payroll specialist.

At this level, you undertake supportive and administrative payroll tasks. You collect and verify employee data, record attendance, overtime and leave, and assist in calculating salaries. You usually work under the guidance of senior team members.

You coordinate payroll processes and supervise smaller payroll teams. You check payroll reports, ensure compliance with labour legislation and handle more complex payroll or employee benefits cases. You are often involved in improving internal payroll policies.

You work in payroll outsourcing companies and manage payroll for multiple clients simultaneously. You apply the current payroll procedures and ensure compliance with EFKA, AADE and labour legislation requirements for each client.

Some of the basic duties and daily responsibilities of a payroll specialist include:

• Collecting and updating employee data: You record and update the personal and employment details of employees (e.g. hirings, departures, contract changes), while adhering to the principles of confidentiality and personal data protection (GDPR).
• Record keeping of attendance and hours: You process data such as working hours, leave, overtime and shifts. You check for any discrepancies and ensure they are accurately reflected in the payroll data.
• Calculation of salaries and wages: You perform payroll calculations based on employment contracts, collective agreements and company policy. You apply deductions, contributions and allowances in accordance with Greek labour legislation.
• Management of deductions and contributions: you ensure the payment of contributions to social security institutions, withholding tax on salaried services, compensation, allowances and other prescribed deductions.
• Resolution of payroll issues: You respond to employees' queries regarding their earnings, deductions or leave. You collaborate with hr and the accounting department for corrections or special calculations where needed.
• Preparation of payroll reports: You prepare reports and financial data for internal use (e.g. payroll costs), as well as for official bodies where required.

As a payroll specialist you can work in companies across all sectors, as every organisation has a payroll department or related function. You usually work in an office environment, either within the human resources department or the accounting department. The work is mainly carried out using specialised payroll systems and ERP software via computer.

Although the role involves frequent collaboration with other employees to resolve payroll issues, many companies offer hybrid or remote working models. Especially in payroll outsourcing companies, there is the possibility of fully remote work, as payroll processes can be completed electronically. 

As a payroll specialist you collaborate daily with different departments within the organisation. You have direct contact with the human resources (hr) department, as you need to be informed about changes in contracts, hires, departures and employee leave. At the same time, you work with the accounting department and financial analysts to ensure accurate allocation of payroll expenses and financial reports.

An important part of your work is compliance with labour and tax legislation. For this reason, you work closely with legal advisers or compliance officers of the company to ensure that all deductions, contributions and taxes are correctly and promptly paid to EFKA, AADE And other authorities. In organisations with payroll technology tools, you may also collaborate with the IT team on payroll software and automation issues.

The working hours of a payroll specialist are usually full-time during typical office hours. However, during periods coinciding with payroll closing, submission of files to authorities such as EFKA and AADE or urgent contract changes, you may need to stay longer to meet deadlines. There are also opportunities for part-time work in smaller businesses, while payroll outsourcing companies often offer flexible or hybrid working. For this position, reliability and accuracy are essential, as employee payments follow a specific schedule.

The role of a payroll specialist offers significant prospects for professional development, especially for those who possess reliability, organisational skills and knowledge of labour and social security legislation. Since payroll is a critical function for every business, the demand for specialised payroll professionals remains steady in the Greek labour market.

You can start as a junior payroll specialist and with experience, progress to payroll officer or senior payroll specialist. Over time and with specialisation in labour law, payroll processes, and ERP systems, you will be able to take on more complex roles, such as payroll supervisor, payroll manager or HR operations specialist. At the same time, there are opportunities for advancement to HR generalist or HR manager positions, especially if you combine technical payroll knowledge with human resource management skills. In Greece, many companies outsource their payroll to payroll outsourcing providers, which creates additional professional prospects in consultancy firms and HR services organisations.

The Randstad offers a range of advantages:

• A contact person is always available to whom you can turn to and ask for help.
• Wide range of job positions in your area.

A payroll specialist is responsible for calculating and processing payroll, social security and tax deductions (EFKA and AADE), leave, overtime, and employee compensations. They ensure that payments are made correctly and on time, keep payroll records, and ensure compliance with labour laws.

Strong organisational and numerical skills, attention to detail, and excellent knowledge of labour and social security legislation are essential for success in this role. Communication skills and comfort with payroll software are also useful.

A degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or human resources is usually required. However, you can also start with a vocational institute diploma in accounting or specialised payroll and labour law courses, provided you have some years of relevant work experience.

The payroll sector is characterised by busy periods, especially when finalising payroll reports or approaching official legal deadlines. However, through methodical planning and full use of modern payroll tools, the work can be carried out efficiently while keeping stress levels manageable.

Since payroll is necessary in every company, the profession of payroll specialist has steady demand. It also offers prospects for advancement into roles such as payroll supervisor, HR operations specialist or HR manager.

The steps to search for a job as a payroll specialist are simple. Start your search in the job positions section. Found the one that suits you? Then complete your application using the ‘apply now’ option at the top right of the page. No job positions available at the moment? Then log in or create an account to upload your CV so that a recruitment manager can contact you if a relevant job opening arises.