Payroll Specialist - LATAM

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co.; Ciudad de México; On-site; MXN 335,000 - 469,000; Full time

Job summary

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. in Mexico City seeks a Payroll Specialist to support day-to-day payroll operations for an assigned portfolio, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll delivery.

You will process inputs, validate data, and maintain documentation while upholding data privacy and confidentiality. This role requires 1–3 years of payroll or HR operations experience, a bachelor's degree (or equivalent), and fluent English.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent is desirable; payroll training or certification is advantageous.
• Typically 1–3 years of payroll, HR operations, finance, or related experience.
• Individual contributor role with no direct or indirect reports; people management is not required.
• Fluent English; ability to learn payroll systems, reporting tools, and digital solutions; other languages are a plus.
• Experience managing payroll across multiple LATAM countries, esp. Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Panama, Guatemala, is preferred.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, service orientation, and confidentiality; able to meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Collect, review, and process approved payroll inputs, including changes, earnings, deductions, benefits, taxes, and time data.
• Perform routine validations, reconciliations, corrections, and off-cycle activities; support year-end and audits.
• Maintain payroll calendars, trackers, control evidence, case records, and process documentation.
• Follow procedures and escalate issues within required timelines.
• Respond to routine payroll inquiries professionally and coordinate with providers and stakeholders to resolve issues.
• Use approved digital/AI/automation tools with validation, privacy, access controls, and human review.
• Support testing, adoption, and feedback for payroll systems/process changes; identify automation opportunities.

Skills

Fluent English

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Confidentiality

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Payroll training or certification

Job description

Job Description

Objective / Purpose:

The Payroll Specialist supports day-to-day payroll operations for an assigned payroll portfolio. This role processes payroll inputs, performs routine validations and controls, maintains required documentation, and provides professional support to employees and stakeholders. The role contributes to accurate, timely, compliant, and employee-focused payroll delivery by following established procedures and escalating issues appropriately. It covers an assigned country, legal entity, business unit, or payroll portfolio, with no budget ownership and no direct or indirect reports. Experience managing payroll operations across multiple LATAM countries, such us Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Panama, and Guatemala, is considered an asset.

Accountabilities:

• Collect, review, and process approved payroll inputs, including employee changes, earnings, deductions, benefits, taxes, and time-related information.
• Perform routine validations, reconciliations, corrections, and off-cycle support activities in line with established procedures, and support statutory, year-end, and audit-related activities as assigned.
• Maintain payroll calendars, trackers, control evidence, case records, and process documentation.
• Follow established procedures and escalations exceptions, missing information, or control concerns within required timelines.
• Respond to routine payroll inquiries in a professional, timely, and employee-friendly manner, and coordinate with payroll providers and internal stakeholders to resolve assigned issues and ensure follow-through.
• Use approved digital, AI, and automation tools responsibly, with appropriate validation, data privacy, access controls, and human review.

• Support testing, adoption, exception monitoring, and user feedback for payroll-related system or process changes, and identify repetitive or rules-based activities that may be simplified or automated, sharing suggestions with senior team members.

Education & Competencies (Technical and Behavioral):

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience is desirable; payroll training or certification is advantageous.
• Typically 1–3 years of payroll, HR operations, finance, or related experience.
• Individual contributor role with no direct or indirect reports; people management experience is not required.
• Working understanding of payroll inputs, controls, reconciliations, documentation, structured data handling, and confidentiality, with the ability to learn payroll systems, reporting tools, case management platforms, and approved digital solutions. Fluent English; additional relevant language skills are desirable.

• Previous experience managing payroll operations across multiple LATAM countries, particularly Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Panama, and Guatemala, is preferred.

• Strong attention to detail, organization, service orientation, and confidentiality, with the ability to work accurately within established procedures and deadlines. Demonstrates accountability, collaboration, curiosity, openness to learning, and a continuous improvement mindset.

Locations

MEX - Santa Fe

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time