Senior Executive – Payroll

Role Overview

The Senior Executive – Payroll is accountable for the seamless and accurate execution of comprehensive payroll processing within designated locations. The role involves ensuring strict adherence to statutory mandates, precise salary computations, alignment with payroll accounting, and efficient resolution of employee payroll inquiries. This position is pivotal in safeguarding payroll data accuracy, preparing for audits, and facilitating effective synergy among HR, Finance, and payroll software systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out the entire payroll processing cycle, including calculating salaries, managing statutory deductions, administering employee benefits, and overseeing salary disbursement.
• Verify payroll data inputs such as attendance records, leave balances, recruitment, terminations, promotions, and salary modifications.
• Maintain compliance with regional labor regulations, tax laws, and statutory submission obligations.
• Conduct payroll reconciliations and meticulously review payroll reports to achieve complete accuracy prior to finalization.
• Produce payroll-related documentation including tax filings, benefit statements, and compliance reports.
• Confirm precise payroll accounting by validating journal entries within systems like SAP S4 HANA, Zoho Books, or Xero.
• Administer payroll operations across various locations or countries, following established control measures and approval processes.
• Identify and rectify payroll discrepancies promptly and systematically.
• Respond to employee queries pertaining to salary, deductions, taxation, and benefits, ensuring excellent service quality.
• Preserve confidentiality and secure all payroll data vigilantly.
• Keep abreast of updates in payroll procedures, Indian tax regulations, and statutory requirements, and apply relevant changes in payroll processing accordingly.

Required Skills and Knowledge

• Proven experience in full-cycle payroll processing.
• In-depth understanding of payroll accounting and compliance with statutory regulations.
• Advanced proficiency with MS Excel functions such as formulas, data validation, and reconciliation.
• Familiarity with SAP FICO or SAP S4 HANA platforms.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the payroll lifecycle from data collection to final payout.
• Awareness of labor laws and tax compliance essentials.
• Competency in payroll report generation and reconciliation techniques.
• Effective employee query management and resolution skills.
• Experience with payroll software systems like ADP, Zoho Payroll, HR Easily, or equivalents.
• Familiarity with accounting software such as Xero, Zoho Books, alongside MS Office suite and HRMS tools.

Decision-Making and Scope

• Validate and recommend adjustments for payroll data pre-approval.
• Detect and escalate any compliance or financial risks to management.
• Implement process enhancements within payroll procedures.
• Operational authority within assigned payroll regions, collaborating closely with HR and Finance departments.

Complexity and Stakeholder Interaction

• Handle routine to moderate complexity in payroll issues, including reconciliation anomalies and statutory discrepancies.
• Maintain strong analytical skills and methodical problem-solving within established policies.
• Coordinate internally with HR, Finance, and Payroll leadership teams.
• Liaise externally with payroll vendors and statutory regulatory bodies as needed.

Educational and Experience Requirements

• Minimum academic qualification: MBA, M.Com, BBA, or B.Com.
• Preferred certifications in Payroll or Accounting.
• At least 3 years of experience in payroll or finance operations with comprehensive hands-on payroll processing expertise.
• Experience in payroll accounting and multi-location or multi-country payroll environments is advantageous.