Senior Finance Process Lead

McKinsey; Gurugram District, Chennai; On-site; INR 1,800,000 - 3,500,000; Full time

Job summary

McKinsey in India is seeking a seasoned Global Payroll Leader to own the payroll operations workstream and drive timely, compliant payroll delivery across regions. You will oversee day-to-day payroll processing, benefits, and statutory deductions while developing a high-performing team.

Based in Chennai or Gurugram, you will review inputs, approve reports and bank files, manage month-end/year-end filings (PF, ESI, TDS), and lead payroll transformation initiatives with senior leadership

Qualifications

• 8+ years in Canadian payroll operations with a Finance/Accounting degree.
• Experience with payroll transformation projects including system implementation, testing, parallel runs, and data validation.
• Experience managing global clients and working in cross-functional, multicultural environments.
• Strong organizational skills, data-driven decision making, and ability to resolve team conflicts.

Responsibilities

• Own the global payroll operational workstream to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll delivery.
• Oversee day-to-day payroll processing of salaries, benefits, and statutory deductions.
• Review payroll inputs, approve final payroll reports and bank files, and manage month-end/year-end reconciliations and filings (PF, ESI, TDS).
• Drive process improvements and payroll transformation projects; prepare MIS dashboards for senior management.
• Coach and develop a high-performing team and handle conflict resolution.
• Based in Chennai or Gurugram as part of the Global Payroll team, coordinating with office accounting, firm colleagues, and applications support.

Skills

Payroll operations

Payroll transformation

Global client management

Data-driven decisions

MIS reporting

Payroll dashboards

Conflict resolution

English communication

In-person collaboration

Education

Finance or Accounting degree

Job description

Role & responsibilities

You will take ownership of the global payroll operational workstream to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll delivery while leading and developing a high-performing team.

You will oversee the day-to-day activities of our payroll professionals, managing the end-to-end processing of salaries, benefits, and statutory deductions. Specifically, you will review and validate payroll inputs, approve final payroll reports and bank files, manage month-end/year-end reconciliation and filings (PF, ESI, TDS), and ensure rigorous compliance with internal controls (SOX, ICFR) and local tax and labor regulations.

You will also drive process improvements, spearhead payroll transformation projects, prepare MIS dashboards for senior management, and foster team growth through coaching, objective performance management, and conflict resolution.

Your work will help ensure global financial integrity, maintain robust compliance standards, and deliver an exceptional, seamless payroll experience to our global workforce.

You will be based in Chennai or Gurugram as part of our Global Payroll team, working in close coordination with office accounting, firm colleagues, and the applications support team

Preferred candidate profile

• 8+ years in Canadian payroll operations Graduation in Finance, Accounting or related field Proven hands-on experience in payroll transformation projects is a plus (including system implementation/testing, parallel runs, and data validation)
• Exposure to managing global clients and working in cross-functional, multicultural environments
• Excellent organizational capabilities, including the ability to initiate tasks independently, prioritize under tight deadlines, and see them through to completion Proficient in rational decision making based on data, facts, and logical reasoning to solve complex problems and resolve team conflicts
• Ability to create work product-focused materials/outputs, such as MIS reports and payroll dashboards High degree of integrity and exceptional judgment in handling highly confidential payroll and personnel records
• Ability to work in-person Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, in English, with the ability to adjust your style to suit different perspectives and seniority levels, and to collaborate effectively with HR, Finance, and external vendor