Payroll Team Lead (m,w,d)

The Role

In this pivotal role, you'll take full ownership of payroll operations for our German sites in Hamburg and Langenhagen, ensuring employees and pensioners receive accurate, timely payments—including international mobile employees in coordination with our Global Mobility team. But this role is more than numbers.

You'll lead a dedicated team across two locations, oversee payroll system integrity (SAP HCM + Workday), ensure legal compliance, and act as a key link between HR, finance, and external stakeholders. With room to influence process improvements, data-driven decisions, and impactful projects, this is your opportunity to lead with purpose, precision, and people at the core.

Location: Hamburg, Germany

Principle Accountabilities

• Ensure correct and punctual salary and pension payments for employees and pensioners in Hamburg and Langenhagen, including special groups like IMEs in collaboration with Global Mobility.
• Lead and develop a team of 11 (disciplinary in Hamburg, technical in Langenhagen), driving performance and managing change.
• Oversee system updates, legal/operational implementations, and integration with Workday; ensure data accuracy and system functionality.
• Manage the annual payroll calendar and related activities, including internal provisions and bank transfers.
• Ensure adherence to tax, social security, and data protection laws; support internal/external audits and reporting obligations.
• Coordinate with internal HR teams, works council, and external partners; support P&C analytics and drive HR/payroll-related projects.

Skills and Experience Required

• Commercial education/studies of Business Administration
• Payroll Accounting, Tax Law, Social Security Law, Labour Law
• Leadership skills
• SAP HCM
• Very good oral and written mode of expression
• Very good command of English language (verbally and written)
• Experience in project work

What We Offer

In return for playing your part in building our future, you will receive a comprehensive compensation package with salary, bonus scheme and further benefits as well inspiring places to work and collaborate with purpose. Here at Imperial we will give you the opportunity to grow and learn, innovate at pace and be a part of our purpose to forge a path to a healthier future for moments of relaxation and pleasure for our consumers.

Everyone Belongs

Everyone belongs in Imperial. We are proud of being a truly inclusive organisation. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, nationalities, disabilities, sexual orientation, religions or beliefs and of neuro divergence. We give fair and equal consideration to all our applicants. Please contact us at recruitment@impbrands.com to let us know if we can provide support in helping you complete an application and/or attend an interview.

About Us

We're a truly international company, fourth largest in our industry and operating across 120 markets. An inclusive, innovative global FMCG business supported by 25,000 employees. As we embrace a new era of growth, we are transforming. Our ways of working and culture are driven by a challenger mindset, constantly questioning the status quo where people can bring their best selves to work. Our agility and collaboration are driving our ambitions, innovation and success all supported by our award-winning development programmes that creates exciting and rewarding career opportunities for all.  Encouraging inclusion at local levels and supporting a developing and robust diversity agenda globally, we’re fully committed to creating and maintaining an environment that celebrates and respects difference.

As a matter of policy, Imperial Tobacco or its subsidiaries never requests or requires payment as part of any recruitment process.