Payroll Team Lead

Job Description About the Company : Mercans is a Global HR, Payroll and SaaS Company. We offers a broad range of services that support businesses in streamlining their workforce management, end to end payroll processing and ensuring compliance across various international markets. About the Role : We're looking for Team Lead - BAU (Payroll Operations) - APAC, who is responsible for overseeing payroll operations, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for clients. This position is responsible for managing payroll specialists, optimizing workflows, driving automation initiatives, and maintaining service excellence. The role requires strong leadership, technical proficiency, compliance expertise, and a commitment to continuous improvement. The Team Leader collaborates closely with the Manager - BAU, cross-functional teams, and stakeholders to enhance payroll service delivery and support digital transformation. Must Haves : - Experience: 7 - 15 Years of hands-on experience in end-to-end payroll processing across APAC countries for external clients - Work Location: Anywhere -: India, APAC Countries (As it's a Remote Opportunity, fully WFH) - We are specifically looking for candidates from payroll outsourcing companies who have hands-on experience in managing payroll for external clients. Key Responsibilities: Payroll Operations & Service Delivery : Supervise a team of payroll specialists to ensure seamless payroll processing across multiple regions. Oversee end-to-end payroll activities, including data validation, processing, reconciliation, and reporting. Ensure that payroll transactions comply with local and international tax laws, labor laws, and statutory requirements. Maintain payroll accuracy by reviewing calculations, deductions, and adjustments before processing final payments. Work closely with Finance and HR teams to coordinate payroll inputs, benefits, deductions, and compliance reporting. Ensure payroll deadlines are met in accordance with agreed SLAs and client requirements. Monitor payroll discrepancies and proactively resolve errors before payroll disbursement. Conduct root cause analysis on payroll issues and implement corrective measures. Prepare and review payroll reports, tax filings, and compliance documentation for audits. Keep up to date with regulatory changes affecting payroll operations and ensure timely implementation. Workforce Development & Culture Building: Lead, mentor, and support payroll specialists, providing guidance on best practices, compliance, and efficiency improvements. Conduct regular performance evaluations, set goals, and provide constructive feedback. Identify skill gaps within the team and implement training programs to enhance payroll knowledge and technical expertise. Foster a collaborative and performance-driven culture within the team. Develop succession planning initiatives to build future leaders within the payroll team. Organize team-building activities to drive engagement, motivation, and productivity. Ensure fair workload distribution among payroll specialists to optimize efficiency. Encourage knowledge sharing and cross-training to build a resilient and multi-skilled payroll team. Support career growth and development by identifying opportunities for internal promotions and role advancements. Process Improvement & Automation: Identify inefficiencies in payroll operations and propose automation solutions to improve accuracy and reduce manual effort. Collaborate with the Manager - BAU and IT teams to integrate AI-driven tools, RPA (Robotic Process Automation), and digital workflows. Implement standardized payroll workflows across different regions to enhance consistency and compliance. Monitor payroll performance using KPIs and analytics to identify areas for process optimization. Develop and document payroll SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) to ensure knowledge transfer and process continuity. Support the rollout of new payroll technologies, systems, and tools to streamline payroll functions. Leverage payroll data analytics to forecast workload, staffing needs, and payroll costs. Ensure seamless integration between payroll systems, HRIS, and accounting platforms to enhance data accuracy and efficiency.