Sr Supv, Payroll

Position Summary

The Senior Payroll Specialist serves as a key member of the Japan Payroll team and acts as the operational partner to the Payroll Manager. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll delivery while supporting operational governance, vendor management, issue resolution, and continuous process improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Payroll Operations Leadership

  • Execute and oversee end-to-end payroll operations for Japan
  • Review payroll calculations, reconciliations, and payroll outputs to ensure accuracy and compliance
  • Validate payroll-related data received from HR, Time & Attendance, and other upstream systems
  • Support payroll calendar management and ensure critical deadlines are met
  • Identify and resolve payroll discrepancies and operational issues

• Vendor & Stakeholder Management

  • Serve as a primary operational contact for payroll service providers and system vendors
  • Coordinate issue resolution with external partners including payroll, HRIS, and time management vendors
  • Escalate operational risks and recommend corrective actions
  • Build effective working relationships with HR, Finance, HRIS, and business stakeholders

• Systems & Data Governance

  • Support payroll interfaces between Workday, payroll systems, and third-party applications
  • Maintain payroll process documentation, controls, and operational procedures
  • Participate in payroll system enhancements, testing, and implementation activities

• Employee Support & Problem Resolution

  • Manage employee payroll inquiries and complex payroll investigations
  • Conduct root cause analysis for recurring payroll issues
  • Provide guidance and support on payroll-related policies and practices

• Continuous Improvement & Transformation

  • Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, controls, automation, and efficiency
  • Lead or support payroll-related improvement initiatives and small projects
  • Contribute to operational readiness for future payroll and HR technology changes
  • Support business continuity and operational stability during organizational or system transitions

• Team Support & Operational Backup

  • Act as a trusted operational partner and backup for the Payroll Manager
  • Support knowledge sharing, process standardization, and team capability development
  • Assist in prioritizing operational activities during critical payroll cycles and year-end periods

Education & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required
• Payroll-related Certification Preferred

Experience & Skills

• Minimum 5 years of experience in Japanese payroll operations
• Strong understanding of Japanese payroll, tax, social insurance, and labor law requirements
• Experience Working With Outsourced Payroll Providers
• Experience with SAP Payroll preferred
• Knowledge of Workday, payroll integrations, and HR systems strongly preferred
• Experience supporting expatriate and international assignment payroll processes preferred
• Strong Analytical And Problem-solving Skills
• Advanced Excel and reporting capabilities preferred
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced operational environment

Core Competencies

• Strong ownership and accountability
• Operational leadership and sound judgment
• Attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Effective Stakeholder Management And Communication Skills
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision
• High integrity and discretion when handling confidential information

Language Requirements

• Japanese: Business fluency required
• English: Business communication capability preferred

Additional Information

• Overtime may be required during monthly payroll processing and year-end activities
• The role supports a complex payroll environment involving multiple systems, vendors, and stakeholders
• This position plays a key role in ensuring operational continuity, risk management, and payroll transformation initiatives within Japan