HR Operations Team Lead - India Payroll

At ABB, we help industries run leaner and cleaner—and every person here makes that happen. You’ll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world.

This Position reports to:

HR Operations Delivery Manager - Payroll

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, and mentor payroll operations team members, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous learning. Set performance expectations, conduct performance reviews, and identify development opportunities for team members.
• Plan and allocate work to optimize team capacity, skills, and project timelines. Build and maintain team engagement, promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing across the payroll function. Represent team interests in HR leadership forums and escalations.
• Should have hands-on payroll processing experience, along with compliance, tax calculations & remittances. Lead end-to-end payroll delivery for India & South Africa cluster, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and 100% compliance with statutory requirements. Oversee payroll reconciliation processes including Cost to Company (CTC) verification, variance analysis, and data validation
• Manage payroll system implementation, maintenance, and optimization to ensure accurate salary disbursements, benefits, taxes, and deductions. Direct compliance with statutory contributions (PF, PT, ESI, LWF, TDS) aligned with local labor laws and income tax regulations. Lead complex HR master data updates with strict adherence to data privacy and service levels. Oversee taxation management including income tax processes for senior management and incentive plans (LTIP, MIP)
• Direct quarterly Hire-to-Retire audits and statutory audits, ensuring findings are tracked and resolved. Establish and monitor internal control mechanisms including 4-eye checks, data protection protocols, and compliance standards. Ensure audit readiness and maintain documentation supporting all payroll processes. Drive updates to payroll procedures aligned with evolving tax laws and labor regulations
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to streamline payroll processes, reduce costs, and enhance internal controls. Champion LEAN methodologies and leverage AI tools for reporting, reconciliation, and process efficiency. Monitor KPIs and process metrics, reporting progress to leadership. Drive automation opportunities and technology adoption within payroll operations
• Work closely with HR Business Partners, Tax Managers, and Trust Management to implement payroll changes and resolve issues. Manage vendor relationships with payroll service providers, ensuring SLA compliance. Provide strategic input on payroll process improvements and transformation initiatives. Communicate payroll policies and updates to employees and business units.

Qualification for the role:

• Minimum 10 years of INDIA payroll operations experience in India, with deep expertise in payroll audits, internal controls, and taxation. Strong proficiency in interpreting payroll data and resolving complex payroll queries
• Expert knowledge of Indian labor laws, multi-location payroll complexities, and statutory compliance. Proven experience with SAP payroll modules, payroll integration, and modern HRIS platforms. Good to have experience in Workday.
• Familiarity with EMEA/APAC payroll processes is advantageous. Demonstrated experience leading and developing teams. Strong coaching and mentoring capabilities. Ability to motivate, inspire, and build high-performing teams. Clear communication and decision-making skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with attention to detail. Ability to work with AI tools for reporting and data analysis. Vendor management and coordination experience. Proven capability in process optimization and change management
• Excellent verbal and written communication in English; local language proficiency a plus. Skilled in managing sensitive, confidential situations with tact and professionalism. Strong interpersonal skills to build relationships across functions and hierarchies. Ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholder group.
• Postgraduate qualification in Business Administration, Human Resources, or related field. Demonstrated passion for HR operations, high commitment to compliance and quality, and results-oriented mindset. Preferred: Payroll certification or professional qualification relevant to payroll management

More about us

In ABB HR our mission is to help ABB stand out when it comes to our people - from leadership, performance and talent management to rewards and career growth. Our goal is to be an employer of choice and deliver excellent experiences throughout the employee lifecycle. We value people from different backgrounds. Apply today for your next career step within ABB and visit www.abb.com to learn about the impact of our solutions across the globe. #MyABBStory It has come to our attention that the name of ABB is being used for asking candidates to make payments for job opportunities (interviews, offers). Please be advised that ABB makes no such requests. All our open positions are made available on our career portal for all fitting the criteria to apply. ABB does not charge any fee whatsoever for recruitment process. Please do not make payments to any individuals / entities in connection to recruitment with ABB, even if is claimed that the money is refundable. ABB is not liable for such transactions. For current open positions you can visit our career website https://global.abb/group/en/careers and apply. Please refer to detailed recruitment fraud caution notice using the link https://global.abb/group/en/careers/how-to-apply/fraud-warning

ABB Group | Helping industries outrun – leaner and cleaner | ABB

Global technology leader in electrification and automation. ABB helps industries run at high performance, while becoming more efficient, productive and sustainable.

Building a cleaner, smarter future takes all kinds of minds: the curious, the courageous, and the creative. We welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences.

Ready to make an impact? Apply today or visit www.abb.com to learn more about the impact of our solutions across the globe.

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