Global Payroll Specialist

About Our Company

Lids Sports Group is the largest licensed sports retailer in North America, selling fan and fashion-oriented headwear and apparel across the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia. Operating out of Indianapolis, IN, our retail stores offer officially licensed headwear and apparel from collegiate and professional sports teams, plus top brands like Nike, New Era, Adidas, and Mitchell & Ness.

We currently operate 1,200+ locations domestically and 50+ internationally, including specialty concept stores for the NBA, NHL, Paris Saint-Germain, and numerous MLB teams. In recent years, Lids has built partnerships with iconic global brands including Marvel, Playboy, and the Harlem Globetrotters, and gained ambassadors like Justin Jefferson, Quavo, and Josephine Skriver – creating a community for both sports fans and fashion lovers.

The company is currently expanding with the goal of becoming the largest licensed brick-and-mortar sports retailer across the globe.

General Position Summary

As the Global Payroll Specialist, you will oversee the day-to-day payroll operations, support new and existing pay programs, including our international expansion, and drive process improvement of the international payroll resources team.  Reporting to the Sr. Manager, Global HRBP, the Specialist will work closely with a team of HR and Payroll professionals to support an international organisation. This position is highly visible throughout the Lids organization and is a great fit for someone with a customer-focus mindset with strong analytical aptitude.

Principle Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinates (with US team) payroll processing for several countries – currently UK, Germany, France, Australia, and the Netherlands
• Lead on the maintenance of payroll information; collection, calculation, and entry of data; check distribution; retroactive pays; and front-end edits. Processes organization's payroll and compiles and analyzes payroll data to maintain accurate payroll records.
• Partner with our selected global payroll provider and lead the implementation related to our global payroll setup as we prepare the opening of new countries
• Coordinate with internal finance team and/or payroll provider disbursements of funds for employees, benefit providers, taxes, and other payments as necessary
• Follow up with Store Managers as necessary regarding incomplete and/or inaccurate paperwork/inputs.
• Process statutory payments for the European countries
• Identifies and implements payroll process improvements and best practices, driving improved customer service levels and eliminating unnecessary payroll errors.
• Monitors payroll-related transactions and verifies that they are processed in compliance with external and internal policies. Maintains knowledge of payroll-related rules and laws (including tax) that govern the payroll administration practices. Applies professional and technical knowledge, skills, and judgment to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing.

Additional Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Reconciles errors and maintains payroll records. Audits payroll data changes to ensure validity and accuracy. Responsible for the data integrity of the payroll systems and ensures accuracy of employee information and cost centers.
• Drives the resolution for technical, system or other payroll issues. Monitors system reports and works with IT team and providers to resolve errors.
• Develops system reporting to provide relevant and timely data and analyses. Uses analytical approach to create metrics to provide to business partners to assist in critical business decisions.
• Communicates with district managers, department heads, managers and others on payroll policies and procedures to ensure smooth ongoing payroll operations.
• Resolve payroll inquiries to ensure a timely, equitable and courteous resolution, process adjustments as necessary.
• Leads the training of payroll staff.
• Oversees external and internal partnerships that facilitate payroll processes, including garnishment administration, bonuses, benefits administration, etc.
• Manages regular preparation of relevant reports, including monthly, quarterly and year-end (gross payroll hours worked, paid leave accrual, tax deductions, benefit deductions, workers compensation, legal requests,

Job Required Knowledge & Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years of payroll experience, working with both payroll and time and attendance systems.
• 5+ years International multi- country payroll
• Advanced knowledge of Excel required (i.e., Advanced formulas, pivot tables, lookups, and index abilities).
• Germany and France payroll experience is required
• Strong analytical, organizational, troubleshooting and problem-resolution skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills. Must be able to communicate effectively to a large remote workforce.
• Ability to work under pressure and multitask within time-sensitive constraints.

Preferred Job Required Knowledge & Skills

• Ability to grow knowledge to support the business in taking on further payrolls as the business grows across Europe
• Demonstrates sound judgment and discretion when handling confidential information
• Fluent in English; other language skills such as German, Dutch or French is a plus.

• Ability to work collaboratively with others.
• Good understanding of basic accounting principles; knowledge and experience with journal entries and reconciliations

Reports To

Payroll Manager, Located in the US

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