Payroll Specialist

We're seeking a hands-on payroll specialist to manage end-to-end payroll operations and statutory compliance across the APAC region. You will partner with HR, Finance, and external payroll vendors to deliver accurate and timely payroll, ensure audit-ready controls, and continuously improve processes.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own monthly payroll processing across assigned APAC countries and ensure timely deliveries of payroll payments and statutory reporting.
• Manage vendor relationships and SLAs; review gross-to-net reports and exception handling.
• Ensure statutory compliance (tax, social security, benefits, and year-end filings).
• Handle off-cycle runs, terminations, retro adjustments, equity/bonus, and expatriate/NTL cases.
• Reconcile payroll to GL; support audits, SOX, and internal control testing.
• Provide employee payroll support via case management with strong SLA discipline.

What You'll Bring:

• Diploma/Degree in Accounting, Finance, HR, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 5+ years regional payroll experience; strong in at least 3+ of the target countries
• Solid knowledge of APAC statutory frameworks relating to payroll
• Strong analytical skills with high attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to manage multiple countries and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
• Systems: ADP Celergo, ADP Streamline, Workday, or similar; advanced Excel (VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, pivot tables)
• Language: Fluent English; Malay or Mandarin is a strong plus
• Detail-oriented, data-driven, resilient under tight timelines across time zones

Work Setup:

• Location: Kuala Lumpur
• Time Zones: Flexibility to support JP/KR/AU/IN cut-offs and vendor calls
• Contract: 12 months, with possibility of extension based on performance and business needs