Payroll & Benefits Manager

Payroll Management

• Oversee the full payroll cycle, ensuring accurate, timely processing and adherence to statutory and company requirements within a multi-location retail environment.
• Review and validate payroll data including attendance, shift differentials, overtime, incentives, commissions, claims, and statutory deductions.
• Ensure payroll reconciliation, variance analysis, and reporting are completed accurately and within stipulated timelines.
• Lead payroll audit activities and maintain comprehensive documentation for compliance and internal control purposes.
• Manage and resolve payroll-related queries from employees and stakeholders in a prompt and professional manner.
• Collaborate with Operations to ensure accurate payroll inputs from stores, warehouses, and corporate functions.

Statutory Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with statutory contributions (e.g., EPF, SOCSO, EIS, PCB) and applicable labour regulations.
• Monitor and implement updates in statutory and regulatory requirements affecting payroll and employment practices.
• Liaise with relevant authorities on payroll-related submissions, audits, and compliance matters.

Benefits Management

• Oversee the administration of employee benefits programmes including insurance, leave policies, allowances, and retail-specific incentives.
• Conduct periodic compensation and benefits benchmarking to ensure market competitiveness and employee retention.
• Manage relationships with external vendors, insurers, and brokers to ensure effective delivery of benefits programmes.
• Review benefits structures, utilisation, and cost efficiency to ensure sustainability and alignment with business needs.
• Drive enhancements to employee value proposition through innovative benefits and wellness initiatives.
• Organize and coordinate staff yearly welfare programmes such as annual dinners, gatherings, and incentive trips.

Financial Analytics & Rewards

• Analyse manpower costs, compensation trends, and reward effectiveness to support business decision-making.
• Partner closely with Finance on budgeting, forecasting, and cost optimisation related to payroll and employee benefits.
• Support the development and execution of reward frameworks that align with performance and business objectives.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure payroll practices and employee records are compliant with labour laws, internal policies, and audit requirements.
• Uphold strict confidentiality and data protection standards for all employee information.
• Review and strengthen policies related to payroll, claims, and benefits to ensure consistency and governance.

HR Systems & Data Management

• Manage payroll systems and HRIS to ensure data accuracy, integrity, and system efficiency.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee master data across all business units.
• Generate payroll, headcount, and cost reports to support management insights and decision-making.
• Drive system enhancements and automation to improve payroll efficiency and reduce manual errors

Job Requirements :

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience managing payroll, compensation & benefits and staff welfare.
• Strong knowledge of statutory regulations, payroll systems, HRIS platforms and retail workforce management.
• Proficient in payroll reporting and analytics to support informed business decision-making.
• Excellent Microsoft Excel skills are essential for this role. Candidates should be highly proficient in using advanced Excel functions, Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, SUMIFS/COUNTIFS and data analysis tools to manage large payroll datasets, perform reconciliation and variance analysis, and prepare management reports. Experience with Power Query, Power Pivot or Excel automation is an added advantage.
• Proven ability to implement staff welfare and engagement initiatives.
• Excellent analytical, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Leadership experience with ability to manage and develop the payroll team members.