JOB SUMMARY

Support and manage regional payroll operations across Southeast Asia, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing in accordance with company policies, statutory regulations, and internal controls.

This role plays a key part in payroll migration, regional standardization, and GBS transformation, working closely with HR, Finance, and cross-country stakeholders.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Recruitment and Retention:

Recruit, interview and support hiring of Payroll personnel across assigned scope
Communicate criteria to recruiters for Payroll position candidates
Coach Payroll staff in the interviewing/hiring process
Monitor team member turnover; identify improvement areas and implement actions

Employee and Team Development:

Identify individual and team strengths and development needs on an ongoing basis
Create and/or validate training curriculum in payroll operations and controls
Coach and mentor Payroll staff to deliver excellence across multiple countries
Support succession planning for Payroll function, including cross-country coverage

Performance Management:

Establish clear measurable goals and objectives aligned to payroll operations and migration timelines
Drive team performance against operational metrics (accuracy, timeliness, compliance)
Own the capacity planning and resource allocation for the team, establishing cross-training across country boundaries to eliminate operational single-point-failure risks
Motivate and guide team to achieve continuous improvement
Drive continuous process optimization, identifying manual workarounds or country-specific spreadsheet dependencies and converting them into automated SAP workflows

Communication:

Provide regular communication forum for exchange of ideas and updates
Organize verbal and written communication clearly and professionally
Act as key point of contact for payroll matters across Southeast Asia
Adapt communication style to different stakeholders (HR, Finance, employees, vendors)

Business Strategy and Direction:

Understand GBS and regional payroll strategic direction
Support development and execution of payroll strategy aligned to Southeast Asia expansion
Contribute to payroll migration activities and regional operating model
Provide updates to management on payroll operations, migration progress, and risks

Cost Management:

Identify opportunities to reduce payroll processing cost through process improvements
Drive efficiency through elimination of non-value-added activities
Monitor workload distribution and optimize resource utilization
Provide input on cost trends and improvement initiatives

Forecast Development and Accuracy:

Support preparation of payroll-related forecasts and headcount cost planning
Perform trend analysis comparing forecast vs actual
Provide insights on payroll cost drivers and variances

Technical Management Responsibilities:

Oversee payroll processing across multiple countries, ensuring accuracy and compliance
Oversee the operational processing pipeline for regional expansions
Ensure 100% compliance with all local laws, statutory contribution caps, and tax rules across Southeast Asia
Support payroll migration activities
Ensure proper maintenance of payroll records, including salaries, leave, taxes, and statutory deductions
Review payroll outputs, journal entries, and reconciliation of payroll accounts
Collaborate with HR, Finance, and HRIT to ensure data accuracy and system integration
Respond to employee and management payroll inquiries in a timely and professional manner
Identify payroll errors, perform root cause analysis, and implement corrective actions
Ensure adherence to internal controls
Drive continuous improvement through trend analysis, metrics, and process reviews
Maintain and standardize SOPs and work instructions
Share best practices across regions and support GBS standardization initiatives
Comply with company policies, including security and data privacy requirements
May perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS

Advanced PC skills, including strong proficiency in Excel and payroll reporting tools
Experience with payroll systems (SAP, Workday, ADP or similar systems)
Strong knowledge of payroll processes, statutory requirements, and compliance standards (Malaysia, Vietnam, India, Singapore is preferred)
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret business reports, regulatory requirements, and procedures
Ability to prepare reports, business correspondence, and process documentation
Ability to solve practical problems and manage multiple priorities across countries and deadlines

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Degree in Accounting, Finance, HR, or related field
8 years of progressive experience strictly with high-volume payroll operations
Experience supporting payroll audit, compliance, and control processes
Minimum 4-5 years of direct people management experience leading payroll processing teams within a structured Global Business Services (GBS) or Shared Service hub

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

Strong analytical and problem-solving capability
High attention to detail and accuracy
Ability to manage multiple countries, timelines, and stakeholders
Effective communication with cross-functional teams and leadership
Strong understanding of payroll controls, governance, and compliance framework

Assistant Payroll Manager