Team Lead Payroll

Booking Holdings Inc.; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Health insurance

Mental health support

Learning platforms

Travel discounts

Lunch benefits

Job summary

Booking Holdings Bangalore is seeking a Lead for Payroll to oversee end-to-end payroll operations for India, ensuring timely disbursements and adherence to statutory requirements. You will transform the payroll ecosystem, optimize processes, manage external service providers, and coach a high-performing payroll team within the People function.

The role requires expert India payroll knowledge, strong data analytics, leadership and clear communication to collaborate with Finance, IT and business

Qualifications

• Expert-level understanding of India statutory compliance (PF, ESI, PT, LWF) and payroll operations.
• Experience with payroll system transformation and platform changes.
• 8–12 years of payroll systems and processes.
• Strong leadership capabilities and team mentoring.
• Able to translate data into actionable insights and communicate clearly.

Responsibilities

• Lead and govern end-to-end India payroll operations, ensuring monthly disbursements are accurate and on time.
• Review payroll registers, variance reports, and reconciliations to ensure data integrity and controls.
• Stabilize payroll platforms during migrations and improve automation.
• Manage external payroll service providers with SLAs and audits.
• Ensure compliance with Indian labor laws, PF, ESI, PT, income tax and payroll SOX.

Job description

Booking Holdings (NASDAQ: BKNG) is a global powerhouse in online travel, connecting millions of people with unforgettable experiences in over 220 countries and territories. With a market value of approximately $120 billion and a diverse portfolio of brands such as Booking.com, KAYAK, Priceline, Agoda.com and OpenTable, we’re committed to making it easier to explore everyone to experience the world.

Booking Holdings Bangalore is a cutting-edge Center of Excellence in Bangalore, India and a key arm of Booking Holdings Inc. Top talent from diverse backgrounds converge here to develop innovative solutions that drive Booking Holdings' brands and business units forward. We offer a vibrant and inclusive workplace that fosters creativity, growth and opportunities to make a real difference on a global scale.

Leadership/ Team Quote

“Our partners are the heart of our business and we’re committed to empowering them with the best payment tools in the industry. As a Senior Product Manager, you’ll play a crucial role in driving this mission forward.” - [Leadership name], [Leadership title]

Business Overview

From bustling cities to remote corners, Booking Holdings' travel brands span 220+ countries. Our FinTech team powers the financial engine behind this global network. We craft bespoke payment solutions, blending security with scalability. These tools empower our partners, fueling their growth and enhancing traveler experiences. By supporting our partners' success, we strengthen the foundation of our diverse travel ecosystem.

Role Description

As a Lead for Payroll, this role oversees and leads the end-to-end payroll operations for India to ensure timely and accurate disbursements for all employees. This role exists to transform and stabilize payroll platforms and service provider relationships, driving significant gains in operational efficiency. The Team Lead serves as the primary champion for payroll and workforce compliance, ensuring all People team activities align with statutory requirements

What You’ll Be Doing

• Independently lead and govern the end-to-end India payroll operations cycle, ensuring accuracy and timeliness for all monthly disbursements, including the oversight of inputs, processing, and final bank funding.
• Perform rigorous reviews of payroll registers, variance reports, benefits additions and reconciliation of files to validate data integrity and ensure alignment with financial controls and internal audit standards.
• Transform the current payroll ecosystem by identifying process bottlenecks and implementing technology-driven solutions that increase automation and reduce manual interventions.
• Stabilize and optimize relationships with external payroll service providers by setting clear performance benchmarks (SLAs) and conducting regular performance audits to drive service excellence.
• Champion workforce compliance across the People team by serving as the primary subject matter expert on Indian labor laws, Provident Fund (PF), ESIC, Professional Tax, Income Tax regulations & Payroll SOX laws.
• Mitigate corporate risk by leading statutory filing activities and ensuring all monthly, quarterly, and annual payroll-related returns are submitted accurately to government authorities.
• Manage and mentor the payroll team members, providing continuous coaching and professional development opportunities to build a high-performing, resilient unit.
• Educate and handhold the broader People team and cross-functional partners (such as Finance and IT) to help them understand complex payroll nuances and the impact of HR data on compliance.
• Lead the stabilization of payroll platforms during system migrations or upgrades, ensuring that all local India requirements are correctly localized within global platform architectures.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex employee queries and high-priority payroll issues, ensuring resolutions are handled with high empathy and transparency

What You’ll Be Bringing

• Expert-level understanding of India statutory compliance (PF, ESI, PT, LWF), experience in payroll operations, platform transformation, strong leadership capabilities. Strong understanding of people cost accounting practices
• Prior experience of managing and closing complex queries from auditors, legal partners, actuaries and employees
• Extensive knowledge (8-12 years) of Payroll systems and processes
• Experience of participating or leading (preferably) a Payroll optimization and change management process
• Ability to adopt a whole of system and tech mindset to addressing day to day operational challenges
• Ability to analyze data and translate it into actionable insights.
• Excellent communication skills, both technical and non-technical.
• A passion for tackling complex challenges and finding creative solutions.

Benefits & Perks

• A comprehensive paid time off, including generous leave schemes for maternity, paternity, adoption, bereavement and marriage.
• A hybrid work model that empowers you to choose how and where you work best.
• Access to top-tier health insurance, mental health support and wellness programs.
• Continuous skill development via learning platforms, mentorship and conference opportunities.
• Travel discounts, lunch benefits and convenient transportation options.

To explore full range of benefits, you can visit the Booking Holdings career website: https://bookingholdings-coe.com/

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at Booking Holdings

We actively support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) across all aspects of our business to reduce inequalities and foster a sense of belonging for everyone. By creating an inclusive environment that encourages our employees to show up as their true selves, we cultivate a safe and trusted space that inspires innovation, supports collaboration and empowers individual growth.

Pre-Employment Screening

If your application is successful, your personal data may be used for a pre-employment screening check by a third party as permitted by applicable law. Depending on the vacancy and applicable law, a pre-employment screening may include employment history, education and other information (such as media information) that may be necessary for determining your qualifications and suitability for the position.