Manager - Payroll & Compliance

Job Title: Manager Payroll & Compliance.

Department: Human Resources.

Location: Pune.

Reporting to: General Manager.

Role Summary:

Our client is seeking an experienced Manager of Payroll and Compliance to oversee their end-to-end payroll operations and ensure absolute adherence to statutory labor laws. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in Indian payroll processing, tax regulations, and benefits administration, alongside a proactive approach to managing the transition toward the upcoming New Labour Wage Codes. This role requires a blend of operational excellence, expert analytical skills and proficiency in HR technology platforms.

Key Responsibilities:

End-to-End Payroll Management:

- Oversee the accurate and timely processing of monthly payroll for all employees, ensuring zero-defect output.

- Oversee attendance, leave records, and other allowances as inputs for payroll processing.

- Administer the Full & Final (F&F) settlement process for exiting employees in adherence to company turnaround times.

- Coordinate with the finance department for payroll funding, reconciliation, and accurate ledger posting.

- Manage annual investment declarations, proof verification, and precise income tax computations (TDS) under old and new tax regimes.

Statutory Compliance & Labor Laws:

- Ensure 100% compliance with all statutory acts including EPF, ESIC, Professional Tax (PT), Labour Welfare Fund (LWF), Payment of Gratuity Act, and Payment of Bonus Act.

- Manage & execute the organization's plan for restructuring & compliance for the implementation of the New Labour Wage Codes.

- Manage timely filing of all statutory returns and maintain accurate registers as required by state and central labor laws.

- Act as the primary point of contact for internal/external audits and liaison with government labor departments and compliance vendors.

HRIS & Technology Integration:

- Should be able to use HRIS platforms (specifically SAP SuccessFactors) to manage master data, extract information from various reports and generate payroll inputs.

- Well versed with digital compliance tools and identify opportunities to digitize compliance tracking and improve the employee experience regarding payroll queries and tax planning.

- Maintain data integrity and confidentiality across all HR systems and employee records.

Reporting, Analytics & Advisory:

- Prepare and deliver monthly payroll dashboards, highlighting variances and compliance metrics.

- Address and resolve complex employee grievances related to salary, taxation, and statutory deductions within defined SLAs.

Qualifications & Experience:

- Education: Bachelors degree in Commerce, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field (MBA in HR or a specialized diploma in Labour Laws is highly preferred).

- Experience: 8-12 years of core experience in payroll processing and statutory compliance within a mid-to-large corporate environment (Payroll handling of 1000+ white collar employees).

Technical Skills:

- Hands-on experience with top-tier HRIS platforms (SAP SuccessFactors experience is a strong advantage).

- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, complex formulas).

- Knowledge: Deep understanding of the Indian Income Tax Act (as it pertains to salaries) and comprehensive knowledge of state-specific and central labor regulations.

- Attributes: Exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.