APAC Payroll Manager

Job description

Company Description Job Description The Payroll Manager – Asia Pacific (APAC) will lead a team of up to 10 overseeing payroll operations working closely with outsourced partners across multiple countries in the region. The role will be the escalation point for complex payroll issues and ensure strict adherence to local labour laws and tax regulations. Responsible for ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll delivery while supporting tech‑industry demands such as global mobility, equity compensation, scalable processes, and high‑growth workforce expansion. Partnering closely with HR, Finance, Compensation and Benefits, Global Mobility, and external vendors (Dayforce and EX3 who manage our Employee Central Payroll) to deliver a world‑class payroll experience in a dynamic and innovative environment. 1. Strategic Regional Leadership Define and execute the regional payroll strategy that supports rapid scaling, new country expansion, harmonisation and merging of entities and evolving tech‑industry regulatory requirements. Serve as the senior payroll advisor to People/HR leadership, Finance, and executive teams on APAC payroll matters. Anticipate business needs in a high-growth, high-change environment and proactively adapt processes. Leading on payroll projects including acquisition integration, systems implementation, migration and continuous improvement activities 2. Governance, Controls & Compliance Ensure team awareness and understanding of latest payroll policies, updates in legislation and procedures Own APAC payroll governance, ensuring all payroll activities adhere to internal controls, SOX, data privacy requirements, and audit expectations. Maintain deep knowledge of country-specific payroll, tax, social insurance, and labour regulations across APAC’s diverse markets. Partner with Legal, Security, and Compliance teams to meet GDPR/APAC data protection standards, including handling sensitive employee data securely. 3. Payroll Operations Oversight Oversee end-to-end payroll operations across multiple APAC countries, delivering accurate and timely payroll for tech employee populations (full-time, contractors, interns, remote/hybrid workers). Coordinate year-end payroll processes, including tax reporting, annual statements, and compliance filings for each country Manage complex payroll cycles involving Global Mobility, RSUs, ESPP, bonuses, sign-on awards, retention plans, and variable pay common in tech compensation. Review and sign off on payroll reconciliations, general ledger journals, funding, variance reports, and statutory filings. 4. Vendor Management Lead relationships with regional and in-country payroll vendors Evaluate and implement new payroll models as the company expands into new APAC markets. Drive performance reviews, SLA monitoring, and contract negotiations. 5. Technology, Automation & Innovation Champion payroll automation, system optimization, and integration with HRIS/Finance platforms (SAP SuccessFactors, and Success Factors Payroll (ECP) Partner with IT, HRIS, and Product teams to streamline workflows, integrations, data flows, and reporting. Support digital transformation initiatives such as self‑service, real‑time analytics, and centralized dashboards. 6. People Leadership Lead and manage a regional team of payroll professionals, providing mentorship, performance feedback and career development opportunities (currently based in Taiwan and Malaysia), Foster a culture of operational and customer excellence, innovation, and continuous learning. Provide a supportive environment that promotes problem solving through root cause analysis and identification of standard ways of working Ensuring adaptability within the team to provide back ups and succession planning Promote collaboration with our global operations hub 7. Stakeholder & Employee Experience Management Act as the senior escalation point for complex payroll queries and executive-level cases Partner with Total Rewards on equity vesting events, stock transactions, and tax treatments Work with Global Mobility on cross‑border assignments, remote worker arrangements, and complex tax obligations Communicate payroll changes clearly in a fast-paced technology environment where transparency and employee trust are critical 8. Managing budgets for Payroll costs in APAC region Monitoring YTD spend against budgeted costs Raise Purchase requisitions as necessary Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in HR, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field. Professional certifications (SPM, GPA, CPP, CIPP, or local equivalents) desirable 8-10+ years’ of progressive payroll experience, with 3+ years proven experience as an International Payroll Manager or similar role, with a focus on managing payroll operations across multiple countries and regions. An appetite for standard, simplified processes with proven experience of managing and implementing change programmes In-depth knowledge of global payroll regulations, tax laws, and compliance requirements for various jurisdictions. Strong understanding of statutory deductions, tax rates, social security requirements, and benefits regulations in different countries Experience of handling equity plans (RSUs, ESPP, stock options) and global mobility tax impacts Experience working with international payroll service providers and managing relationships with external vendors. Proficiency in using payroll software or systems for end-to-end payroll processing, SAP SuccessFactors, ECP and WFS advantageous. Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in processing complex payroll scenarios across different jurisdictions. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to handle complex payroll calculations and reconciliations. Excellent organizational and time management skills to handle multiple payrolls and deadlines. Strong leadership and team management skills to lead and motivate a diverse team of payroll professionals. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders. Understanding of data protection regulations and confidentiality requirements in handling employee information. Proficient in using MS Office applications, particularly Excel, for data analysis and reporting. Ability to adapt to changing payroll requirements across different countries and regions. Continuous learning mindset to stay updated with changes in global payroll regulations and best practices. Ability to lead on regional payroll projects and continuous improvement activities with exceptional interpersonal and stakeholder management skills Fluent Malay and English together with Chinese would be an advantage Additional Information Renesas is an embedded semiconductor solution provider driven by its Purpose ‘ To Make Our Lives Easier .’ As the industry’s leading expert in embedded processing with unmatched quality and system-level know-how, we have evolved to provide scalable and comprehensive semiconductor solutions for automotive, industrial, infrastructure, and IoT industries based on the broadest product portfolio, including High Performance Computing, Embedded Processing, Analog & Connectivity, and Power. With a diverse team of over 21,000 professionals in more than 30 countries, we continue to expand our boundaries to offer enhanced user experiences through digitalization and usher into a new era of innovation. We design and develop sustainable, power-efficient solutions today that help people and communities thrive tomorrow, ‘ To Make Our Lives Easier .’ At Renesas, you can: Launch and advance your career in technical and business roles across four Product Groups and various corporate functions. You will have the opportunities to explore our hardware and software capabilities and try new things. Make a real impact by developing innovative products and solutions to meet our global customers' evolving needs and help make people’s lives easier, safe and secure. Maximize your performance and wellbeing in our flexible and inclusive work environment. Our people-first culture and global support system, including the remote work option and Employee Resource Groups, will help you excel from the first day. Are you ready to own your success and make your mark? Join Renesas. Let’s Shape the Future together. Renesas Electronics is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, committed to supporting diversity and fostering a work environment free of discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military status, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. For more information, please read our Diversity & Inclusion Statement .