Senior Payroll Specialist - LATAM

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co.; Santa Fe; On-site; MXN 320,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. is seeking a Senior Payroll Specialist to support payroll across Latin American markets with increasing independence and complexity.

The role coordinates end-to-end payroll activities, validates complex earnings and taxes, and partners with HR, Finance, and external providers to ensure accurate and compliant payroll delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Business, Finance, or related field; payroll cert is a plus.
• 3–5 years of payroll experience, regional or international operations ideal.
• Experience with outsourced payroll providers and data reporting.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate end-to-end payroll activities for an assigned portfolio.
• Validate earnings, deductions, taxes, benefits, and time data.
• Perform reconciliations, corrections, and year-end support.
• Investigate issues, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Payroll COE, HR, Finance, and other stakeholders.
• Use digital tools with human review; seek opportunities to automate recurring work.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Communication skills

Attention to detail

English fluency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/Business/Finance or related field

Payroll certification (advantageous)

Tools

Workday

ADP

SAP Payroll

ServiceNow

Job description

Job Description Objective / Purpose: The Senior Payroll Specialist is a senior professional role responsible for supporting payroll operations across an assigned payroll portfolio with greater independence and complexity. The role is accountable for end-to-end payroll operations across an assigned portfolio of Latin American markets, which may include Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, Chile, and Panama, subject to evolving business needs. This role manages complex transactions, performs deeper validations and reconciliations, resolves operational issues, supports projects and change activities, and provides day-to-day technical guidance to colleagues. The role contributes to accurate, timely, compliant, and employee-focused payroll delivery while helping improve process quality and resilience. It covers an assigned regional, multi-entity, or multi-market payroll portfolio, with no budget ownership and no direct reports.

Accountabilities:

• Coordinate end-to-end payroll activities through approved systems and external providers for an assigned portfolio.
• Validate complex earnings, deductions, taxes, statutory contributions, benefits, equity-related transactions, time data, and employee changes.
• Perform reconciliations, controls, corrections, off-cycle transactions, and year-end support with increased independence, and prepare and maintain audit-ready evidence, documentation, and process records.
• Investigate complex issues, identify root causes, implement corrective actions within authority, and elevate material risks where appropriate.
• Serve as operational contact for payroll providers, and partner with Payroll COE, HR, Finance, Total Rewards, Mobility, Technology, Risk, Audit, and other stakeholders to resolve issues, support service quality, and ensure follow-through.
• Use approved digital, AI, and automation tools responsibly with human review and validation, and support system changes, testing, transitions, implementations, and process updates related to payroll and connected processes. Identify opportunities to simplify, standardize, and automate recurring work and reduce manual effort or recurring errors, and provide day-to-day guidance, peer coaching, and knowledge sharing to colleagues.

Education & Competencies (Technical and Behavioral):

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in HR, Business, Finance, Accounting, or a related field; payroll certification is advantageous. Typically 3–5 years of payroll experience, ideally in regional, multi-entity, or international operations. No direct reports; the role provides day-to-day guidance, peer coaching, and knowledge sharing rather than formal people management. Experience supporting end-to-end payroll delivery across a portfolio of Latin American markets is desirable, particularly in markets such as Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Guatemala, Chile, and Panama. Strong knowledge of payroll operations, controls, reconciliations, documentation, tax and statutory support, and confidentiality, with experience of outsourced payroll providers and confidence working with payroll data, reports, and structured datasets. Experience with payroll systems and digital tools such as Workday, ADP, SAP Payroll, ServiceNow, or equivalent is desirable. Fluent English; additional relevant languages are desirable. Strong analytical, problem-solving, service, prioritization, and communication skills, with sound judgement in more complex payroll situations. Demonstrates accountability, collaboration, inclusion, curiosity, and openness to change.

Locations MEX - Santa Fe Worker Type Employee Worker Sub-Type Regular Time Type Full time Takeda is an industry-leading, global pharmaceutical company with an unwavering dedication to putting patients at the center of everything we do.

We live our values of Takeda-ism – Integrity, Fairness, Honesty, and Perseverance – and are united by our mission to strive towards Better Health and a Brighter Future for people worldwide through leading innovation in medicine.

Here, everyone matters and you will be a vital contributor to our inspiring, bold mission. At Takeda, you will make an impact on people’s lives – including your own.

Takeda is an equal opportunity employer.