(Junior) Payroll Accountant

The (Junior) Payroll Accountant at Ecolab is responsible for maintaining payroll processing and accounting systems for their assigned entities, ensuring timely and accurate payroll transactions. This includes overseeing salaries, benefits, taxes, and deductions, preparing payroll records, assisting with audits, and contributing to payroll process improvements.

To qualify for the (Junior) Payroll Accountant position at Ecolab, you should have 1-3 years of relevant professional experience, preferably in a European Shared Services environment. A Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, or business is required, along with fluency in English and an analytical mindset. Familiarity with SAP and other payroll systems is advantageous.

Ecolab is committed to the career development of its employees, offering personalized development plans, access to continuous learning opportunities, technical training, and a supportive environment that encourages professional growth. As a (Junior) Payroll Accountant, you’ll have the chance to work alongside subject matter experts and participate in a committee designed to facilitate your career path.

Ecolab offers a competitive compensation package for its (Junior) Payroll Accountants, including private medical care, life insurance, a stock purchase plan, lunch subsidies, and sport cards. Employees also enjoy flexible working arrangements, social events, and a comfortable working environment.

At Ecolab, the work culture for a (Junior) Payroll Accountant is collaborative and inclusive, with a focus on teamwork across various cultural backgrounds. We value employee satisfaction, open feedback, and support a work-life balance through flexible working conditions.

In answering this question, highlight your hands-on experience with payroll systems, including any specific software you have used. Discuss how you ensured accuracy and efficiency in processing payroll and the methods you used to resolve any issues that arose.

Share specific examples of how you manage your time and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines. Emphasize your organizational skills and any tools you use to keep track of progressing tasks successfully in fast-paced environments.

Discuss your communication and collaboration skills. Provide examples of how you have built effective working relationships with HR teams and external payroll vendors, including how you resolved any discrepancies or challenges that arose.

Detail your experience with conducting payroll audits, preparing documentation, and working with auditors. Explain how you ensured compliance with regulations and maintained accurate records to facilitate straightforward audit processes.

Talk about the level of familiarity you have with SAP, specifically regarding payroll and financial accounting modules. Describe any projects or tasks where you utilized SAP and how it contributed to your understanding of payroll processes.

Discuss your meticulous approach to double-checking payroll information, your methods for reconciling discrepancies, and any checklists you use to minimize errors. Mention how you stay updated on any changes in payroll regulations.

Express your enthusiasm for working at Ecolab and how the company’s mission to innovate and promote sustainability aligns with your personal values. Highlight your desire for a collaborative work environment, career growth opportunities, and the chance to contribute to meaningful projects.

Share a specific project where you contributed to improving payroll processes, emphasizing your role in the planning, execution, and outcomes of the project. Discuss any tools or methodologies you implemented and the positive effects it had on the payroll team.

Explain your approach to prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance. Discuss any organizational techniques you use, such as scheduled check-ins or project management tools, to effectively manage processes across multiple entities.

Describe your proficiency in Microsoft Excel, focusing on specific functions and techniques that are relevant to payroll accounting, such as pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and data validation. Share examples of how you've used Excel in previous roles to analyze payroll data or streamline processes.