Application Specialist People Systems

Application Specialist People Systems

About Us: At Booking.com, data drives our decisions. Technology is at our core. And innovation is everywhere. But our company is more than datasets, lines of code or A/B tests. We’re the thrill of the first night in a new place. The excitement of the next morning. The friends you encounter. The journeys you take. The sights you see. And the memories you make. Through our products, partners and people, we make it easier for everyone to experience the world.

Role Description:

The Application Specialist SAP - HR S4HANA plays a key role in the People Tech team, working on multiple projects and configuration changes for SAP S4HANA. The role focuses on designing, implementing, and maintaining new functionalities, ensuring a seamless user experience, a scalable design, and compliance with legal requirements and best practices. Additionally, the specialist will optimize system performance and proactively introduce improvements based on new feature releases.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead enhancements and support for SAP S4HANA in Personnel Administration, Time Management, and Payroll, ensuring an efficient and compliant HR system.
• Serve as the technical expert for stakeholders, including People Services, Financial Systems, and Risk teams, providing system solutions.
• Review project designs, assess impact, and take ownership of solutions, ensuring no cross-functional conflicts.
• Collaborate with Financial Systems, IT Services, Security & Privacy, and technology partners to implement and optimize solutions.
• Monitor system updates and releases, ensuring seamless deployment, including SAP support packages and release testing.
• Take end-to-end ownership of functional requirement solutions, covering design, architecture, and user experience.
• Perform unit testing, regression testing, and support UAT for both projects and system support.
• Conduct root cause analysis for incidents and ensure long-term, scalable fixes to prevent recurring system issues.
• Ensure payroll processes are error-free and comply with legal and tax requirements.
• Execute compliance tasks such as SOX ITGC controls, data privacy, SAP HR change management, and IT audits.
• Maintain up-to-date documentation of system configurations and contribute to business process manuals.
• Work with Senior Application Specialists to ensure scalable solutions that align with SAP S4HANA best practices.

Support and collaborate with internal teams while upholding Booking.com’s core values

Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of experience working with SAP S4HANA in Personnel Administration, Time Management, and Payroll.
• Expertise in Payroll processes, including schemas, PCRs, wage types, tax calculations (Netherlands expertise preferred).
• Experience with SAP HR Reporting tools, including SAP Ad Hoc Queries and HR Analytics.
• Basic understanding of SAP HR system integration with Workday, Payroll, Benefits, and SAP Finance.
• Strong problem-solving skills with hands-on experience in SAP Notes, system debugging, and root cause analysis.
• Familiarity with GDPR, SOX compliance, and IT security standards. SAP S4HANA Payroll certification is a plus.

Benefits & Perks - Global Impact, Personal Relevance:

Booking.com’s Total Rewards Philosophy is not only about compensation but also about benefits. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, as well unique-to-Booking.com benefits which include:

• Annual paid time off and generous paid leave scheme including: parent, grandparent, bereavement, and care leave
• Hybrid working including flexible working arrangements, and up to 20 days per year working from abroad (home country)
• Industry leading product discounts - up to 1400 per year - for yourself, including automatic Genius Level 3 status and Booking.com wallet credit

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at Booking.com:

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion have been a core part of our company culture since day one. This ongoing journey starts with our very own employees, who represent over 140 nationalities and a wide range of ethnic and social backgrounds, genders and sexual orientations.

“At Booking.com, the diversity of our people doesn’t just build an outstanding workplace, it also creates a better and more inclusive travel experience for everyone. Inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. It’s a place where you can make your mark and have a real impact in travel and tech.” Paulo Pisano, Chief People Officer

We ensure that colleagues with disabilities are provided the adjustments and tools they need to participate in the job application and interview process, to perform crucial job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

Booking.com is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We strive to move well beyond traditional equal opportunity and work to create an environment that allows everyone to thrive.

Pre-Employment Screening

If your application is successful, your personal data may be used for a pre-employment screening check by a third party as permitted by applicable law. Depending on the vacancy and applicable law, a pre-employment screening may include employment history, education and other information (such as media information) that may be necessary for determining your qualifications and suitability for the position.