Payroll specialist

Payroll Specialist

Bain & Company Denmark – Copenhagen

Are you passionate about payroll and curious to broaden your Danish payroll experience to another Nordic market? Are you detailed and super diligent and do you want to work in a company with an international environment? Do you like to work independently where your skills and responsibilities are continually challenged?
Then you are the person we are looking for.

About Bain & Company

Bain & Company is one of the world’s leading management consultancies, helping the most ambitious change-makers define the future. We work alongside our clients as one team with a shared ambition to achieve extraordinary results, outperform competitors, and redefine industries.

With offices in Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark, our Bain Nordic team partners primarily with international and multinational firms across the region. We advise on our clients’ most critical issues and opportunities—strategy, marketing, organization, operations, technology, transformation, digital, advanced analytics, corporate finance, mergers & acquisitions, and sustainability—across all industries and geographies.

About the Role

We are looking for a Payroll Specialist to join and take ownership of payroll within our Finance team in Copenhagen.

This role will initially focus on managing payroll for Denmark, with a clear path to expand responsibilities to Finland and develop into a broader Nordic payroll lead role.

This position is ideal for a proactive and detail-oriented individual who thrives in a dynamic, professional, and collaborative environment. You will play a key role in ensuring smooth payroll operations, contributing to the efficiency of our fast-paced finance function, and supporting the broader Nordic team.

The role offers a strong learning platform and the opportunity to grow within an international organization that values ownership, accuracy, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Own and drive payroll operations for Denmark, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and continuous improvement

Gradually expand scope to support and manage payroll for Finland

Perform account and salary reconciliations

Manage and apply for reimbursements (e.g., sickness, parental leave) via relevant authorities.

Support bonus calculations and provide payroll input to HR

Support audit processes by preparing relevant payroll documentation

Act as a key point of contact for payroll-related queries across the organization

Support international mobility cases, including transfers in and outbound

Identify efficiencies and contribute to process optimization initiatives

Participate in ad-hoc finance projects

About You

Strong attention to detail with a proactive, solution-oriented mindset

Flexible and collaborative team player with a “can-do” attitude

Able to manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines

Communicates clearly and professionally in both Danish and English

Independent mindset

Positive, calm, and approachable—especially under pressure

Enthusiastic, motivated, and eager to contribute to team success

A good sense of humour and a friendly, down-to-earth personality

Qualifications

Essential

Several years of hands-on experience with Danish payroll, including full-cycle payroll processing and reporting

Solid knowledge of Danish tax, social security, and employment legislation

Willingness to learn and take charge of Finnish payroll over time

Strong understanding of payroll-related accounting, reconciliations, and financial controls

Advanced Excel skills and strong proficiency in MS Office

High level of accuracy and attention to detail, with the ability to work with complex data sets

Proven ability to take ownership, prioritize effectively, and meet strict deadlines

Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to interact confidently across all levels of the organization

Fluent in Danish and English

Preferred

Experience with Nordic payroll (some experience with Finnish payroll would be a plus but absolutely not expected)

Experience working with payroll systems such as Visma or similar, as well as finance systems (e.g. SAP)

Experience supporting audits and working with external advisors (e.g. tax or payroll providers)

Relevant educational background within accounting, finance, HR, or a related field

Experience in an international organization

What We Offer

·         A diverse and international work environment

·         The opportunity to be part of a high-performing and fun Finance team

·         Excellent learning and development opportunities – you will gain hands-on experience with payroll processes in a global organization, supported by experienced colleagues who will help you grow

·         A culture that values continuous learning, collaboration, and personal development

·         A newly renovated office in the heart of Copenhagen

·         Delicious daily lunch with your peers

·         Competitive compensation and benefits package

·         Flexible work hours + ability to work from home 1-2 days a week