Payroll Specialist - HR Operations

Job Description

It’s not just about your career or job title… It’s about who you are and the impact you will make on the world. Because whether it’s for each other or our customers, we put People First. When our people come together, we Expand the Possible and continuously look for ways to improve what we create and how we do it. If you are constantly striving to grow, you’re in good company. We are revolutionizing the way the world moves for future generations, and we want someone who is ready to move with us.

Who are we?

Wabtec Corporation is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions, and value-added services for freight and transit rail as well as the mining, marine, and industrial markets. Drawing on nearly four centuries of collective experience across Wabtec, GE Transportation, and Faiveley Transport, the company has grown to become One Wabtec, with unmatched digital expertise, technological innovation, and world-class manufacturing and services, enabling the digital-rail-and-transit ecosystems.

Wabtec is focused on performance that drives progress and unlocks our customers’ potential by delivering innovative and lasting transportation solutions that move and improve the world. We are lifelong learners obsessed with making things better to drive exceptional results. Wabtec has approximately 27K employees in facilities throughout the world. Visit our website to learn more!

Who will you be working with?

The responsibility of HR Operations India & APAC is to oversee the administrative and transactional elements of human resources, ensuring that HR processes operate smoothly and align with organizational objectives. This encompasses the management of employee data, payroll, benefits administration (including Car Lease and Medical Insurance), compliance, and support of data quality, onboarding, offboarding, retirals and employee inquiries. In essence, it involves managing the daily operations that ensure the HR department functions effectively.

The team collaborates closely with HR Business Partners to foster positive employee relations by implementing effective, efficient, and reliable HR strategies and practices that align with the Global HR Operation model, ensuring adherence to processes and policies while maintaining compliance with employment laws.

Additionally, the team works in partnership with other Centers of Expertise (such as Talent Acquisition, HRIS, HRDP, Compensation & Benefits, and Legal) to design and implement HR business processes.

How will you make a difference?

The Payroll Specialist, HR Operations is a key member of the HR Shared Services team, responsible for delivering accurate, compliant, and timely payroll services across India and designated APAC countries. As a trusted payroll subject matter expert, you will ensure seamless payroll execution, exceptional employee experience, and operational excellence by partnering closely with HR, Finance, employees, and external payroll providers.

In this role, you will:

• Manage complex payroll and employee lifecycle transactions across India and APAC. Preferably co
• Ensure payroll accuracy, compliance, and adherence to local statutory requirements.
• Act as an escalation point for payroll-related inquiries, resolving issues and driving root-cause solutions.
• Partner with HR teams and payroll vendors to meet service delivery expectations and SLA commitments.
• Conduct payroll audits, data integrity reviews, and compliance checks to mitigate risks.
• Develop payroll metrics and reporting to support regional and global HR leadership.
• Lead vendor governance activities, including periodic service reviews and performance monitoring.
• Support process improvements, system enhancements, payroll transitions, M&A activities, and organizational changes.
• Maintain process documentation, SOPs, and knowledge resources to ensure consistency and scalability.
• Support will be provided to cross-functional workstreams in the region, including Acquisitions, Reorganizations, Legal Entity Changes, and Mergers and Acquisitions.
• It is essential to ensure that processes are thoroughly documented, creating and maintaining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and process maps as necessary.
• Drive payroll process optimization and standardization by identifying opportunities to simplify existing payroll workflows, and implement global payroll best practices to enhance accuracy, compliance, and employee experience.
• Partner with payroll vendors, HR, Finance, and stakeholders to continuously improve payroll delivery, leverage automation where appropriate, and establish scalable processes that support operational excellence.

What We Want to Know About You

• Bachelor's / Master degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related field
• 9–10 years of hands-on payroll experience across India and APAC and/or multiple country payrolls, including payroll processing, compliance, taxation, statutory requirements and Shared Service organization supporting multi-country operations.
• Strong expertise in end-to-end payroll operations, payroll governance, and vendor management across multiple countries. Experience supporting multi-country payrolls in a regional or global environment is highly preferred.
• Proven experience supporting payroll transformation initiatives, payroll implementations, mergers and acquisitions, and payroll transition projects.
• Deep understanding of payroll systems, interfaces, controls, reconciliations, and payroll process design.
• Strong working knowledge of payroll and HR technology platforms such as ADP, RAMCO, Workday, Kronos/UKG, PwC payroll solutions, or similar systems.
• Experience working with case management and ticketing platforms such as ServiceNow or equivalent.
• Strong analytical and reporting skills with the ability to interpret payroll data, identify trends, and provide actionable insights.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively across HR, Finance, Legal, Tax, and external vendor teams in a complex global environment.

