Payroll Specialist

UNAVAILABLE; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 67,000 - 134,000; Full time

Job summary

Danone Business Services APAC seeks a Payroll Specialist to deliver accurate, compliant payroll services across Southeast Asia. You will collaborate with HR, Finance, Tax, and IT to drive continuous improvement, support payroll transformation, and ensure timely, payroll processing.

The role offers regional exposure within a global organization, with opportunities to influence payroll governance and improve employee experience across multiple markets.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of payroll experience across SEA.
• Strong knowledge of SEA payroll legislation and tax rules.
• Hands-on with payroll vendors or outsourced providers.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing for SEA countries.
• Validate inputs: hires, terminations, promotions, and allowances.
• Perform payroll reconciliations and statutory submissions.
• Provide payroll support and resolve employee queries.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, and IT for payroll governance.

Skills

Payroll processing

Tax & statutory compliance

Vendor partnerships

Data analysis in Excel

HRIS & Time & Attendance

Tools

HRIS

Time & Attendance system

Payroll platform

Job description

Short Intro and About the Job

In this role -Payroll Specialist, you will contribute to Danone Business Services APAC's ambition of beingBest-in-Class by delivering accurate, compliant, and efficient payroll services across Southeast Asia. Beyond payroll operations, you will partner with cross-functional stakeholders to drive continuous improvement, enhance employee experience, and support payroll transformation initiatives that create lasting business impact.

Responsibilities :

Payroll Operations

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing for assigned SEA countries, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and on-time delivery.
• Review and validate payroll inputs including new hires, terminations, promotions, salary adjustments, allowances, commissions, bonuses, overtime, and deductions.
• Perform payroll reconciliation and validation checks before payroll finalization.
• Generate payroll reports, management reports, and statutory submissions.

Time & Attendance Management

• Review and validate attendance, leave, overtime, shift schedules, and other workforce data.
• Partner with HR and managers to resolve discrepancies and missing information.
• Ensure accurate integration of time and attendance data into payroll processing.

Compliance & Statutory Reporting

• Ensure payroll practices comply with local labour laws, tax regulations, and statutory requirements.
• Process and reconcile payroll-related statutory obligations including income tax, social security, provident funds, and employer contributions.
• Support year-end tax reporting, audits, and statutory submissions.

Employee Experience & Payroll Support

• Serve as a trusted advisor for payroll-related inquiries from employees, managers, and HR.
• Provide clear explanations on payslips, payroll calculations, tax deductions, and leave-related impacts.
• Resolve payroll issues professionally, confidentially, and within service level expectations.

Payroll Controls & Governance

• Conduct payroll audits, validations, and reconciliations to ensure payroll accuracy and data integrity.
• Identify payroll discrepancies, investigate root causes, and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain payroll records and documentation in accordance with audit and compliance requirements.

Vendor & System Management

• Collaborate with payroll vendors and system providers to ensure smooth payroll operations.
• Manage payroll cases, system issues, and service escalations to resolution.
• Support system enhancements and vendor performance reviews when required.

Continuous Improvement & Transformation

• Identify opportunities to enhance payroll efficiency, controls, and employee experience.
• Participate in payroll transformation projects, system implementations, process enhancements, testing, and User Acceptance Testing (UAT).
• Maintain and update payroll process documentation and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Stakeholder Partnership

• Work closely with HR, Finance, Rewards, Tax, IT teams, and business stakeholders across the region.
• Support both internal and external audits.
• Contribute to regional payroll initiatives and strategic projects.

As a Payroll Specialist, you'll have the opportunity to:

• Gain regional exposure by managing payroll operations across Southeast Asia and working with diverse markets, regulations, and business environments.
• Drive transformation and innovation through payroll improvement initiatives, system enhancements, automation, and regional projects.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including HR, Finance, Rewards, Tax, IT, and business leaders across the APAC region.
• Expand your expertise in regional payroll governance, statutory compliance, and payroll best practices within a global organization.
• Make a real impact by ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time, contributing directly to an exceptional employee experience.
• Grow your career in a dynamic environment that encourages continuous learning, innovation, and professional development.

About You

You Will Thrive in This Role If You Have:

• At least 3 years of payroll experience, ideally managing multi-country or Southeast Asia payroll operations.
• Strong understanding ofpayroll legislation, taxation, statutory contributions, and labour regulations within the SEA region.
• Hands-on experience partnering withpayroll vendors, outsourced providers, or payroll platforms.
• Confidence working with large volumes of payroll data while maintaining exceptional accuracy and attention to detail.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with the ability to analyze, reconcile, and validate payroll information.
• Experience usingHRIS, payroll systems, and Time & Attendance platforms.
• Strong problem-solving abilities with a proactive mindset to identify and resolve payroll discrepancies.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage employees, managers, vendors, and regional stakeholders professionally.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities, meet tight payroll deadlines, and work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• A continuous improvement mindset with an interest in automation, process optimization, and payroll transformation projects.

About Us, We offer and What's next

At Danone Business Services APAC (DBS APAC), we're more than a Shared Service Centre. We are a strategic partner committed to delivering exceptional service experiences across the Asia-Pacific region.

Guided by our ambition to be BEST IN CLASS, we continuously challenge ourselves to innovate, improve, and create meaningful impact for our Danoners, customers, and suppliers.

Join Us and Make a Difference

If you're looking for an opportunity to elevate your payroll career beyond processing and become part of a team that values excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement, we'd love to hear from you.

One Planet. One Health. By You.