and recurring statutory payroll and tax reporting obligations across European jurisdictions, including benefits-in-kind reporting and other local statutory requirements, ensuring filings are completed accurately and on time.
  • Conduct regular payroll and data accuracy reviews to support operational accuracy and consistency across jurisdictions.
  • Draw up and support the production of relevant employee documents, aligned to annual cycles and ad hoc- promotions, reward review letters, references etc.
  • Supervises in-house payroll / HR administration team members
• Benefits, Pension and Insurance Administration
  • Coordinate pension schemes and serve as a key contact person for related provider and employee queries.
  • Manage group accident insurance administration
  • Support benefits-related employee process and communications.
  • Coordinate other benefits programmes and benefits in kind across European offices, including ClassPass, meal vouchers and other country-specific benefits, while ensuring appropriate consideration of payroll, tax and local compliance implications.
  • Support the Reward Review and other People processes that have payroll, benefits or specialist tax implications.
  • Partner with HR, Finance and external vendors to ensure benefits information is accurate, timely and handled confidentially.
• HRIS and People Data Management
  • Oversee and maintain key people data in the HRIS in close collaboration with HR Business Partners.
  • Serve as a data steward for HRIS processes across Europe, coordinating with US colleagues to support process adherence and working interfaces.
  • Carry out analyses, reporting, statistics and data integrity reviews maintenance to support payroll, benefits and HR administration activities.
  • Key stakeholder in Workday enhancement initiatives to further customize and align functionalities and related processes.
  • Monitor data quality and drive resolution of inconsistencies in employee, payroll and benefits records.
• Payroll Accounting and Payment Coordination
  • Handle payroll accounting follow-up, including monitoring and coordination of payroll-related payment transactions.
  • Collaborate with Finance & Controlling teams on payroll postings, reconciliations and supporting documentation.
  • Support payroll reconciliations, payroll accounting reviews and year-to-date payroll reporting in partnership with Finance teams.
  • Support payroll-related reporting and accounting processes with awareness of local GAAP, US GAAP and relevant tax and compliance considerations across multiple jurisdictions.
  • Maintain audit-ready records to support internal review, audit requests and recurring reporting needs.
  • Support internal and external payroll, tax and compliance audits across European offices.
• Cross-functional Compliance and Process Support
  • Support People processes with specialist tax, legal, payroll or accounting angles, including secondments and reward review.
  • Partner with Tax, Legal, Finance & Controlling and HR stakeholders to ensure compliant and practical administration across jurisdictions.
  • Handle sensitive employee, payroll and benefits data with the greatest degree of confidentiality and professionalism.
  • Drive to continuous improvement of payroll, benefits and HR administration processes, alongside the US payroll team.
• Stakeholder Collaboration and Service Delivery
  • Provide responsive and accurate support to employees, managers, HR colleagues, payroll providers and internal stakeholders.
  • Work collaboratively across European offices while maintaining an independent, structured and result-oriented way of working.
  • Communicate clearly in English and at least one other main European language, both verbally and in writing, on payroll, benefits and HR administration matters.

Qualifications:

• Relevant qualification or comparable education in Payroll, HR Administration, Business Administration, Accounting or a related discipline.
• Payroll, benefits, HR administration or accounting certification desirable.
• Several years of experience in payroll operations, HR operations, HR administration and/or payroll accounting, in a multi country set up including coordination with cross-country teams and teams based in India.
• Experience coordinating with outsourced payroll providers and handling payroll or tax-related queries.
• Exposure to accounting principles such as French/German GAAP and/or US GAAP and payroll tax topics advantageous.
• Experience administering pensions, benefits or insurance schemes in a European context desirable.
• Professional services, financial services or investment banking experience advantageous.
• Strong knowledge of EMEA payroll and HR systems (e.g. Workday, ADP HiCM, ADP Celegro, DATEV)

Technical Skills:

• Comfortable working with HRIS and payroll/accounting systems, particularly Workday, DATEV and NetSuite.
• Strong IT and systems affinity, with the ability to support process adherence and system interfaces.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel for data maintenance, reporting and analysis.
• High affinity for numbers and accuracy in data-heavy administrative processes.

Languages:

• Fluent English required.
• Good working knowledge in at least one of the following languages required: French, Spanish, German

Soft Skills:

• Trustworthy and able to handle sensitive data with the highest level of confidentiality.
• Collaborative, organized and dynamic personality who is comfortable with pace and change.
• Independent, structured and result-oriented approach to work.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong interpersonal skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a practical problem-solving mindset.

Work Environment:

• Company-wide in-office work policy four days per week.
• Fast-paced, professional environment requiring adaptability, discretion and attention to detail.
• European scope with regular interaction across HR, Controlling & Finance, Tax, Legal, outsourced providers and international colleagues.
• Some European and US travel may be required (not exceeding 3-4 x a year)

Additional Information:

Lincoln International is not currently hiring individuals for this position who now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status.