Global Payroll & Reward Specialist

About us:

Luno is the crypto investment app you can rely on, enabling you to buy, store and explore crypto securely. We’re committed to putting the power of cryptocurrency in everyone's hands, sensibly and responsibly. Since 2013, we’ve helped millions of people around the world invest safely in crypto. We do this by cutting through the hype and supporting customers at every step of the way. All products and cryptocurrencies on our platform must first meet stringent legal, risk and technical security standards.Transparency is key for us. Luno stores all crypto on a 1:1 basis and we have rigorous processes in place so you can be confident your investment is secure. We're available in multiple markets around the world and we work closely with regulators and other key stakeholders to ensure compliance with local laws, as we believe this is the best way to help everyone, everywhere, invest safely.

About the team: 

The People Operations Team forms part of the greater Global People Team within Luno. We are a lean, dynamic, and impactful team always striving to set the standard within our fields of responsibility and expertise. Energised when faced with challenges, we ensure solutions are brainstormed collaboratively and delivered within deadlines, always having the people experience top of mind. We are humble but proud of the impact we have. This role reports directly to the Head of People Operations and Talent.  

The role in a nutshell:

As the Global Payroll & Reward Specialist, you will take end to end operational ownership of our global payroll ecosystem, compensation architecture, and total rewards frameworks. You are the operational engine and custodian of calculation precision across all operating entities. You will lead the accuracy of gross to net calculations, variance reconciliations, and regulatory compliance before packages are submitted for approval.

Beyond core payroll delivery, you will lead our compensation review cycles, manage variable pay and operational standby models, elevate and future proof our global reward proposition in a progressive, fast-paced tech environment.

Maintain living Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and runbooks to keep processes continuously audit-ready, actively exploring progressive tech solutions/AI to automate manual touchpoints and optimise system integrations and payments. 

Your mission will be:

Our core focus allocation reflects current operational priorities and may adapt dynamically based on business growth: 60% Global Payroll Operations, 20% Compensation Strategy, and 20% Reward.

- Global Payroll Operations, Governance & Accuracy (60%):

• Multi Country Payroll Delivery: Manage the full monthly payroll cycle across all regions including South East Asia, Africa and Europe.
• Accuracy Custodianship & Reconciliation: Take direct responsibility for calculation integrity, system inputs, and gross-to-net reconciliations prior to sign-off submissions. 
• Finance & Treasury Partnership: Partner with the Finance team to distribute global salary payments in accordance with the payroll calendar, preparing payment schedules, journal files, and invoice packages in local currencies while tracking third-party deliverables. 
• Statutory Compliance & Filings: Guarantee strict compliance with statutory reporting, deductions, and withholdings globally, including SARS (EMP201, EMP501, IT88 garnishees), UIF, and COIDA in South Africa; HMRC (RTI, P30, retrenchment tax rules) in the UK; LHDM and annual CPA22/CP22 tax clearances in Malaysia; and BPJS Health/Social Security alongside PIT obligations in Indonesia.
• Vendor Governance & Annual SLA Reviews: Maintain operational governance over third-party’s and platform partners, enforcing SLAs, managing monthly input files and leading comprehensive annual third party service reviews.
• Audit Readiness & Continuous Evolution: Maintain living Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and runbooks to keep processes continuously audit-ready, actively exploring progressive tech solutions to automate manual touchpoints and optimise system integrations.
• Global Query Resolution: Serve as the authoritative, empathetic main point of contact for payroll queries. 

- Compensation Strategy, Analytics & Variable Pay (20%):

• Salary Refresh Cycles: Lead the data modeling and operational rollout of the global compensation review, partnering with People Partners and Finance to build merit matrices and calculate currency-specific budget impacts.
• Salary Architecture & Benchmarking: Maintain structured salary bands, leveling frameworks, and compa-ratio dashboards against tech industry market benchmarks to safeguard internal equity and external competitiveness.
• Variable Pay & Allowances: Manage and calculate company incentive schemes, discretionary bonuses, and operational standby policies.
• Workforce Spend Analytics: Deliver regular management reports detailing total workforce costs, fixed vs. variable pay splits, and currency risk exposure to inform headcount and financial forecasting.

- Reward Strategy (20%):

• Market Parity & Harmonisation: Benchmark regional benefit packages against top-tier tech standards to drive equitable total reward value across direct entities and EOR arrangements.
• Global Benefits Management: Oversee provider administration, enrollments, and monthly premium reconciliations for company schemes.
• Reward Principles & Compliance: Own the company’s reward principles and pay philosophy as well as ensuring that the company is compliant with market developments such as pay transparency.

A little about you:

• Experience & Scope: 7+ years of specialised Payroll, Compensation and Reward experience managing complex, multi-country payroll and reward operations for a distributed workforce of 400+ employees.
• Regional Jurisdictional Expertise: Demonstrated hands-on operational knowledge of statutory payroll, tax compliance, and benefit regulations in South Africa and the United Kingdom, with direct exposure to Southeast Asian markets (Malaysia and/or Indonesia) and global Employer of Record (EOR) models.
• Project Management: 3+ years of project management experience leading system implementations, process overhauls, or annual compensation and audit initiatives.
• Uncompromising Accuracy: High accountability and personal pride in calculation precision, with an instinct for reconciliation integrity and catching variances before final review.
• Analytical Acumen: Highly numerate with advanced spreadsheet skills (Google Sheets / Microsoft Excel), including complex nested formulas, pivot tables, gross-to-net reconciliations, and multi-currency modeling.
• Self-Starter & Progressive Mindset: Comfortable navigating changes in an evolving tech environment, energised by automation, and proactive in researching cross-border employment tax and labour codes without waiting for direction.
• Collaborative Communicator: People first approach with excellent communication skills, able to explain complex payroll, pension, and reward concepts clearly to global teams and senior stakeholders.
• Education & Credentials: A tertiary qualification in Finance, Accountancy, Commerce, Human Resources, or equivalent practical experience. Industry certifications (e.g., CIPP, GRP, CCP, or regional payroll accreditations) are a distinct plus.

Life at Luno:

• Remote but reachable work policy gives you the freedom to choose between working from home or the office.
• Plus the option to buy and sell up to 5 days leave
• Improve body and mind, with excellent private medical insurance
• Retirement fund benefit helping you build the financial foundation you need to enjoy your future to the fullest.
• Access to Learnably and our additional learning platforms for your personal and professional development
• 6 months primary care-giver leave
• Paw-ternity leave for your furry friend
• Annual Inspiration Day in addition to your annual leave which increases based on your length of service! 
• A collaborative, friendly work community, with regular social events and virtual cooking, dancing, drawing and house planting classes hosted by our Lunauts
• Free lunch and snacks
• 0 fees up to a certain amount with Luno from the day you start.*

*Offer only available on Luno Instant Buy, not Luno Exchange.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.