Payroll Specialist (Maternity Cover)

Key responsibilities

Process end-to-end payroll across several APMEA countries, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and full compliance with local laws and internal policies.
Collate and verify payroll inputs such as onboarding/offboarding details, bonuses, overtime, and leave adjustments.
Ensure all statutory contributions and deductions (e.g., EPF, SOCSO, CPF, GOSI, Zakat) are processed accurately and submitted on time.
Generate and distribute monthly payroll reports to HR, Finance, and key stakeholders, supporting reconciliation and audit needs.
Respond to employee payroll queries via ServiceNow and other channels, providing timely and accurate resolutions with cultural sensitivity.
Support employees in accessing and navigating payroll self-service systems and assist with payslip distribution where needed.
Maintain compliance with local tax, legal, and audit requirements by adhering to standardized procedures and supporting audits with proper documentation.
Support internal and external audits by preparing documentation, validating payroll data, and responding to audit queries with accuracy and timeliness.
Contribute to payroll process improvements, identifying opportunities for increased efficiency or automation.
Participate in payroll system testing and data validation during system upgrades, vendor transitions, or integrations (e.g., SAP SuccessFactors, ADP).
Create and update regional payroll guides, FAQs, and orientation materials to support employee understanding.
Partner with regional and global stakeholders to align payroll practices with broader business and compliance objectives, while delivering a seamless and employee-centric payroll experience.
Collaborate closely with HR teams, finance partners, and external payroll vendors to ensure a smooth and compliant payroll process.
Qualifications and skills

Preferably a Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Finance, Accounting, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
Preferably a Minimum of 1+ year of payroll experience, ideally within multinational or shared service environments.
Basic understanding of payroll operations, statutory compliance, and reporting requirements in one or more countries within the APMEA (Malaysia) region.
Exposure to multi-country payroll processing and working with payroll vendors or internal payroll teams to ensure accurate and timely payroll delivery.
Familiarity with regional labor laws, tax regulations, and audit requirements relevant to payroll is preferred.
Ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across time zones and diverse cultural environments with internal and external stakeholders.
Proficient in Microsoft Excel, including basic formulas, pivot tables, and data validation for payroll reporting.
Strong attention to detail with good analytical and reporting skills to support payroll accuracy and identify discrepancies.
Awareness of data privacy regulations like GDPR, PDPA, or regional equivalents affecting payroll is beneficial.
Comfortable using cloud-based HR/payroll platforms such as SAP SuccessFactors, ADP, or similar systems.
Good verbal and written communication skills, with a customer service mindset and willingness to learn and improve continuously.