Financial Analyst - Payroll

Main Duties

The main duties of the role are:

• Payroll administration and processing
• Payroll-related accounts payable and payment processing
• CPF/pension administration and reporting
• Singapore payroll tax compliance and statutory filings

Role Scope

This position is responsible for:

• Payroll administration for approximately 250 employees and partners.
• Supporting payroll and remuneration matters for employees and partners across Singapore and other international offices, including London and the US.
• Managing a complex payroll environment involving multiple remuneration structures, partner compensation arrangements and cross-border tax jurisdictions.
• Ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing, payments and statutory reporting in a highly visible role where service quality, compliance and confidentiality are critical.

Key Responsibilities and Challenges

Payroll Responsibilities

• Prepare and process monthly payroll, including payroll data entry and validation for employees paid through the Singapore office (including those working in other offices where applicable).
• Ensure payroll calculations, processing and payments are completed accurately and on timely manner.
• Work closely with HR to ensure employee records in SAP and payroll systems remain accurate and synchronised.
• Work closely with the London Partnership Team on partner distributions and other remuneration-related matters.
• Liaise with pension agent to resolve pension-related queries and related administrative issues.
• Liaise with the Regional Tax Team and external tax agents on payroll and employment tax matters.
• Coordinate with Singapore assignees to ensure required information and supporting documents are submitted on a timely basis.
• Prepare and coordinate statutory payroll-related filings, including CPF submissions, IR8A, IR21, IR8S, DTA claim forms and other required employer reporting.
• Gather payroll and assignment data to ensure employee/assignees income and benefits are correctly identified and reflected in employer tax filings, or provided to the external tax agent for the preparation of relevant tax filings.
• Communicate with overseas offices on payroll-related matters and cross-office payroll transactions.

Accounting Responsibilities

• Process payroll related accounts payable transactions including data entry and banking transactions.
• Process payments relating to payroll, pension contributions, school fees, recruitment fees and other payroll related transactions.
• Ensure compliance with firm and office policies relating to vendor payments and employee reimbursements, resolving issues where required.
• Prepare bank reconciliations and investigate outstanding items.
• Prepare month-end and year-end journal entries.
• Assist with balance sheet reconciliations and audit schedules
• Assist in the preparation of monthly management reports/statements for the office.
• Maintain accurate records of partners information for accounting purposes.
• Support the timely preparation of statutory filings, including GST returns, corporate tax filings and government statistical surveys.
• Provide ad hoc financial analysis and accounting support as required.
• Support other members of the Finance team as required.

Characteristics, Skills & Experience Required

Personal Attributes

• Highly diligent with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Customer-focused with a proactive and service-oriented approach.
• Flexible and able to manage changing priorities and deadlines.
• High level of integrity and discretion when handling confidential and sensitive information.

Education and Qualifications

• Diploma in Accounting, or a related major.

Languages

• Strong written and spoken English.

Practical Experience

• Experience in payroll processing, CPF/pension administration and payroll tax reporting within a multinational environment.
• Experience with expatriate payroll and employment tax matters would be advantageous.
• SAP experience is desirable but not essential.
• Experience working in a law firm or professional services environment would be an advantage.

Technical Skills

• Solid Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience with payroll systems such as EasyPay would be advantageous.

Commercial and Technical Knowledge

• Good understanding of Singapore CPF regulations and related statutory requirements.
• Good knowledge of Singapore payroll tax compliance and reporting obligations.
• Understanding of employment tax concepts, employee benefits and mobility-related payroll matters.
• Ability to interpret and apply payroll legislation and regulatory requirements accurately.

Technical Skills:

Accounting Reconciliation, Corporate Financial Reporting, Data Management, Data Verification, Document Management, Financial Controlling, Financial Management System (FMS), Financial Risk Management (FRM), General Ledger (GL), Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Records Management

This list of duties and responsibilities above is not exhaustive.  It is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for, the performance of this job. As such, the role may also include the undertaking of additional tasks as required.