Senior Associate, Payroll

Job Title: Senior Associate, Payroll

Reports To: Senior Manager, People

Function: People

Location: Hong Kong

About WPP Media

WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit wppmedia.com.

WPP Media is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions, and expert strategic counsel.

Role Summary and Impact

We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Senior Associate, Payroll, Hong Kong to execute end-to-end payroll processes, tax filings, and data management.  This role plays a critical part in ensuring operational accuracy, regulatory compliance, timely execution of payroll and tax returns, and maintaining complete data accuracy and records to support overall operational success.

Core Responsibilities:

End-to-End Payroll Execution: Full-cycle processing from calculation to disbursement, partnering effectively with external payroll vendor to ensure accurate processing and data integrity.

Tax Returns & Compliance: Preparing, filing, and reconciling payroll-related tax returns in full compliance with local regulatory and tax requirements.

HR Operations & Lifecycle Administration: Managing pre-onboarding, onboarding, employment contracts, employee movement logistics, and leave system administration.

Data & Records Management: Maintaining accurate payroll databases, employee records, audit trails, and reporting.

Process Optimization: Driving operational enhancements, workflow automation, and continuous payroll service improvements.

Ad-Hoc Support: Assisting with special projects and handling additional assignments as directed by leadership

Skills and Experience

At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values:

• Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.
• Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.
• Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Minimum 3 years of dedicated payroll experience within a sizable corporation or enterprise environment.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the HK Employment Ordinance, MPF regulations, and local statutory labor compliance.
• Strong numerical accuracy and advanced proficiency in Excel.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage professionally across teams.
• Highly detailed and organized, with a proven track record of delivering accurately under tight deadlines and pressure.
• Strong team player with high resilience, drive, and a proactive "can-do" attitude.
• Proven capability to collaborate effectively across diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Cantonese; proficiency in Mandarin is preferred.

Desired Skills & Experience:

• Hands-on experience with Workday HRIS or enterprise payroll software.
• Experience working within a matrixed corporate structure.
• Experience with HR/payroll transformation, process optimization, and change management projects.

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, group retirement plans, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, preferential partner discounts, and employee mental health awareness days.

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.