Senior Payroll Manager

Job Summary:

HONO.ai is a premium HR-Tech Solution and range of HR Services for all your requirements. HONO aims to nurture Human Relationships, propel employees pursuit of realizing their true potential and embrace the best of talent through a host of innovative technologies. We at HONO are committed to connect people across cultures, traditions, ideas, beliefs and boundaries. Connecting across multi-channels, platforms and systems.

The Senior Manager – Payroll is responsible for leading and managing the organization's payroll function, ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll processing across multiple entities, locations, and geographies. The role is accountable for payroll governance, statutory compliance, payroll strategy, process optimization, system enhancements, audit management, and stakeholder engagement. The incumbent partners closely with HR, Finance, Legal, Taxation, and business leaders to ensure payroll operations are efficient, scalable, compliant, and aligned with organizational objectives.

The role also drives payroll transformation initiatives, automation, compliance frameworks, vendor management, and payroll analytics while leading a team of payroll professionals to deliver a best-in-class employee experience.

Job Responsibilities:

Payroll Leadership & Operations

• Lead end-to-end payroll operations across all business units, entities, and geographies.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of monthly payroll, incentives, bonuses, commissions, retention bonuses, reimbursements, arrears, and full & final settlements.
• Establish payroll governance frameworks, controls, and approval mechanisms.
• Oversee payroll calendars, cut-offs, validations, and disbursement processes.

Statutory Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with all payroll-related statutory requirements, including Income Tax, PF, ESI, Professional Tax, Labour Welfare Fund, Gratuity, Social Security, and other local regulations.
• Monitor legislative changes and implement required payroll process updates.
• Mitigate payroll risks through robust controls, audits, reconciliations, and compliance reviews.
• Liaise with statutory authorities, auditors, consultants, and legal advisors when required.

Payroll Strategy & Transformation

• Develop and implement payroll strategies to improve efficiency, accuracy, scalability, and employee experience.
• Drive payroll automation, digitization, and HRMS/payroll system enhancements.
• Lead payroll transformation projects, system implementations, migrations, and integrations.
• Establish standardized payroll processes and governance across locations.

Financial Controls & Reporting

• Oversee payroll accounting, reconciliations, accruals, and cost reporting.
• Ensure accurate payroll-related financial reporting and compliance with audit requirements.
• Support budgeting, manpower planning, compensation forecasting, and workforce cost analysis.
• Provide payroll analytics and strategic insights to leadership.

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop payroll managers, analysts, and payroll operations teams.
• Define performance objectives and ensure achievement of departmental KPIs.
• Build capability within the payroll function through coaching and process excellence initiatives.

Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Partner with HR, Finance, Legal, Taxation, and business leaders to ensure smooth payroll operations.
• Manage relationships with payroll vendors, consultants, banks, and statutory agencies.
• Act as the escalation point for complex payroll issues and employee concerns.

Audit & Governance

• Lead internal, external, statutory, and compliance audits related to payroll.
• Ensure maintenance of payroll records, documentation, and audit trails.
• Establish payroll policies, SOPs, controls, and governance standards.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Commerce, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, or related discipline.
• MBA, CA (Inter), CPA, CPP, or relevant payroll certifications preferred.
• 10–15 years of payroll experience, including leadership responsibility for large-scale payroll operations.
• Experience managing payroll across multiple locations, countries, or business entities preferred.
• Strong understanding of payroll taxation, labor laws, compliance requirements, and payroll accounting.