Manager Payroll

Mattel Asia Pacific; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Mattel Asia Pacific is seeking a seasoned Payroll/APAC Governance leader to drive regional payroll standards, controls, and transformation initiatives across APAC markets. You will partner with local providers and finance teams to ensure accurate, compliant, and efficient payroll operations.

The role requires 7+ years of multinational payroll experience, strong vendor management skills, and expertise with Dayforce or Workday. A growth mindset and strong collaboration across teams are essential.

Qualifications

• Growth mindset and continuous learning emphasized.
• Experience with payroll governance, controls or transformation initiatives.
• Experience managing payroll across multiple APAC markets.

Responsibilities

• Lead APAC payroll governance framework and regional standards.
• Ensure monthly payroll is accurate and compliant across markets.
• Manage relationships with payroll vendors and service providers.
• Monitor regulatory updates and ensure timely adaptations across markets.
• Identify automation opportunities and drive process standardisation.
• Develop payroll governance metrics and reporting for stakeholders.
• Lead and develop payroll support resources and succession plans.

Skills

Payroll Governance

APAC Payroll

Stakeholder Mgmt

Analytical Skills

Excel Pro

Education

Bachelor's Degree in HR, Finance, Accounting, or related

Tools

Dayforce

Workday

Job description

CREATIVITY IS OUR SUPERPOWER. It's our heritage and it's also our future. Because we don't just make toys. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire fans, entertain audiences and develop children through play. Mattel is at its best when every member of our team feels respected, included, and heard - when everyone can show up as themselves and do their best work every day. We value and share an infinite range of ideas and voices that evolve and broaden our perspectives with a reach that extends into all our brands, partners, and suppliers.

The Team:

At the heart of our company, the Global People & Culture (P&C) team partners with employees across the business to deliver a meaningful, end-to-end employee experience. We live our values every day and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they truly belong. As part of our team, you'll be encouraged to challenge the status quo, bring fresh, progressive thinking, and help drive impactful change. With a presence in over 30 countries and supporting more than 30,000 employees globally, our work has real scale and influence. We're passionate about building an environment that amplifies purpose, passion, and play in every aspect of the employee experience. We value meaningful work, personalized career growth, and the opportunity to shape a world-class People & Culture organization.

Everyday, our Global People & Culture team role models the following strategic pillars

• Performance and Growth Attract and retain the best of the best. Support and inspire them to grow and contribute at the highest level
• Leadership Development Cultivate skills and capabilities that make exceptional, innovative leaders
• Total Rewards Reward and incentivize our people when and how it matters
• People Systems Create integrated systems and processes that are intuitive and effective, and that yield actionable insights, designed with our people at the center
• Operational Excellence Execute with excellence, fostering a culture of collaboration while empowering our people

The Opportunity:

Responsible for leading payroll governance, standardisation and operational oversight across APAC (excluding Manufacturing). This role will establish a regional payroll governance model, drive process harmonisation, strengthen controls and compliance, and partner with local payroll providers and stakeholders to prepare the region for future global payroll transformation initiatives and global payroll standardisation. The Manager, Payroll APAC will serve as the regional subject matter expert for payroll governance, ensuring payroll processes are accurate, compliant, efficient and aligned to global standards while reducing reliance on local market ownership. Payroll includes salary, tax, attendance, benefits etc.

What Your Impact Will Be

Payroll Governance & Strategy

• Establish and lead the APAC payroll governance framework
• Develop regional payroll standards, controls and operating procedures.
• Drive harmonisation of payroll processes across markets.
• Support preparation for future global payroll system implementation and transformation initiatives.

Payroll operation excellence

• Ensure monthly payroll operation is well executed effectively and accurately per every market’s payroll calendar, in the compliant way.
• End-to-end in charge of SEA‘s payroll operation work with team support.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Manage relationships with payroll vendors and service providers across APAC.
• Partner with Finance, P&C Operations, Compensation & Benefits and Business Partners to ensure effective and accurate payroll governance.
• Monitor vendor performance and service delivery against agreed standards.

Compliance & Controls

• Monitor for regulation/policy updates across the markets and ensure timely adaptation.
• Ensure payroll controls, audit requirements and compliance obligations are maintained across all markets.
• Review payroll processes and identify operational and compliance risks.
• Support internal and external audit activities.

Process Improvement & Transformation

• Identify automation opportunities and process improvements.
• Drive payroll process standardisation and simplification.
• Support readiness activities and future payroll transformation initiatives.

Reporting & Governance

• Develop payroll governance metrics and reporting.
• Monitor payroll performance, accuracy and service delivery.
• Provide payroll insights and recommendations to regional and global stakeholders.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop payroll support resources.
• Build payroll capability and succession planning within the function.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.

What We’re Looking For

• Demonstrated a growth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves. Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or a related discipline.

Work Experience

• 7+ years of payroll experience within a multinational organisation.
• Experience managing payroll across multiple countries.
• Experience working with outsourced payroll providers.
• Experience leading payroll governance, compliance or transformation initiatives.
• Experience supporting payroll system implementations or enhancements.
• Experience working within APAC markets preferred.

Skills

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of payroll governance, controls and compliance.
• Strong understanding of APAC payroll environments and vendor models.
• Experience with Dayforce, Workday or equivalent payroll and HRIS platforms.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Strong inter-personal skills and collaborative with cross-teams.
• Self-driver and strong ownership to drive the results
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Experience managing payroll vendors and service level agreements.
• Strong project management and change management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and reporting capabilities.
• High level of discretion and ability to manage confidential information.

How We Work

• We collaborate Being a part of Mattel means being part of one team with shared values and common goals. Every person counts and working closely together always brings better results. Partnership is our process and our collective capabilities is our superpower.
• We innovate At Mattel we always aim to find new and better ways to create innovative products and experiences. No matter where you work in the organization, you can always make a difference and have real impact. We welcome new ideas and value new initiatives that challenge conventional thinking.
• We execute We are a performance-driven company. We strive for excellence and are focused on pursuing best-in-class outcomes. We believe in accountability and ownership and know that our people are at their best when they are empowered to create and deliver results.

Our Approach to Flexible Work:

We embrace a flexible work model designed to empower a culture of growth, optimism, and wellbeing, where every employee can reach their full potential. Combining purposeful in-person collaboration with flexibility, our focus is to optimize performance and drive connection for moments that matter.

Who We Are

Mattel is a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. We engage consumers and fans through our franchise brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, American Girl, Thomas & Friends, UNO, Masters of the Universe, Matchbox, Monster High, MEGA and Polly Pocket, as well as other popular properties that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include toys, content, consumer products, digital and live experiences. Our products are sold in collaboration with the world’s leading retail and ecommerce companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in empowering generations to explore the wonder of childhood and reach their full potential.

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The Culture at Mattel

Corporate Philanthropy

Mattel's award-winning workplace culture has been recognized by Forbes, Fast Company, Newsweek, Great Place to Work, TIME, and more.

Visit us at https //jobs.mattel.com/ and www.instagram.com/MattelCareers .

Mattel is an Equal Opportunity Employer where we want you to bring your authentic self to work every day. We welcome all job seekers, and all applicants will receive consideration for employment.