Process Lead - Payroll Operations

Location: Bangalore
Department: Human Resources

Job Description

About the Function:

Global Business Operations keeps our business moving, connecting markets, streamlining processes and keeping everything running smoothly at scale.

About the Team:

The Process Lead is responsible for leading payroll operations across assigned EMEA markets, ensuring payroll services delivered through outsourced payroll providers are accurate, timely, compliant, and provide an exceptional employee experience.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Operations

• Lead end-to-end payroll operations for assigned EMEA payrolls.
• Coordinate payroll activities with outsourced payroll providers.
• Ensure payroll calendars and critical breakthroughs are delivered on time.
• Manage payroll readiness activities throughout the payroll cycle.
• Support off-cycle and ad hoc payroll processing where required.

Payroll Governance & Quality Assurance

• Review payroll inputs and payroll outputs before payroll sign-off.
• Perform second-level validation of payroll reconciliations and variance reports.
• Review high-risk payroll transactions including incentives, termination payments, retro payments, and statutory payments.
• Ensure payroll quality standards are consistently achieved.
• Support payroll sign-off and payment approval activities.

Vendor Management

• Build strong operational relationships with outsourced payroll providers.
• Monitor payroll partner performance against agreed KPIs and SLAs.
• Conduct operational governance meetings.
• Review Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Corrective & Preventive Actions (CAPA).
• Drive continuous improvements in vendor performance and service quality.

Payroll Controls & Compliance

• Ensure payroll activities align with statutory requirements and company policies.
• Complete and review payroll controls in accordance with internal governance frameworks.
• Support internal and external audits.
• Maintain payroll documentation and control evidence.
• Ensure segregation of duties and compliance with payroll approval processes.

Customer Management

• Partner with HR Operations, Reward, Finance, Treasury, Employment Tax, Global Mobility, and First Point teams.
• Provide payroll expertise and operational guidance to business stakeholders.
• Manage complex payroll critical issues.
• Ensure effective communication throughout the payroll lifecycle.

Operational Performance

• Monitor Payroll Accuracy, Payroll Timeliness, Query SLA, and operational KPIs.
• Analyse payroll performance trends and identify improvement opportunities.
• Drive timely resolution of payroll issues and operational risks.
• Support leadership reporting through operational dashboards and performance metrics.

Team Support & Knowledge Sharing

• Provide functional guidance and coaching to Payroll Specialists.
• Support onboarding and knowledge transfer.
• Share standard methodologies across the payroll team.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Continuous Improvement & Transformation

• See opportunities to simplify and standardise payroll processes.
• Support payroll transformation initiatives, vendor transitions, and system enhancements.
• Participate in User Acceptance Testing (UAT) for payroll-related changes.
• Drive automation and process optimisation initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related discipline.
• 5–8 years of payroll operations experience supporting multiple EMEA countries.
• Experience working with outsourced payroll providers.
• Strong understanding of payroll governance, controls, and compliance.
• Experience with Workday and payroll ticketing/case management systems.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and payroll reporting skills.
• Experience supporting payroll audits and regulatory compliance.

Success Measures

• Payroll Accuracy
• Payroll Timeliness
• Query SLA Performance
• Payroll Partner KPI & SLA Achievement
• Compliance with Payroll Controls
• Employee Experience
• Audit Readiness
• Customer Satisfaction
• Continuous Improvement & Automation Outcomes

We are obsessed with building brands that will stand the test of time. Creativity with precision describes how we effectively combine data, insights and innovation, across the supply chain, with the creative flair our consumers expect from the custodian of some of the most iconic brands in the world. Our culture is rooted in a deep sense of our purpose, the personal connections we have to our brands, our relationships with each other and our passion to win in the marketplace. Our ambition is to be one of the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world. This means we must do business the right way, from grain to glass, and ensure our people are highly engaged and continuously learning.