Payroll Manager (APAC and Africa)
5 days ago
Madrid
Role Overview We have an opportunity for an experienced APAC and Africa Payroll Manager to join our HR Shared Services team in a truly global environment, leading the delivery of accurate, timely, compliant, and efficient payroll services across the APAC and Africa regions. The role will oversee end-to-end payroll operations and partner closely with HR, Finance, Tax, Legal, local country teams, and external payroll providers to deliver a consistent, high-quality payroll service and employee experience. Position Title: Payroll Manager (APAC and Africa) Reporting to: Head of HR Shared Services, International Function: Human Resources Region: APAC and Africa Location: Spain/South Africa/Singapore Employment Type: Full-Time Business Overview _ is a leading global merchant commodities firm facilitating the flow of energy, metals, agriculture, and environmental products across the full commodity supply chain, connecting producers and consumers. Hartree was founded in 1997, is jointly owned by senior management and funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, LP, and employs over 5,000 individuals worldwide. Hartree is uniquely positioned to capitalise on opportunities across a diversified set of commodities businesses with a focus on trading, asset investments, risk management and advisory services. These businesses are supported by a centralised operating model including risk, technology, operations, finance, HR, legal and compliance, ensuring strong governance and effective execution. As a growing and evolving firm, Hartree continues to expand its commercial footprint, invest in new assets, and build new capabilities to meet emerging market opportunities. This growth mindset shapes our culture and attracts people who want to innovate, build, and drive meaningful impact. Key Responsibilities Regional Payroll Management • Own and oversee end-to-end payroll operations across APAC and Africa countries, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing., • Manage payroll calendars, cut-offs, approvals, funding, payroll files, and post-payroll reconciliation., • Ensure payroll processing complies with applicable local payroll, employment, tax, social security, statutory reporting, and company requirements., • Ensure compliance with employer and employee payroll tax obligations, including tax withholding, remittance, year-end reporting, and associated statutory requirements., • Oversee annual payroll reporting and statutory filings, including tax certificates, employee earnings statements, annual reconciliations, and regulatory submissions required by local authorities., • Review and approve payroll outputs, including gross-to-net calculations, payroll reports, funding requirements, and variance analysis., • Ensure appropriate controls and segregation of duties are maintained throughout the payroll process., • Oversee payroll vendors and third-party providers, ensuring service levels, accuracy, and contractual obligations are met., • Manage escalations and resolve complex payroll issues in partnership with internal and external stakeholders. Compliance & Governance • Maintain strong regional payroll governance, controls, documentation, and standard operating procedures., • Monitor changes in payroll, employment, tax, social security, and statutory requirements across APAC and Africa and ensure appropriate implementation., • Ensure accurate calculation, deduction, reporting, and remittance of social insurance, pension, provident fund, superannuation, employee welfare, and other mandatory statutory contributions., • Ensure payroll practices remain compliant with applicable local labour and wage legislation., • Partner with Finance and Tax on payroll accounting, tax reporting, reconciliations, audits, and statutory obligations., • Support internal and external audits and ensure payroll-related findings are appropriately addressed., • Ensure payroll operations comply with applicable data privacy and cross-border data transfer requirements, including GDPR and relevant APAC and Africa privacy legislation., • Identify, assess, and mitigate payroll operational, compliance, financial, and data risks., • Ensure payroll operations comply with applicable data privacy and cross-border data transfer regulations, including GDPR and other equivalent data privacy legislation. Stakeholder Management • Build strong relationships with HR Business Partners, HR Operations, Finance, Tax, Legal, IT, and local country stakeholders., • Serve as the primary regional escalation point for complex payroll matters., • Provide clear reporting and insights to senior leadership on payroll performance, risks, issues, and opportunities., • Work closely with employees and HR teams to ensure a high-quality payroll service and employee experience. Process Improvement & Transformation • Identify opportunities to standardise and simplify payroll processes across APAC and Africa., • Lead or support payroll transformation, automation, system implementation, and integration initiatives., • Own and continuously enhance the regional payroll control framework, including control design, documentation, monitoring, testing, and remediation., • Improve data quality, reporting, and payroll efficiency through technology and process optimisation., • Establish and monitor regional payroll KPIs and service-level metrics., • Develop scalable processes that support business growth, organisational changes, and new country implementations., • Maintain robust business continuity and payroll contingency plans. Team & Vendor Leadership • Lead, coach, and develop payroll professionals where applicable., • Establish clear performance expectations, operating procedures, and service standards., • Manage relationships with external payroll providers and hold vendors accountable for performance., • Establish robust vendor governance frameworks, monitor provider compliance obligations, review evidence of statutory filings, and conduct periodic compliance assessments of payroll providers., • Conduct regular service reviews and drive remediation of recurring issues. Experience & Qualifications • Significant experience managing multi-country payroll operations., • Strong understanding of payroll legislation, employment tax, social security, statutory filing, labour law, and data privacy requirements across multiple jurisdictions., • Experience managing outsourced payroll providers and/or shared-service payroll operations., • Experience overseeing statutory year-end payroll reporting and filings across multiple jurisdictions., • Experience working within a multinational or complex international organisation., • Strong understanding of payroll control frameworks, reconciliations, audits, payroll accounting, and financial processes., • Experience with HRIS/payroll systems and payroll technology; experience with systems such as Workday, SAP, Oracle, ADP, or equivalent is desirable., • Demonstrated experience leading payroll transformation, process improvement, automation, or system implementations., • Bachelor's degree in HR, Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related discipline is preferred., • Relevant payroll certification or professional qualification is advantageous. Skills & Competencies • Regional payroll expertise with strong attention to detail., • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills., • Strong knowledge of payroll governance, controls, employment tax, and compliance., • Ability to manage multiple countries, deadlines, vendors, and competing priorities., • Strong stakeholder management and communication skills., • Ability to influence across a matrixed international organisation., • Strong commercial and operational mindset., • High level of integrity and discretion when handling confidential employee and payroll data., • Strong project and change-management capabilities., • Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, international environment and support stakeholders across APAC and Africa time zones. What We Offer • Opportunity to lead payroll operations across a diverse and complex APAC and Africa regions., • A highly visible role within the international organisation., • Opportunity to shape regional payroll strategy, governance, controls, and transformation., • Collaboration with senior HR, Finance, Tax, Legal, and business stakeholders across multiple markets., • Flexible international location, subject to business requirements and right-to-work considerations. We recognise that talent comes in many forms, and we value potential just as much as experience. If this role excites you but you don’t meet every requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Our Offer We provide a fast-paced, stimulating and truly global environment, which will stretch your abilities and channel your talents. We also offer a competitive salary and benefits combined with outstanding career development opportunities in one of the global leaders of commodity trading. Our Values Integrity, Collaboration, Entrepreneurship Our values define who we are. They are the fundamental beliefs that determine our actions and guide our behaviour. They influence the way we communicate and collaborate, and define the way we engage with our clients, partners, and communities. Our Commitment We are committed to maintaining a work environment where all employees are treated with dignity and respect. We provide equal opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, sex, gender, age, religion, ethnic or national origin, marital or civil partner status, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are not accepting unsolicited CV/resumes from recruitment or search agencies for this vacancy. Any CVs/resume’s submitted without a prior agreement in place with our talent acquisition team will be considered the property of Hartree, and no fees will be paid We are willing to make any reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process.
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