Senior Specialist, Global Payroll

KAYAK, part of Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG), is a leading travel search engine. With billions of queries across our platforms, we help people find their perfect flight, stay, rental car and vacation package. We're also transforming business travel with a new corporate travel solution, KAYAK for Business.

As an employee of KAYAK, you will be part of a travel company that operates a portfolio of global metasearch brands including momondo, Cheapflights and HotelsCombined, among others. From start-up to industry leader, innovation is in our DNA and every employee has an opportunity to make their mark. Our focus is on building the best travel search engine to make it easier for everyone to experience the world.

We are seeking a highly curious, self-starter Senior Specialist to own end-to-end payroll processes and elevate the standard of our payroll function. This role requires a strong communicator with deep hands-on expertise, exceptional attention to detail, and a growth mindset that thoughtfully challenges existing processes.

The ideal candidate is organized, accountable, and process- and systems-oriented — someone who asks “why?” and proactively identifies opportunities to enhance our processes and drive greater impact. You bring a strong sense of ownership and continuous learning, operate effectively as an individual contributor, and collaborate seamlessly across HR, Finance, Tax, Legal, and Systems. Above all, you are motivated to help build a future-ready payroll function that can scale with the business and navigate increasing complexity with confidence.

In this role, you will:

• Own and process payroll, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and full compliance with local regulations.

• Help manage payroll administration including data validation, calculations, reporting, and reconciliations (Source-to-Gross / Gross-to-Net).

• Process payroll changes including salary increases, bonuses, commissions, stock-based compensation, other benefits, mobility changes, and terminations.

• Maintain complete and accurate payroll records in accordance with SOX controls, company policies, and audit requirements.

• Ensure compliance with payroll taxes, social security, fringe benefits, stock-based compensation, global mobility matters, statutory filings, and remittances.

• Respond to statutory notices and manage annual filings and regulatory reporting.

• Support payroll audits and strengthen internal controls.

• Partner with People Systems and HR Operations to ensure seamless payroll data integrations (e.g., Workday, ADP, CloudPay), proactively identifying enhancements and automation opportunities.

• Support payroll vendor relationships and help hold providers accountable for performance and accuracy.

• Help develop and maintain payroll SOPs and calendars to ensure process clarity and operational excellence.

• Support month-end close activities, including payroll-related GL entries, reconciliations, PTO accruals, and reporting.

• Help maintain payroll balances and partner with Accounting on reporting and variance explanations.

• Assist with the investigation and resolution of complex payroll queries, escalations, vendor issues, and compliance matters.

• Serve as a trusted point of contact for employees and managers, delivering clear, timely communication.

• Own payroll queries through ticketing systems (e.g., FreshService).

• Help drive process improvements and operational efficiencies to future-proof payroll operations.

• Contribute to global payroll projects and support scalable solutions in an increasingly complex environment.

Please apply if you have:

• 5+ years of recent, hands-on payroll processing experience, global payroll experience is highly regarded.

• Bachelors in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration preferred.

• Professional Payroll Certifications such as CPP, IPASS etc are a plus.

• Highly analytical, with strong knowledge of payroll protocols, statutory requirements, tax and social security.

• Software experience with Workday, Cloudpay, and proficient in Excel (including v-lookups and other advanced functions).

• Proven ability to maintain data confidentiality and demonstrate strong professional integrity.

• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage a proactive, solutions-focused mindset.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships with employees, managers and cross-functional partners.

• Work from (almost) anywhere for up to 20 days per year

• Focus on mental health and well-being:

  • Company-paid therapy sessions through SpringHealth

  • Company-paid subscription to HeadSpace

  • Company-wide week off a year - the whole team fully recharges (and returns without a pile-up of work!)

• No meeting Fridays

• Paid parental leave

• Generous paid vacation + time off for your birthday

• Paid volunteer time

• Focus on your career growth:

  • Development Dollars

  • Leadership development

  • Access to thousands of on-demand e-learnings

• Travel Discounts

• Employee Resource Groups

There are a variety of factors that go into determining a salary range, including but not limited to external market benchmark data, geographic location, and years of experience sought/required. The range for this remote US based role is $80,000 - 95,000.00.

We offer a competitive base salary and benefits including: health benefits; flexible spending account; retirement benefits; life insurance; paid time off (including PTO, paid sick leave, medical leave, bereavement leave, floating holidays and paid holidays); and parental leave benefits. This role is eligible to be considered for an annual bonus.

Inclusion

At KAYAK, we want everyone to have the space to grow, share ideas and do great work. That’s why we’re focused on hiring the best talent from all walks of life and experiences, supporting them well and making sure no one feels like they have to fit a mold to belong here.

Need any adjustments for the interview, application or on the job? No problem - just give us a heads-up. We’ve got you.