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Working Student - People Operations & Payroll

Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain · People

Working Student – People Operations & Payroll

About the team

At SumUp, our People Operations & Payroll team is the engine behind a smooth and reliable employee experience. We manage the full employee lifecycle — from onboarding and contract changes through to off-boarding — while running accurate and timely payroll for a rapidly growing workforce across Southern Europe.

The Spain team has grown significantly: our payroll population has scaled from around 40 to over 400 employees, and we’re building out the support model to match. You’ll be joining a hands-on, detail-driven team where operational excellence and employee care go hand in hand.

The role

This is a Working Student position created to support the People Operations & Payroll team in Spain during a period of high operational demand. You’ll take ownership of recurring administrative and payroll support tasks, help keep our data accurate and up to date, and make sure employees get timely, clear answers to their queries.

This is a great entry point into HR and payroll operations for someone who is organised, reliable, and eager to build real expertise in a fast-moving environment.

What you’ll do

Payroll support

  •     Collect, check, and consolidate payroll input data to support monthly payroll cycles

  •     Support communication and follow-up with the external payroll provider on routine operational matters

  •     Help maintain accurate payroll records and flag discrepancies in a timely manner

HR administration & employee lifecycle

  •     Prepare, update, and archive employment contracts and employee documentation

  •     Support onboarding, contract changes, and offboarding processes — ensuring data accuracy and completeness at every step

  •     Assist with benefits administration where needed

Employee support & ticket handling

  •     Respond to employee queries via our internal ticketing system and email with clarity and care

  •     Manage open tickets and follow up to ensure nothing falls through the cracks

Data management & process improvement

  •     Maintain and update employee data in HR systems and Excel trackers

  •     Perform regular data checks and prepare simple reports for the team

  •     Help keep internal documentation and process trackers up to date

  •     Identify opportunities to improve recurring workflows and reduce administrative backlog

What we’re looking for

  •     Currently studying or recently graduated in HR, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field

  •     Fluent in Spanish and English — clear written and verbal communication is essential

  •     Strong attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy, especially when handling sensitive employee and payroll data

  •     Solid Excel skills (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, and similar)

  •     Organised and reliable — able to manage recurring tasks and meet regular deadlines

  •     Comfortable handling confidential information with discretion

  •     Quick to learn new tools and systems — we work across multiple HR platforms

  •     Team player with a hands-on, service-oriented attitude

Nice to have

  •     Previous experience or studies in HR, payroll administration, or people operations

  •     Interest in payroll processes, HR systems, or process improvement

  •     Familiarity with AI tools such as ChatGPT

Why SumUp?

🌎  Work with a truly global, multicultural team from our Barcelona office.

🌈  Be part of a workplace that values diversity and inclusion, where every perspective is respected.

❤️  Access our Employee Assistance Programme for mental health guidance and support when you need it.

Job Application Tip

We recognise that candidates feel they need to meet 100% of the job criteria in order to apply for a job. Please note that this is only a guide. If you don’t tick every box, it’s ok too because it means you have room to learn and develop your career at SumUp.