Payroll Specialist – Germany

About the role

This is an exciting time to join Oyster. Germany is one of our most important markets, and the role gives you real ownership over how payroll runs, with the scope to help us achieve best‑in‑class payroll standards at scale.

Key responsibilities

• Process payroll accurately for the assigned German payroll stream each cycle.
• Maintain master‑data accuracy for hires, terminations, salary changes, benefits and garnishments.
• Run pre‑ and post‑payroll validations and flag any issues before they reach customers or Finance.
• Handle all statutory filings (Lohnsteueranmeldung, SV‑Meldungen, Jahresmeldung, U1/U2 claims) and maintain ELStAM data.
• Follow payroll system procedures, test legislative updates and report issues to the product team.
• Build subject‑matter knowledge of German wage‑tax, social‑insurance, labour law and collective agreements.
• Check payroll journals and GL mappings for data‑integrity issues.
• Manage client payroll tickets, escalating when necessary.
• Prepare statutory and ad‑hoc reports to meet regulatory requirements.
• Provide data and documentation for internal and external audits.

Required profile

• 1–3 years of native (in‑house) German payroll experience.
• Hands‑on DATEV processing experience.
• Completed Kaufmännische Ausbildung (e.g., Steuerfachangestellte/r) and/or Lohnbuchhalter qualification.
• Working knowledge of German wage‑tax, social‑insurance and labour law.
• German at C1/C2 level and fluent English.
• Detail‑oriented mindset with strong self‑checking habits.
• Comfortable working asynchronously in a fast‑paced, remote‑first environment.

Required skills

• DATEV
• Data transformation
• Data‑analytics platforms

What we offer

• Remote‑first work model – work from anywhere within the EMEA region.
• 40 days paid time off per year (including holidays).
• Mental‑health support via Plumm.
• Monthly wellbeing allowance.
• Flexible parental leave with up to three months paid.
• Home‑office stipend for laptop and equipment.