Payroll DS Manager

Position Summary

DePuy Synthes is seeking an experienced Payroll DS Manager to lead a strategically important Payroll and Time Management Hub based in Switzerland.

This role combines deep Swiss payroll expertise with regional leadership responsibility for payroll and Time & Attendance operations across multiple countries. The Payroll DS Manager will provide operational leadership, governance, compliance oversight, stakeholder management, and strategic direction for a diverse payroll organization supporting Switzerland and other key countries such as Germany.This position requires a strong leader who can effectively partner with senior business stakeholders, vendor partners, Capability Centers, HR, Finance, Tax, Legal, Compliance, and Employee Relations to ensure exceptional service delivery while driving continuous improvement and transformation initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Service Delivery

• Lead the Payroll and Time & Attendance Hub supporting multiple countries across the region.

• Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll and Time & Attendance processing across all assigned countries.

• Establish and drive a consistent operating model, governance framework, and service delivery standards throughout the Hub

• Balance local country requirements with global process standardization objectives.

• Provide strategic direction and operational oversight for payroll operations, controls, reconciliations, approvals, and statutory reporting activities.

• Act as the primary escalation point for critical payroll and Time & Attendance matters across the Hub.

Swiss Payroll Expertise

• Serve as the Hub's subject matter expert for Swiss payroll legislation and compliance.

• Ensure compliance with Swiss federal, cantonal, and municipal payroll requirements.

• Oversee payroll processes related to the very specific processes such as Accident Insurance, pension, daily sick insurance etc

• Ensure accurate administration of Swiss withholding tax (Quellensteuer).

• Manage payroll complexities related to expatriates, international assignees, and cross-border workers.

• Maintain strong relationships with Swiss authorities, pension providers, auditors, and external payroll partners.

• Ensure compliance with Swiss labor law and regulatory requirements.

Multi-Country Payroll & Time Management Leadership

• Provide leadership and oversight for payroll and Time & Attendance operations across multiple countries, including complex markets such as Germany.

• Manage country-specific compliance requirements while driving standardized practices and controls.

• Support local teams in resolving complex payroll, labor law, tax, and system-related challenges.

• Partner with regional stakeholders to ensure operational excellence and customer satisfaction.

People Leadership

• Lead and develop a team of payroll and Time & Attendance professionals operating in a matrixed environment.

• Drive talent development, succession planning, workforce planning, and employee engagement initiatives.

• Foster an inclusive, high-performing culture based on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Coach and develop future payroll leaders across the Hub organization.

Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Build trusted relationships with senior leaders across HR, Finance, Tax, Legal, Compliance, Procurement, IT, and Employee Relations.

• Manage third-party payroll vendors and service providers to ensure contractual and service level commitments are achieved.

• Influence and align diverse stakeholder groups while managing competing priorities and business needs.

• Represent Payroll and Time & Attendance in regional leadership forums and transformation initiatives.

Projects, Transformation & Continuous Improvement

• Lead payroll transformation, harmonization, and digitization initiatives across the Hub.

• Drive process simplification, automation, controls enhancement, and operational excellence programs.

• Support payroll system implementations, migrations, and vendor transitions.

• Partner with Global Payroll and regional business leaders to establish future-state operating models.

• Ensure audit readiness and maintain strong compliance and SOX control environments.

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Human Resources, Accounting, or related field.

• Minimum 8 years of payroll experience.

• Minimum 5 years of people leadership experience.

• Proven experience managing multi-country payroll operations.

• Significant experience leading payroll teams within a regional or hub-based operating model.

• Strong understanding of payroll controls, audits, compliance, and governance.

• Demonstrated ability to lead teams through organizational change and transformation.

Swiss Payroll Expertise (Mandatory)

• Extensive hands-on experience managing Swiss payroll operations.

• Deep knowledge of Swiss payroll legislation, tax regulations, labor law, and social insurance requirements.

• Proven experience managing complex Swiss payroll environments within multinational organizations.

• Experience supporting Swiss payroll audits, regulatory inspections, and compliance reviews.

• Strong understanding of cross-border worker and expatriate payroll requirements.

Preferred

• Experience managing payroll operations in Germany and other European countries.

• Strong knowledge of Time & Attendance processes and workforce management solutions.

• Experience working in shared service, Capability Center, or Hub environments.

• Payroll certification and/or Project Management certification.

• Lean Six Sigma or Continuous Improvement experience.

Languages

• Fluent English required.

• German strongly preferred.

• French is considered a significant advantage.

Johnson & Johnson announced plans to separate our Orthopaedics business to establish a standalone orthopaedics company, operating as DePuy Synthes. The process of the planned separation is anticipated to be completed within 18 to 24 months, subject to legal requirements, including consultation with works councils and other employee representative bodies, as may be required, regulatory approvals and other customary conditions and approvals. Should you accept this position, it is anticipated that, following conclusion of the transaction, you would be an employee of DePuy Synthes and your employment would be governed by DePuy Synthes employment processes, programs, policies, and benefit plans. In that case, details of any planned changes would be provided to you by DePuy Synthes at an appropriate time and subject to any necessary consultation processes.