Payroll Manager

Role Overview:

We are looking for an experienced Payroll Manager to own and manage GIVAs end-to-end payroll operations across corporate, retail, warehouse, and manufacturing teams.

The role will be responsible for ensuring accurate, timely, compliant, and efficient payroll processing, while strengthening payroll controls, processes, systems, and employee experience.

The ideal candidate should have strong expertise in Indian payroll, statutory compliance, payroll accounting, HRIS/payroll systems, and managing payroll operations at scale.

Key Responsibilities:

1. End-to-End Payroll Management

• Own the complete monthly payroll cycle from payroll inputs to final processing and salary disbursement.
• Ensure accurate processing of salaries, incentives, variable pay, bonuses, deductions, reimbursements, arrears, full & final settlements, and other payroll components.
• Manage payroll inputs including attendance, leave, new joiners, exits, transfers, promotions, increments, and salary revisions.
• Ensure payroll is processed within defined timelines with high levels of accuracy.
• Establish strong payroll checks and reconciliation mechanisms to minimize errors.

2. Statutory Compliance

• Ensure timely and accurate compliance with PF, ESI, PT, LWF, TDS, Professional Tax, Gratuity and other applicable statutory requirements.
• Coordinate with Finance, Tax, Legal, and external consultants for statutory filings and compliance requirements.
• Stay updated on changes in labour laws, payroll regulations, and statutory requirements.
• Ensure accurate calculation and submission of statutory deductions and returns.
• Support internal and external audits related to payroll and statutory compliance.

3. Payroll Systems & HRIS

• Own payroll processes within the HRMS/payroll system and ensure accurate employee master data.
• Work closely with HR, Finance, IT, and HRIS teams on system enhancements and integrations.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual payroll activities and improve process efficiency.
• Ensure payroll systems have appropriate controls, validations, and approval workflows.
• Drive continuous improvement in payroll processes and system capabilities.

4. Payroll Reconciliation & Controls

• Perform monthly payroll reconciliation between HRMS, payroll records, bank files, and Finance records.
• Coordinate with Finance for payroll accounting, provisions, journal entries, and payroll-related reconciliations.
• Identify discrepancies and ensure timely resolution.
• Establish maker-checker controls and audit trails across critical payroll activities.
• Maintain accurate payroll reports and documentation for audit and compliance purposes.

5. Employee & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the key point of contact for payroll-related queries and escalations.
• Partner closely with HRBPs, Talent Acquisition, Finance, Business Heads, and other stakeholders.
• Ensure timely resolution of salary, deduction, tax, reimbursement, and payroll-related employee queries.
• Develop clear communication and SOPs around payroll processes and policies.
• Handle sensitive and confidential employee information with a high degree of discretion.

6. Full & Final Settlement

• Oversee timely and accurate Full & Final settlements for exiting employees.
• Coordinate with HR, Finance, Payroll, and other stakeholders for recovery, leave encashment, incentives, gratuity, notice pay, and other applicable components.
• Ensure F&F calculations are compliant with company policies and applicable regulations.

7. Payroll MIS & Analytics

• Prepare and publish monthly payroll MIS and management reports.
• Provide insights on payroll costs, headcount, attrition, overtime, incentives, statutory costs, and other payroll-related metrics.
• Support budgeting and forecasting activities related to employee costs.
• Develop dashboards and reports to improve visibility into payroll trends and costs.

8. Process Improvement & Governance

• Develop and maintain payroll SOPs, checklists, process documents, and control frameworks.
• Conduct periodic payroll audits and identify opportunities to strengthen controls.
• Drive standardization across corporate, retail, warehouse, and manufacturing payroll processes.
• Lead initiatives to improve payroll accuracy, turnaround time, automation, and employee experience.

Key Stakeholders

• Human Resources / HR Operations
• HR Business Partners
• Talent Acquisition
• Finance & Accounting
• Tax
• Legal & Compliance
• Business / Retail Operations
• IT / HRIS
• Payroll Partners / Consultants

Must Have

• Strong experience in Payroll / HR Operations / Payroll Management.
• Strong experience in end-to-end Indian payroll processing.
• Hands-on knowledge of PF, ESI, PT, LWF, TDS, Gratuity and other statutory compliances.
• Experience managing payroll for a large and diverse employee base, preferably across multiple locations.
• Strong understanding of payroll accounting and reconciliation.
• Experience working with HRMS / Payroll systems.
• Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, data reconciliation, and payroll analysis.
• Strong attention to detail and numerical accuracy.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential employee information.

Good to Have

• Experience in retail, D2C, e-commerce, consumer, manufacturing, or high-growth organizations.
• Experience handling payroll across multiple states and a large frontline/retail workforce.
• Experience with payroll automation and HRMS implementation/migration.
• Exposure to variable pay, incentives, sales commissions, and attendance-based payroll.
• Experience managing external payroll vendors.
• Prior experience in a fast-paced startup or high-growth environment.

Key Competencies

• Payroll & Statutory Compliance
• Payroll Accounting & Reconciliation
• HRIS / Payroll Systems
• Process Excellence
• Data Accuracy & Analytical Skills
• Stakeholder Management
• Problem Solving
• Confidentiality & Integrity
• Process Automation
• Team Management
• Attention to Detail

Success Metrics

• Payroll accuracy and timely salary processing
• Statutory compliance within defined timelines
• Reduction in payroll errors and employee escalations
• Timely closure of payroll queries and F&F settlements
• Effective payroll reconciliation and controls
• Improved payroll automation and process efficiency
• Accurate payroll MIS and reporting
• Successful payroll audits with minimal observations