Head Of Payroll

Job Description: Head of Payroll

Position: Head of Payroll

Department: Human Resources / Finance

Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Role

Seeking an experienced and highly analytical Head of Payroll to lead our national payroll operations. In this critical leadership role, you will be responsible for managing end-to-end payroll processes for a massive workforce comprising 5,000 on-roll and 10,000 off-roll employees.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in Indian statutory compliance, taxation, and large-scale payroll accounting. You will act as the subject matter expert on the New Wage Code, drive vendor accountability for off-roll staff, and oversee the strategic administration of employee tax benefits and reconciliation processes.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Operations & Vendor Management

• End-to-End Execution: Lead the complete payroll lifecycle for 15,000+ employees (5K on-roll, 10K off-roll) ensuring 100% accuracy and on-time disbursement.
• Off-Roll Vendor Management: Closely monitor and manage third-party staffing vendors handling the 10,000 off-roll employees. Ensure vendors adhere to strict SLAs, payout timelines, and compliance standards.
• Salary Revisions & Payouts: Oversee complex annual increment cycles, arrears calculations, full and final (F&F) settlements, and the generation of error-free Bank Files for direct transfers.

Statutory Compliance & Taxation

• New Wage Code Readiness: Act as the internal champion for the upcoming New Labour & Wage Codes. Design, structure, and implement necessary compensation changes to ensure total organizational readiness.
• Taxation Expertise: Serve as the authority on employee income tax (TDS) calculations, deductions, and routine filings. Ensure accurate tax forecasting and year-end Form 16 generation.
• Statutory Guidelines: Ensure strict adherence to all statutory compliances including PF, ESIC, PT, LWF, and Gratuity.
• Audit Management: Lead both internal and external payroll audits. Liaise with statutory auditors and government bodies to ensure zero-non-compliance.

Payroll Accounting & Analytics

• Financial Reconciliation: Manage end-to-end payroll accounting. Oversee the creation of accurate Journal Vouchers (JVs) and ensure seamless integration with the central finance ledger.
• Variance Analysis: Conduct deep-dive monthly variance analysis comparing current vs. previous payroll cycles, identifying and rectifying any anomalies.
• Data Analysis: Leverage strong analytical skills to provide actionable payroll MIS, workforce cost dashboards, and customized reports to the executive leadership team.
• Bank Reconciliations: Ensure all payroll-related bank accounts are reconciled monthly with zero open items.

Benefits Administration

• Tax-Benefit Programs: Oversee the administration, policy structuring, and compliance of various employee benefit programs.
• Program Management: Directly manage the execution of Car Lease policies, National Pension System (NPS), Voluntary Provident Fund (VPF), and other flexible tax-saving structures.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience: Minimum 10+ years of dedicated, hard-core payroll experience, preferably within logistics, FMCG, or large-scale retail sectors.
• Education: Bachelors or Masters degree in Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, or a related field (CA / ICWA / MBA preferred).
• Scale: Proven track record of managing large-scale, complex payrolls exceeding 10,000+ headcount.
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced command of MS Excel and hands-on experience with enterprise-grade HRIS/Payroll systems (e.g., Greythr, Darwin BoxSAP, Oracle, Ramco, or similar).

Skills & Competencies

• Exceptional numerical ability and high attention to detail.
• Strong vendor negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to translate complex taxation and statutory jargon into actionable HR/Finance policies.
• Process-driven mindset with a focus on automating manual payroll interventions.