Sr Specialist GBS Payroll (French Speaker)

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization

At adidas, we believe that through sport, we have the power to change lives. Within Global Business Services, we turn that purpose into reliable, efficient and continuously improving services for our employees and business teams. 

As Senior Specialist GBS Payroll, you will ensure the accurate, timely and compliant delivery of French payroll and related HR administration. You will combine hands-on payroll expertise with problem-solving, customer focus and continuous improvement.

You will also help strengthen controls, implement legal and organizational changes, simplify ways of working and contribute to payroll technology and process transformations.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver accurate and timely payroll and related HR administration in line with French legislation and internal controls.
• Manage employee lifecycle activities, including hiring documentation, contractual changes, employee data, benefits, absences, working time and offboarding.
• Perform payroll controls, reconciliations, statutory declarations and payroll-related activities, resolving issues before they impact employees.
• Provide clear and customer-focused support to employees, managers and HR stakeholders through ServiceNow and other channels.
• Monitor French payroll legislation and translate changes into processes, controls, system requirements and testing activities.
• Investigate complex payroll and HR issues, identify root causes and coordinate sustainable solutions with relevant partners.
• Support audits, statutory inspections and external reviews, including URSSAF controls.
• Drive simplification, standardization, automation and digitalization opportunities while ensuring French compliance.
• Contribute payroll expertise to transformation programs and support implementation through testing, documentation, training and knowledge sharing.

Key Relationships

• HR Business Partners in France
• HR Shared Services teams in Porto, including Workforce Administration, Organization Management, HR Systems and Mobility
• Expert teams, including Rewards and Talent Acquisition
• Business stakeholders, including Store Managers and Floor Managers
• Cross-functional partners including Finance, GBS, Legal and Internal Controls
• External parties such as authorities, SAP Consultants and external benefits providers

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Professional fluency in French, written and spoken, and strong professional working proficiency in English.
• Strong knowledge of French payroll, HR administration, statutory requirements, social declarations, controls and compliance obligations.
• Hands-on experience with SAP HCM Payroll, including investigation of payroll results and collaboration on configuration or system issues. 
• Proven experience managing complex payroll cases, conducting root-cause analysis and driving issues through to sustainable resolution. 
• Experience implementing legal, process or system changes, including impact analysis, functional testing and operational readiness. 
• Strong organization and prioritization skills, with disciplined documentation and follow-up across multiple deadlines and stakeholders. 
• Ability to operate autonomously in a cross-border organization, provide clear progress updates, raise risks early and seek support when required. 
• High attention to detail, sound analytical judgement, and a pronounced customer-service.
• Experience with payroll transformation, process digitalization, automation or system implementations.
• Experience supporting audits, inspections and payroll-accounting reconciliations.

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications

• 7 years of relevant experience in French payroll and HR operations, or equivalent depth of expertise.
• Experience with SAP HCM Payroll or a comparable complex payroll system.
• Experience with ticketing system (ServiceNow, Jira or equivalent).