International Payroll Specialist (50%)

About the job

International Payroll Specialist (50%)

Helvetas is a Swiss organisation for international development cooperation and humanitarian aid. Our goal is a just world in which all people live self-determined lives in dignity and security, use natural resources sustainably, and care for the environment.

For our People & Culture team, we are looking for a committed and dynamic personality for the Compensation & Benefits area starting December 2026. Your future workplace will be in Bern or Zurich with occasional assignments at the other location.

Are you an expert in payroll and social security and want to apply your expertise in a meaningful international environment? In this versatile role, you will be responsible for payroll and social security for around 40 employees working abroad with Swiss employment contracts. You will work closely with a second payroll expert who is responsible for our employees in Switzerland.

As the central contact person for our international employees, managers, insurance companies, and authorities, you will actively contribute your expertise to the further development of our processes and services in the area of Compensation & Benefits.

YOUR TASKS

• Ensuring timely and accurate processing and payment of salaries for our employees working abroad
• Monthly preparation of salary payments, changes in the payroll system, as well as preparation of salary statements and year-end social security accounts
• Advising employees and managers on all questions related to payroll, social security, and relevant regulations
• Proper handling of social security matters for our Swiss employees
• Managing time tracking including preparation of cross-year time transfers and advising on time recording
• Answering questions about the payroll system and payroll calculation tool
• Creating reports, statistics, and salary benchmarks
• Continuous development of tools, forms, and processes related to payroll and regulations to ensure efficient and up-to-date procedures

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

• Several years of experience in payroll accounting and administration as well as solid knowledge of Swiss social security
• Experience in creating HR reports and good knowledge of personnel management and Swiss labour law
• Commercial basic training with further education as a payroll specialist or social security expert
• Precise, reliable, and structured working style with a strong understanding of numbers and enjoyment of statistics
• Customer- and service-oriented personality with a friendly manner, high discretion, and strong team orientation
• Independent, systematic, and punctual working style as well as resilience in hectic situations
• High IT affinity, excellent Excel skills, and experience with payroll administration systems; ideally with Abacus
• Very good German and English skills; ideally good French skills

OUR OFFER

At Helvetas, you are part of a meaningful organisation where your work makes a sustainable contribution to a fairer world. We foster a respectful and collaborative culture based on trust, flexibility, and personal responsibility. You work in a professional environment that promotes integrity, empathy, and continuous learning.

We offer you a varied and responsible role in a committed team as well as the opportunity to work in an international environment. In addition, you can expect modern workplaces in the heart of Zurich (only a 5-minute walk from the main station) and contemporary employment conditions.

READY TO APPLY?

Please submit your complete application documents (cover letter, CV, and relevant certificates) via our online portal.

If you have any questions about this position, Kathrin Indermauer, Director People & Culture (kathrin.indermauer@helvetas.org), will be happy to assist you.

Please note that the employment contract is based on Swiss labour law. Due to applicable permit regulations, we can only consider applications from Swiss nationals, EU citizens, or persons with a valid Swiss work permit.

To learn more about Helvetas, our mission, and vision, please visit our website: http://www.helvetas.org.