Associate Vice President - Payroll

About the Role

We are seeking a seasoned and visionary leader to AVP - Global Payroll Operations across multiple geographies in a SaaS-driven environment. The role focuses on driving digital transformation, ensuring global compliance, and strengthening governance, automation, and scalability to deliver an exceptional client experience.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Operational Leadership

Lead global payroll delivery across multiple regions within a SaaS-enabled model. (India & Middle East)

Drive automation, process excellence, and digital transformation to enhance accuracy and efficiency.

Establish robust governance across payroll systems, integrations, and data management.

Ensure adherence to global tax regulations, statutory filings, and audit standards.

Oversee financial governance including cost optimization, pricing strategy, and gross margin management.

Define and monitor SLAs, KPIs, and service excellence metrics.

Escalation & Risk Management

Serve as the executive escalation point for critical payroll issues.

Conduct root cause analysis and implement preventive measures.

Build structured escalation frameworks and maintain transparent client communication.

People & Leadership Development

Lead and develop large, multi-region teams while fostering accountability, innovation, and collaboration.

Mentor senior delivery leaders and build a strong leadership pipeline.

Monitor performance and productivity through data-driven insights and leadership KPIs.

Key Skills & Experience

CA / MBA / Postgraduate with 16–20 years of experience in global payroll leadership within SaaS-led environments.

Deep expertise in statutory compliance, taxation, and multi-country payroll governance.

Strong understanding of payroll technologies, HRMS integrations, and data privacy standards.

Proven track record in financial governance, SLA management, and transformation leadership.

Advanced proficiency in MS Excel and SaaS-based payroll / HR tech platforms.

Demonstrated success in leading large-scale operational and digital transformation initiatives.