Senior Payroll Specialist for MEA

About the Company

Responsibilities

• ● Payroll Management
• ● Manage and coordinate end-to-end payroll review and processing activities across the MEA region and Gulf countries, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and timely delivery.
• ● Process, review, and validate payroll changes including compensation updates, promotions, new hires, leavers, deductions, one-time payments, allowances, statutory deductions, and tax-related payroll inputs.
• ● Calculate and process retroactive payments related to promotions and other payroll adjustments.
• ● Calculate and validate regional allowances, recurring payments, and country-specific payroll components in line with local requirements and company policy.
• ● Review and validate employee deductions, benefits-related deductions, and other country-specific payroll adjustments.
• ● Review and validate both employee and company pension fund contributions.
• ● Validate payroll input files for non-system, off-cycle, or late payroll inputs after cut-off, including overtime, sick leave adjustments, fleet-related deductions, installment deductions, leaver payments, and exceptional payments.
• ● Ensure payroll data, employee master data, and compensation changes are accurately reflected in Workday, payroll systems, and vendor files before payroll finalization.
• ● Manage payroll upload requests and mass payment files for bonuses, incentives, allowances, and other one-time payroll transactions.
• ● Perform payroll controls, reconciliations, variance checks, and validation reviews to ensure payroll accuracy, completeness, compliance, and audit readiness.
• ● Support payroll audits, statutory inspections, vendor reviews, payroll compliance checks, and documentation requests across the region.
• ● Track payroll issues, investigate root causes, coordinate corrective actions, and ensure timely follow-up through closure.
• ● Coordinate with local payroll vendors and internal stakeholders to confirm payroll calendars, cut-offs, funding timelines, statutory submissions, and payment approvals.
• ● Payroll, Compensation, and Benefits Support
• ● Support annual compensation and merit review activities by validating payroll impacts, qualified earnings, retroactive adjustments, and payroll readiness.
• ● Support promotion and compensation cycles by calculating payroll impacts, validating effective dates, reviewing retroactive payments, and ensuring accurate payroll processing.
• ● Review payroll treatment for allowances, benefits, and employee entitlements, ensuring alignment with country rules and company policy.
• ● Coordinate with benefit owners and relevant internal teams to validate payroll-impacting changes before payroll closure.
• ● Administer payroll-related benefits and vendor processes, including pension or savings plan deductions, employer contributions, and related payment coordination where applicable.

Requirements

• ● Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• ● Several years of experience in payroll administration, regional payroll operations, payroll governance, or a related role.
• ● Strong experience managing payroll operations across MEA, including payroll inputs, controls, vendor coordination, and statutory payroll requirements.
• ● Good understanding of payroll controls, statutory deductions, tax, social insurance, pension or savings plans, and regional payroll compliance requirements.
• ● Strong knowledge of regional payroll processing, payroll controls, statutory deductions, and payroll compliance
• ● High attention to detail and accuracy
• ● Strong analytical and numerical skills
• ● Ability to manage confidential and sensitive employee data
• ● Strong communication and stakeholder management skills
• ● Ability to work under pressure and meet strict deadlines
• ● Problem-solving and root-cause analysis capability
• ● Strong organizational and coordination skills
• ● Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and HR/payroll systems Key Relationships The role works closely with employees, managers, HR Business Partners, Finance teams, payroll vendors, benefits vendors, auditors, tax and social insurance contacts, and other external service providers across the MEA region and Gulf countries. Success Measures: Success in this role is measured by:
• ● Accurate and timely payroll delivery
• ● Compliance with internal controls and statutory requirements
• ● Strong payroll governance across MEA and Gulf countries
• ● High-quality employee and stakeholder support
• ● Timely resolution of payroll queries, payroll corrections, and vendor follow-ups
• ● Accurate maintenance of payroll data, employee master data, and payroll documentation
• ● Effective coordination with vendors and internal teams