Lead - Payroll & Benefits Administration

Role Overview: The Lead Payroll & Benefits to own and manage the entire payroll and benefits operations for over 30,000 high churn salesforce. The responsibilities include guiding the team for accurate and timely processing of salary, benefits and related payouts, compliance with statutory and audit requirements, and efficient management of payroll-related processes for the multiple legal entities in the PhonePe group. 

Responsibilities:  

1. Payroll Management:

• End to end ownership: Lead the strategy and execution of end-to-end payroll operations, ensuring timely and accurate salary disbursements for all employees. Ensure payroll data integrity, and implement system upgrades and enhancements. 
• Ensure thorough documentation of payroll reports, tax filings, benefits deductions, and other required reports, maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements.
• External Partner Management: Manage the external payroll partner, ensuring adherence to predefined service levels. Establish robust governance and review mechanisms to ensure adherence to payroll processes with the necessary checks and balances.

1. Compliance and Audits:

• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure adherence to all payroll compliance regulations and tax laws, ensuring timely remittances of deductions and statutory dues.
• Audit Management: Support the statutory and tax audits, providing necessary audit evidence and clear responses to audit-related queries. Maintain organized and thorough documentation to support audit processes.

1. Team Management:

• Guide the team members and ensure their development through relevant interventions and regular feedback. Identify and address skill gaps to enhance team performance. 
• Ensure the team members discharge the following assigned payroll benefits activities within required timelines:

• Payroll Validation: Ensure accuracy and integrity in payroll processing by validating payroll inputs and outputs.
• Salary Advances: Process salary advances in accordance with company policies.
• Exit Management: Support the high volume employee exits by obtaining and documenting all necessary clearances, process full and final settlement, and issue required letters (including the showcause and termination letters abscinding or involuntary exit cases). Ensuring proper documentation and approvals in cases of payroll recoveries and write-offs as applicable. 
• Benefits Administration: Administer retirals (provident fund, NPS, gratuity) and employee benefits (insurance, car lease, etc.) ensuring compliance with company policies and regulations.
• Year end activities: Oversee the year-end tax proof submission process, ensuring compliance and timely employee submissions and timely form-16 generation.
• TDS Returns: Handle quarterly TDS return filing and report validation.
• Ensure timely resolution of employees’ payroll and leave related matters.

1. Process Improvement:

• Process Improvement: Conduct periodic reviews of payroll processes, identify areas for improvement, and implement changes to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
• Standardization: Establish and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and FAQs to ensure uniform and standardized payroll process steps.
• Documentation: Prepare and maintain accurate payroll records, ensuring they are up-to-date and readily accessible for audits and reporting.
• Reporting: Ensure timely and accurate submission of payroll data for statutory and internal reporting requirements and closure of company books.

Capabilities & Requirements:

• Master's degree in Human Resources, Labour Laws, or related field. 
• Thorough understanding of the Indian payroll processes, tax laws and payroll related compliance regulations. Knowledge of US payroll is a plus.
• 7 to 8 years experience in payroll and benefits management, with at least 2-3 years in a managerial role, within a large organization. 
• Experience in managing payroll for multiple legal entities is preferred.
• Proven experience in handling statutory and tax audits.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and resolve discrepancies.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail in payroll processing and compliance.
• Demonstrated experience in process improvement and change management, with the ability to implement efficient and effective payroll processes.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information.
• Very high proficiency in MS Excel