Payroll Manager

Key Accountabilities

End-to-End Payroll Delivery & Operational Excellence

• Own complete payroll lifecycle including inputs, validation, processing, approvals, and reconciliation
• Ensure accuracy and adherence to payroll timelines
• Handle complex payroll scenarios such as expatriate and variable pay
• Review payroll journals and ensure accurate financial postings
• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing for Australia (fortnightly & monthly) and New Zealand payroll cycles
• Ensure accuracy of data flows between Time & Attendance, payroll, and finance systems
• Manage payroll reconciliations including month-end and year-end processing
• Handle complex payroll calculations including redundancies, bonuses, incentives, and adjustments
• Act as escalation point for complex payroll queries and issue resolution

2. Statutory Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with tax, superannuation, CPF, EPF, and other statutory regulations
• Lead audits and ensure strong governance and controls
• Mitigate payroll risks and maintain audit documentation
• Monitor and interpret regulatory changes, ensuring timely implementation
• Maintain audit trails, documentation, and process transparency
• Manage monthly PAYG withholding, payroll tax submissions, and reconciliations in line with ATO deadlines
• Lead annual reconciliation and submission of Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) returns
• Oversee workers compensation annual reconciliation and submission to state governing bodies
• Ensure compliance with ATO (Australia) and IRD (New Zealand) regulations, acting as the primary contact for queries and audits
• Ensure payroll compliance with applicable legislation including:
• Fair Work Act, National Employment Standards
• Enterprise Agreements / Collective Agreements
• Employment New Zealand requirements

3. Superannuation & KiwiSaver

• Manage all Superannuation payments, including STP Phase 2 and emerging Payday Super requirements
• Oversee KiwiSaver contributions ensuring compliance with New Zealand regulations
• Ensure timely and accurate processing of all third-party payments including union fees and garnishees

4. Financial Control & Reconciliation

• Reconcile payroll data across payroll, HRIS, and finance systems
• Own payroll-related General Ledger (GL) reconciliations and clearing accounts
• Manage payroll journals between systems (e.g., Oracle and payroll systems), including issue resolution
• Investigate and resolve reconciliation discrepancies and GL errors
• Serve as key point of contact for Finance on payroll matters

5. Systems, Process & Transformation

• Act as SME for payroll systems (e.g., Definitiv payroll & rostering tool)
• Manage system updates to reflect legislative, award, policy, and contractual changes
• Lead payroll and rostering system enhancements and transformation initiatives
• Collaborate with vendors and internal teams to improve payroll processes and automation

6. Projects & Change Management

• Lead and deliver payroll and rostering-related projects and change initiatives
• Support implementation of new payroll, compliance, or HR technology initiatives

7. Stakeholder Management

• Partner closely with ANZ Operations, HR, and Finance teams
• Provide payroll insights, reporting, and advisory to senior stakeholders
• Liaise with external bodies including ATO, IRD, auditors, and regulatory authorities

8. Audit, Reporting & Governance

• Lead all internal and external payroll audits
• Ensure robust payroll controls, compliance, and documentation
• Deliver year-end reporting and statutory filings
• Provide accurate and timely payroll reporting

9. Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead, coach, and develop Payroll team in Mumbai
• Build capability across payroll operations, compliance, and systems
• Drive a high-performance, controls-focused payroll culture

Key Interfaces

• Internal: HR, Finance, Operations, Payroll Team, Leadership
• External: ATO, IRD, auditors, payroll vendors, superannuation providers, workers compensation bodies

Role Requirements

Experience

• 8–12+ years payroll experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role managing ANZ & Asia payroll
• Deep expertise in Australian and New Zealand payroll legislation and compliance
• Proven experience managing statutory reporting (PAYG, Payroll Tax, FBT, Superannuation, KiwiSaver)
• Experience managing payroll audits and regulatory engagement
• Strong experience in payroll system management and transformation

Technical Skills

• Strong experience with payroll, finance and HRIS systems (e.g., Definitiv, Oracle, Workday or similar)
• Exposure to HRIS systems (Workday preferred but not mandatory)
• Strong financial reconciliation and GL accounting knowledge
• Experience handling complex payroll environments

Core Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• High attention to detail and compliance orientation
• Ability to manage deadlines in a high-volume environment
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Leadership capability with experience coaching and mentoring teams.

Additional Attributes

• Results-oriented with strong ownership mindset
• Ability to operate as SME and trusted advisor
• Strong governance and risk management approach

Vendor Governance

• Manage third-party payroll vendors across multiple geographies
• Define and monitor vendor SLAs, KPIs, and service delivery quality
• Conduct governance reviews, service reviews, and escalation management
• Ensure vendor compliance with contractual obligations and regulatory requirements
• Lead vendor transitions, onboarding/offboarding, and RFP processes when required

Stakeholder Management

• Act as the primary interface between Payroll, HR, Finance, Tax, Legal, and IT teams
• Provide insights and advisory on payroll implications of business decisions
• Support compensation and benefits implementation
• Collaborate with Finance for Payroll accounting, accruals, reconciliations, and reporting
• External auditors and consultants
• Manage senior stakeholder expectations and provide regular reporting on Payroll performance, risks, compliance, and metrics

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing payroll team
• Drive performance management and capability building
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Conduct performance management, goal setting, and career development planning
• High attention to detail and problem-solving capability
• Ability to operate in complex, ambiguous, and fast-paced environments
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills
• Continuous improvement mindset with transformation focus

Payroll Transformation

• Drive automation and process improvements
• Support payroll system implementations
• Identify opportunities to reduce manual effort and improve turnaround times
• Improve reporting capabilities and dashboarding for payroll analytics
• Ensure alignment with global payroll operating models and shared services strategy

Relationship Management

Internal: HR, Finance, Tax, Legal, IT, Global Payroll

External: Vendors, auditors, statutory authorities

Communication

• Communicate payroll processes, timelines, and changes clearly to stakeholders
• Simplify complex payroll regulations into actionable business guidance
• Provide periodic dashboards and reports to leadership highlighting:
• Payroll accuracy, compliance, risks, and KPIs
• Handle escalations with professionalism, ensuring timely resolution
• Drive employee awareness on payroll-related matters where needed

General Responsibilities

• Ensure strict confidentiality and data privacy (local data laws)
• Adhere to internal controls, compliance frameworks, and company policies
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence
• Support broader HR transformation and digital initiatives
• Maintain high ethical standards in payroll governance and delivery

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong expertise in multi-country payroll, statutory compliance, payroll systems (SAP, Workday, ADP), stakeholder management, analytical skills, leadership capabilities, country-specific labor laws, statutory reporting, tax codes, and compliance standards within the APAC region.
• Advanced Excel skills are essential
• Experience with major payroll systems SAP, Workday, ADP, Ramco, or equivalent will be an added advantage.