Key Competencies

• Customer Excellence: Strong customer-focused mindset with the ability to build trusted relationships and deliver exceptional employee and stakeholder experiences.
• Communication & Influence: Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills with the ability to communicate effectively across all organizational levels.
• Payroll & Process Expertise: Strong understanding of payroll operations, controls, compliance requirements, and HR operational processes. Demonstrate strong multi-country payroll expertise, with a thorough understanding of local employment legislation, statutory obligations, and regulatory requirements across the region, ensuring ongoing compliance and effective risk management.
• Continuous Improvement: Passion for process optimization, standardization, automation, and operational excellence.
• Analytical Thinking: Ability to analyze complex data, identify root causes, develop solutions, and make informed, quality decisions in ambiguous situations.
• Problem Solving: Strong troubleshooting skills with the ability to manage escalations, resolve issues effectively, and drive sustainable solutions.

What will your typical day look like?

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing for India and support payroll operations across APAC countries in partnership with payroll service providers.
• Ensure payroll transactions are processed accurately, timely, and in compliance with local statutory, tax, labor, and regulatory requirements.
• Review payroll inputs, validate payroll outputs, reconcile payroll data, and resolve discrepancies before payroll finalization.
• Coordinate with payroll vendors, Finance, HR, and employees to address payroll-related queries and escalations.
• Support statutory filings, annual tax processes, audits, and compliance reporting requirements across the region.

• Ensure payroll compliance is maintained & queries handled within TAT
• Participate in global enterprise initiatives and collaborate with the broader global team to contribute to calls, discussions, and projects, thereby enhancing global process knowledge and visibility 
• Collaborate closely with the payroll auditor to identify discrepancies and implement corrective actions with payroll team, ensuring 100% tax compliance with no adverse effects on employees
• Assist the Regional HR Operations Leader with any extended goals or ad hoc requests
• Keep guidelines, SOP, FAQs, and communications current for the processes under your management
• Handle requests via ticketing system and queue management

Our Commitment to Embrace Diversity:

Wabtec is a global company that invests not just in our products, but also our people by embracing diversity and inclusion. We care about our relationships with our employees and take pride in celebrating the variety of experiences, expertise, and backgrounds that bring us together. At Wabtec, we aspire to create a place where we all belong and where diversity is welcomed and appreciated.   

To fulfill that commitment, we rely on a culture of leadership, diversity, and inclusion. We aim to employ the world’s brightest minds to help us create a limitless source of ideas and opportunities. We have created a space where everyone is given the opportunity to contribute based on their individual experiences and perspectives and recognize that these differences and diverse perspectives make us better.

We believe in hiring talented people of varied backgrounds, experiences, and styles… People like you! Wabtec Corporation is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or expression, or protected Veteran status. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

Qualifications

Additional Information

What could you accomplish in a place that puts People First?

At Wabtec, it’s not just about a job - it’s about the impact you make. When our people come together, we’re Expanding the Possible by continuously improving what we do and how we do it - for our clients and each other.

If you’re ready to revolutionize how the world moves for future generations, Wabtec is the place for you.
 

Who are we?

Wabtec is a leading global provider of equipment, systems, digital solutions, and value-added services for the freight and transit rail sectors. Drawing on more than 150 years of experience, we are leading the way in safety, efficiency, reliability, innovation, and productivity. Whether it’s freight, transit, ports, logistics, mining, industrial, or marine, our expertise, technologies, and people together – are accelerating the future of transportation. With roots that date back to George Westinghouse, Thomas Edison, and Louis Faiveley, Wabtec has always built technologies and implemented solutions for a variety of sectors that are critical to meeting the needs of customers and governments alike.

Our global team of about 30,000 employees worldwide delivers performance that moves the world forward. We’re lifelong learners, obsessed with better. Learn more at www.WabtecCorp.com.

Culture powers us and the possibilities.

We believe the best ideas come from a mix of experiences and backgrounds. At Wabtec, we strive every day to create a place where everyone belongs. We’re building a culture where leadership, inclusion and your unique perspective fuel progress.

We’re proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome talent of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including race, gender, age, disability, veteran status and more.

Need accommodation? Just let us know - we’ve got you.