Manager - Payroll

GMG; Dubai; On-site; AED 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

GMG is seeking an experienced payroll manager to lead end-to-end payroll operations across multiple geographies. The ideal candidate will have over 12 years of experience in payroll management with a focus on SAP S/4HANA systems, ensuring compliance and driving transformation initiatives. Responsibilities include managing payroll activities, overseeing statutory compliance, and collaborating with HR and Finance teams. Strong leadership and analytical skills are essential for this role.

Qualifications

• Minimum 12+ years of progressive experience in payroll management, with at least 4-6 years in SAP S/4HANA payroll systems.
• Experience in multi-country payroll operations, including statutory compliance in high-volume environments.
• Strong experience in driving payroll transformation initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end payroll activities across multiple geographies using SAP S/4HANA.
• Define and implement robust controls in payroll processing to ensure compliance.
• Oversee payroll runs and ensure timely execution across all payroll cycles.

Skills

SAP S/4HANA

Payroll Processing

Statutory Compliance

Analytical Ability

Stakeholder Management

Education

Professional certifications in payroll, finance or HR (e.g. CPP, CIPD, SHRM, ACCA, CPA)

Tools

Microsoft SharePoint

Advanced Excel

Job description

Who we are

GMG is a global well‑being company retailing, distributing and manufacturing a portfolio of leading international and home‑grown brands across sport, everyday goods, health and beauty, properties and logistics sectors. Under the ownership and management of the Baker family for over 45 years, GMG is a valued partner of choice for the world's most successful and respected brands in the well‑being sector. Working across the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, GMG has introduced more than 120 brands across 12 countries. These include notable home‑grown brands such as Sun & Sand Sports, Dropkick, Supercare Pharmacy, Farm Fresh, Klassic, and international brands like Nike, Columbia, Converse, Timberland, Vans, Mama Sita’s, and McCain.

Role Summary

The role holder will lead and manage end‑to‑end payroll operations for GMG group employees across multiple geographies, ensuring timely, accurate and compliant processing. This includes overseeing employee lifecycle changes, benefits, deductions, reimbursements and final settlements, while maintaining strong governance and data integrity.

The role will also drive process standardization, automation and robust control frameworks, leveraging systems such as SAP S/4HANA, SuccessFactors and Microsoft SharePoint to enhance efficiency, reduce manual dependency and ensure compliance.

The role holder will collaborate closely with HRBP, onboarding/off‑boarding teams, Finance, GR and external partners to ensure seamless payroll operations, enforce timelines and strengthen cross‑functional alignment. In addition, the role will play a key part in driving payroll transformation initiatives, including process optimisation, system enhancements and improved integration across functions. The role will also focus on enhancing reporting and visibility through dashboards, ensuring audit readiness, proactively identifying risks and driving continuous improvement across the payroll function.

Responsibilities

• Manages end‑to‑end payroll activities and program components across multiple geographies using SAP S/4HANA and SuccessFactors, ensuring effective department functioning, coordination of activities and compliance with established financial, legal and administrative requirements for the GMG group.
• Defines and implements robust controls, procedures, and reconciliation checks in payroll processing and payments to ensure accuracy, consistency, audit readiness and compliance with standard processes.
• Ensures compilation and validation of payroll data from a wide variety of sources (e.g. attendance systems, leave, incentives and statutory inputs) to maintain data integrity and accuracy of payroll outputs.
• Verifies and validates payroll‑related information (e.g. time sheets, leave, overtime, benefits, statutory deductions and final settlements) to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing.
• Oversees payroll runs, simulations, final settlements (FS), banking processes and reconciliations, ensuring timely execution across all payroll cycles and regions.
• Reviews, approves and signs (as per authority matrix) payment requests, payroll outputs and employment‑related documentation for banks and financial institutions, ensuring only authorised transactions are processed.
• Develops and enhances payroll administration policies, procedures and SOPs, driving standardisation, process improvement and automation to improve efficiency and reduce manual dependency.
• Ensures effective implementation and governance of compensation and benefits structures (salary components, allowances, incentives, statutory contributions and end‑of‑service benefits).
• Manages statutory compliance across regions (e.g. WPS, GPSSA, PF, NPS), ensuring timely submissions, validations and adherence to local laws.
• Leads payroll calendar planning, cut‑off management and coordination with HRBP, Finance, GR and banking partners to ensure timely payroll execution and proactive management of regional holidays and deadlines.
• Ensures generation and submission of payroll reports, dashboards and ad‑hoc analysis (e.g. headcount, payroll trends and cost insights) to support business decision‑making and improve visibility.
• Presents payroll reconciliations, trend analysis and key insights effectively to senior leadership to support informed decision‑making and ensure transparency across payroll operations.
• Oversees off‑boarding payroll activities, including final settlements, hold instructions, recoveries and compliance with legal and internal requirements, ensuring timely closure of employee records.
• Leads the development and maintenance of payroll documentation, manuals and guidelines, ensuring continuous updates aligned with business and regulatory changes.
• Drives payroll governance and control ownership by enforcing approval hierarchies, cut‑off discipline and audit‑ready processes across all payroll activities.
• Proactively identifies payroll risks and implements mitigation plans to ensure compliance, accuracy and operational continuity.

People Management

The incumbent is responsible for setting clear objectives and performance targets in collaboration with team members, ensuring alignment with overall organisational goals and payroll function priorities. The role involves actively mentoring, guiding and providing direction to the team to build technical capability, strengthen process ownership and drive operational efficiency across payroll activities.

The incumbent applies structured performance management practices to monitor progress, address challenges and ensure timely achievement of defined KPIs, while reinforcing accountability and adherence to established processes and controls. Through continuous feedback, coaching and knowledge sharing, the role fosters a high‑performance, results‑oriented environment, reduces dependency on individuals and supports both individual development and collective team growth.

Functional / Technical Competencies

• SAP S/4HANA Payroll Systems
• SAP SuccessFactors (Employee Data, Payroll Inputs & Workflows)
• Microsoft SharePoint / Attendance Systems Integration with Payroll
• Payroll Processing & Administration (Multi‑country)
• Statutory Compliance (WPS, GPSSA, PF, NPS, etc.)
• Payroll Controls, Reconciliation & Audit Readiness
• Financial Planning & Reporting (Payroll‑related)
• Data Management & Reporting (Advanced Excel / Dashboards)
• Payroll Banking (Multi‑country)
• Time & Attendance Integration with Payroll Systems
• Knowledge of Local Laws & Regulations (UAE & GCC)
• Process Design, SOP Development & Automation
• Risk Management & Compliance Governance
• Analytical Ability
• Presentation Skills
• Stakeholder & Vendor Management (HR, Finance, Banks)

Experience

• Minimum 12+ years of progressive experience in payroll management, with at least 4–6 years of hands‑on experience in SAP S/4HANA payroll systems within the MENA region.
• Proven experience in managing end‑to‑end, multi‑country payroll operations (UAE and GCC mandatory; India exposure preferred), including statutory compliance (e.g. WPS, GPSSA, PF/NPS) in high‑volume and complex payroll environments.
• Demonstrated track record in driving payroll transformation initiatives, including process standardisation, automation, strengthening controls and reducing manual dependency.
• Strong experience in stakeholder management and cross‑functional coordination, particularly with HRBP, Finance, GR and external partners, ensuring timely payroll inputs, validations, reconciliations and issue resolution.

Certifications

Professional certifications in payroll, finance or HR (e.g. CPP, CIPD, SHRM, ACCA, CPA) will be an added advantage.