Team Lead Payroll EMEA (German Speaker)
- Greece-Thessaloniki Chortiatis

Our Purpose
Our Values
Finance and Global Business Services
Benefits
Use Your Power for Purpose
At Pfizer, we believe that every team member has the power to make a significant impact on improving patients' lives. You will be at the forefront of our Finance division, driving initiatives that support our mission to deliver breakthroughs that change patients' lives. Your critical contributions in financial operations help streamline processes, enhance productivity, and support the seamless delivery of our life-saving products to patients worldwide.
Role summary
The Payroll Team Lead is responsible for delivering operations of the payroll processes at high quality standards in line with key objectives and agreed service level. With a strong focus on service delivery, process improvement, and data confidentiality, the Payroll Team Lead plays a critical role in ensuring a timely, accurate, and compliant payroll. This role prepares and consolidates reports for stakeholders, analyzes and addresses audit findings, reconciles and resolves complex payroll processing and colleague payroll issues.
The Payroll Team Lead implements payroll best practices according to industry and company standards taking into consideration accounting standards, internal controls, and regional policies. The role leverages technological platforms to bring effectiveness and efficiency to the operation.
This role is accountable for ensuring proper controls are in place, escalating issues appropriately, and maintaining effective communication with key stakeholders. Acting as a key operational leader, the Payroll Team Lead supports, guides, and develops payroll team members and drives team performance by monitoring key metrics and KPIs.
This role will promote Pfizer’s Purpose, Values, and the GBS culture by engaging and leading a team of qualified and diverse CS colleagues.
Role Responsibilities
Execute activities associated with the assigned payroll processes which include but are not limited to:
Ensure that all Payroll inputs for the payroll cycle are performed timely and accurately by managing day-to-day operational activities and deliverables
Ensures annual and year-end activities are planned proactively and executed timely
Support data collection for payroll audits and compliance checks
Ensure efficient training and handover of activities to other/new team members
Review payroll controls and ensures that payroll is compliant with regulatory and company standards (e.g., SOP, SOX Controls)
Maintain up to date knowledge of the regulatory framework and ensure any new regulations are implemented timely
May be responsible for regular execution or back-up of an assigned payroll depending on the requirements of the markets under responsibility of the extended team
Implement new payroll controls, procedures and policies as needed
Identify and implement process improvement, automation opportunities and transformational projects
Coordinate with other departments on payroll-related matters
Support developmental opportunities and training for direct reports
Manage performance of direct reports through goal setting, assessment, feedback and coaching
Build effective working relationships with key stakeholders (PX, Finance, Incentives Team, Payroll Vendors etc.)
Monitor and report on payroll metrics and KPIs (such as Payroll Accuracy Tracker (PAT), Service Now cases, Volume tracker)
Act as first level escalation point to resolve complex Time & Attendance related payroll issues or report to the next management level
Ensure active participation at Service Delivery calls and drive issue resolution
Ensure documentation such as work instructions (WI) or standard operating procedures (SOPs) are up to date.
Review and certify payroll signoffs relating to all payroll inputs, audits, files, compliance and other related payroll documents, where part of scope
Assess technology requirements and changes and ensure that systematic updates are completed by the vendor in a timely and complete manner, where part of scope
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting or related field required.
3+ years’ experience in payroll, accounting or Finance
In-depth knowledge and experience of payroll calculation and processing
Ability to maintain strict privacy and confidentiality
Attention to detail and accuracy
Problem analysis and problem-solving skills
Able to communicate effectively in English (spoken & written) with colleagues at all levels of the organization
German language skills are required to independently manage German tax and audit matters; equivalent experience will also be considered. Daily use of German is expected, including within the SAP Payroll system
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in business or related field
Experience with multi-state or international payroll
Familiarity with Works Council, union or collective bargaining payroll processes
Experience in management of a team
Experience with Workday, ADP, Service Now, SAP, payroll and time/attendance systems
Certified Payroll Professional, or similar professional designation
Knowledge of compliance standards such as GDPR, SOX, and local labor laws
Ability to speak multiple (additional) languages is a plus
Work Location Assignment: Hybrid
Please apply by sending your CV and a motivational letter in English
Purpose
Breakthroughs that change patients' lives... At Pfizer we are a patient centric company, guided by our four values: courage, joy, equity and excellence. Our breakthrough culture lends itself to our dedication to transforming millions of lives.
Digital Transformation Strategy
One bold way we are achieving our purpose is through our company wide digital transformation strategy. We are leading the way in adopting new data, modelling and automated solutions to further digitize and accelerate drug discovery and development with the aim of enhancing health outcomes and the patient experience.
Flexibility
We aim to create a trusting, flexible workplace culture which encourages employees to achieve work life harmony, attracts talent and enables everyone to be their best working self. Let’s start the conversation!
Equal Employment Opportunity
We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is crucial to building a successful business. As an employer, Pfizer is committed to celebrating this, in all its forms – allowing for us to be as diverse as the patients and communities we serve. Together, we continue to build a culture that encourages, supports and empowers our employees.
