Payroll - Subject Matter Expert

Job Title:

Location:

Payroll Subject Matter Expert (SME)

This role requires expertise in payroll processes, regulatory requirements, and systems. Provide guidance to the payroll team, lead complex payroll problem-solving, and drive continuous process improvements.

Objectives of this Role

• Lead and oversee end-to-end payroll operations globally, ensuring accurate salary calculations, deductions, and statutory benefits administration (Social Contributions, insurance, etc.).
• Act as a payroll knowledge center, ensuring compliance with local labor laws, tax regulations, and statutory reporting requirements across multiple geographies.
• Drive payroll audits, risk assessments, and control mechanisms to ensure process integrity and compliance.
• Partner with HR, Finance, and IT to integrate payroll data seamlessly across systems.
• Provide expert-level guidance on complex cases such as inhouse payrolling, tax equalization, and regulatory changes.
• Own payroll process improvements and standardization initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage

  global payroll cycles

  with complete accountability for accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
• Define, implement, and maintain

  payroll policies, frameworks, and SOPs

  .
• Perform payroll reconciliations, validate payroll data, and oversee exception handling.
• Partner with HR, Finance, and external vendors to address complex payroll issues.
• Ensure payroll compliance across multiple countries; oversee statutory filings, tax compliance, and audits.
• Develop and publish

  dashboard reports, compliance metrics, and analytics

  for leadership review.
• Handle escalations and serve as the final point of resolution for payroll discrepancies.
• Mentor and train payroll team members, building capability and ensuring adherence to best practices.
• Keeping up payroll legislation, tax laws, and system upgrades to proactively implement necessary changes.
• Support transformation projects, such as payroll automation, migration, or integration with ERP platforms.
• Ensuring right journal posting in accounting software (Zoho books, Xero & SAP S4 HANA)

Qualifications & Skills Required

• Experience:

  Minimum 5–7 years in payroll operations with at least 2–3 years in a specialist/SME role, preferably handling multi-country payroll.

• Education:

  MBA/M.Com/BBA/B.Com or equivalent in Finance/HR/Accounting.

• Technical Skills:

• Advanced MS Excel, PowerPoint, and data analysis skills.
• Expertise in Xero, Zoho Books, SAP S4 HANA, payroll systems.

• Knowledge:

• Strong understanding of payroll accounting, taxation, and statutory compliance.
• Hands-on experience with global payroll.

• Core Skills:

• Analytical and problem-solving ability with keen attention to detail.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to lead, mentor, and guide payroll teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to confidentiality, accuracy, and process excellence.