Payroll Specialist
Tungsten Automation
Process end-to-end monthly payroll for employees across eight APJ markets, prepare and file annual employee salary income tax returns, and execute all related statutory payments on time and in full compliance with local requirements. This role is working closely with the APJ Payroll Specialist Statutory Compliance & Governance, with a hands-on, transaction-level focus that complements the compliance and governance. Provide support and backup Payroll Specialist, statutory and governance as and when required.
Key Responsibilities
Monthly Payroll Processing:
- Process monthly payroll end-to-end for all in-scope APJ countries, including new hires, terminations, transfers, and mid-cycle changes.
- Validate payroll inputs (attendance, leave, overtime, allowances, benefits, incentives, one-off payments) received from HR and local operations before each pay run.
- Run payroll calculations through the relevant payroll system or vendor platform and perform pre-payment reconciliation checks for accuracy.
- Coordinate with in-country payroll agencies to ensure payroll is delivered against the agreed monthly calendar for each market.
- Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies, employee queries, and payment errors within agreed turnaround times.
- Prepare monthly payroll reconciliation reports and variance analysis for review by the Accounting Manager.
Prepare and support filing of annual employee salary income tax returns/statements across all eight markets, including:
Country
Annual Salary Income Return Requirement
Malaysia
Form EA (annual remuneration statement), CP8D submission to LHDN
Singapore
Form IR8A and appendices, auto-inclusion scheme (AIS) submission to IRAS
Australia (NSW/VIC)
Income statements via Single Touch Payroll (STP) finalisation to ATO
Japan
Year-end adjustment (nenmatsu chosei) and Gensen Choshuhyo (withholding tax statement)
Hong Kong
IR56B annual employer's return to the Inland Revenue Department
Indonesia
Annual PPh21 tax reconciliation and employee tax slip (Bukti Potong)
India
Form 16 (TDS certificate) and annual Form 24Q filing
Vietnam
Annual personal income tax (PIT) finalisation for employees
- Reconcile annual salary and tax data against monthly payroll records prior to filing.
- Distribute annual tax statements/certificates to employees within statutory deadlines.
- Escalate any data gaps or discrepancies to the Accounting Manager well ahead of filing deadlines
Calculate and process all statutory payments arising from monthly payroll across the eight markets, including:
- Malaysia: EPF, SOCSO, EIS, PCB, HRDF levy
- Singapore: CPF contributions
- Australia: Superannuation Guarantee contributions, PAYG withholding, state payroll tax (NSW/VIC)
- Japan: Shakai Hoken, Koyo Hoken, Rosai Hoken, resident/income tax withholding
- Hong Kong: Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contributions
- Indonesia: BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, BPJS Kesehatan, PPh21
- India: Provident Fund (PF), ESI, Professional Tax, Gratuity where applicable
- Vietnam: Social/Health/Unemployment Insurance (SI/HI/UI), Personal Income Tax (PIT)
- Prepare payment instructions/remittance files and submit within statutory due dates for each country.
- Maintain evidence of timely payment (receipts, bank confirmations, filing acknowledgements) for audit purposes.
- Track statutory due dates on the regional filing calendar and flag upcoming deadlines proactively.
- Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and control checkpoints defined by the Payroll Specialist, Statutory Compliance & Governance.
- Support internal and external audits by preparing requested payroll and statutory documentation.
- Flag any observed statutory or process changes in-market to the Accounting Manager for review.
- Maintain accurate, up-to-date employee payroll records and statutory filing documentation in the central repository.
- Respond to employee payroll queries (payslips, deductions, tax statements) within agreed service levels.
- Liaise with in-country payroll agencies on day-to-day processing issues.
- Coordinate with HR and Accounting teams on payroll inputs, cost center allocations, and general ledger postings.
Required Skills
Knowledge
- Working knowledge of statutory payroll requirements in India (PF/ESI/Professional Tax/Form 16) is essential given the base location.
- Familiarity with payroll and statutory processes in at least two to three other in-scope markets (e.g. Singapore CPF, Malaysia EPF/SOCSO/PCB, Australia Super/STP).
- High attention to detail and accuracy under monthly processing deadlines.
- Strong reconciliation and numerical skills.
- Ability to work across time zones with in-country agencies and stakeholders across APJ.
- Clear communication skills for employee and stakeholder queries.
- 3–5 years of hands-on payroll processing experience, ideally spanning multiple APJ countries.
- Experience preparing or supporting annual salary income tax returns/statements (e.g. Form 16, IR8A, EA Form, STP finalisation) is strongly preferred.
- Experience working with payroll agencies and statutory payment processing
- Bachelor's degree in Commerce, Finance, HR, or a related field. Payroll certification is an advantage.