Disability Inclusion
Our mission is unleashing the power of all our people and we are proud to be a disability inclusive employer, ensuring equal employment opportunities for all candidates. We encourage you to put your best self forward with the knowledge and trust that we will make any reasonable adjustments to support your application and future career. Your journey with Pfizer starts here!
To learn more about acceptable and prohibited uses of AI during the recruitment process, please review our candidate AI-use guidelines available on Pfizer Careers.

Finance & AccountingBreakthroughs that change patients’ lives
Research confirms what intuition tells us: that purpose-driven companies perform better, are more innovative, attract and retain the best people, and know how to unleash the power of those people. Pfizer’s purpose—Breakthroughs that change patients' lives—fuels everything we do and reflects our passion for building on our legacy as one of the greatest contributors of good to the world.
Each word in our purpose has meaning and reflects the value we strive to bring to patients and society:
“Breakthroughs” - These are the innovations, scientific and commercial, that we seek to deliver every day. All colleagues, regardless of role, level or location, strive for breakthroughs every day.
“Change” - We want to do more than simply improve patients’ medical conditions; we want to dramatically change their lives for the better.
“Patients’ lives” - We consider not only patients, but everyone they touch—including their families, caregivers, and friends—and everything they love to do. It’s an intentionally holistic view.
Our purpose ensures that patients remain at the center of all we do. We live our purpose by sourcing the best science in the world; partnering with others in the healthcare system to improve access to our medicines; using digital technologies to enhance our drug discovery and development, as well as patient outcomes; and leading the conversation to advocate for pro-innovation/pro-patient policies.
Every decision we make and every action we take is done with the patient in mind—and to nurture an environment where breakthroughs can thrive.
Our Values
To fully realize Pfizer’s purpose, we have established a clear set of expectations regarding “what” we need to achieve for patients and “how” we will go about achieving those goals.
The “how” is represented by four simple, powerful values—courage, excellence, equity, and joy—that define our company and our culture.
Courage: Breakthroughs start by challenging convention, especially in the face of uncertainty or adversity. This happens when we think big, speak up, and are decisive.
Excellence: We can only change patients’ lives when we perform at our best together. This happens when we focus on what matters, agree who does what, and measure our outcomes.
Equity: We believe that every person deserves to be seen, heard, and cared for. This happens when we are inclusive, act with integrity, and reduce healthcare disparities.
Joy: We give ourselves to our work, but it also gives to us. We find joy when we take pride, recognize one another, and have fun.
Finance
At Pfizer, our dynamic financial experts are more than number-crunchers; they shape our path to greatness. From strategic direction to fiscal well-being, Finance ensures our enterprise thrives with unwavering commitment and meticulous attention to detail.
From seamless payroll management to mastery of tax compliance, we fortify the foundations upon which Pfizer's vision is built. Together, we empower transformative choices, driving Pfizer's legacy to uncharted heights by harmonizing data-driven insights and creative intuition.
Welcome to the vital core of Pfizer's future, where Finance unlocks limitless potential
Global Business Services
Global Business Services is a transformation powerhouse, turning fragmented, complex, and intricate operational services into a seamlessly centralized, simplified, and standardized system.
With our unrivaled expertise, strategic capabilities, and unwavering commitment to Pfizer's purpose, we pave the way for groundbreaking breakthroughs that make a real, tangible difference in patients' lives.
Join us on this exhilarating journey of impact and innovation as we revolutionize healthcare together.
Benefits at Pfizer
Pfizer offers competitive compensation and benefits programs designed to meet the diverse needs of our colleagues. Our Pay for Performance Philosophy and Practices reward colleagues based on the contributions they make to our business.
Our Competitive Benefits Programs help our colleagues by:
- Promoting Health and Wellness to help colleagues maintain and improve their physical and mental wellbeing. Pfizer offerings include health and disability insurance, preventative health programs, medical screenings, free or reduced-cost vaccinations, discounts on Pfizer products, mental health support, nutrition and fitness counseling and more.
- Strengthening Colleagues’ Financial Security by providing company contributions to retirement plans, life insurance and financial planning education to help colleagues achieve their financial goals.
- Providing Benefits and Time off for the Moments that Matter to ensure Pfizer colleagues have the time away from the office to recharge, recover and return to work as the best version of themselves. Vacation, Holiday time and Sick time are just the beginning, with a 12 week parental leave policy for both parents of a new born, 10 day of caregiver leave for those times when your family needs you whether it’s a child, spouse or parent, bereavement leave, and additional country-specific programs.
- And so much more, depending on your country and site, Pfizer offers childcare facilities or discount programs, on-site health and/or fitness centers, movement and mindfulness solutions, “Log in for your Day” work flexibility and so much more.
For U.S. based jobs, view an overview of Pfizer’s U.S. benefits program (opens in a new window)
