Senior Manager Payroll AP

Job description

JOB SUMMARY The Senior Manager serves as the regional process owner for Payroll Payment operations, providing leadership over service delivery, governance, controls, compliance, and transformation initiatives. The role is accountable for ensuring effective payment governance, operational excellence, stakeholder satisfaction, and continuous improvement while maintaining strong financial stewardship and risk management practices across Asia Pacific. The role partners closely with the Regional Director, Finance Projects (RDFP) to deliver operational excellence, process standardization, automation, governance, and continuous improvement across finance operations. The role ensures timely and accurate employee reimbursements, payroll disbursements, compliance with statutory and corporate requirements, and maintenance of a strong internal control environment. Working closely with Finance, HR, Treasury, and corporate teams, the Senior Manager drives operational excellence, process standardization, and continuous improvement across Procure-to-Pay and payroll payment processes. The Senior Manager provides leadership to payroll team, supports audit and compliance activities, and partners with stakeholders to achieve organizational objectives while maintaining the highest standards of financial stewardship, payment governance, and risk management. WORKING RELATIONSHIPS Primary Business Partners: Regional Finance & Accounting teams Onsite and Regional HR Leaders Corporate Finance & Accounting Team Interfaces With: Business Unit Finance Leaders Corporate and Regional Tax Team Payroll Services Providers Operational and Commercial Teams Internal and external auditors JOB SPECIFIC TASKS Overall responsibilities Lead and manage Payroll Operations, ensuring high-quality and cost-effective service delivery. Ensure timely and accurate processing of employee reimbursements and payroll disbursements. Maintain a robust control environment in compliance with SOX, company policies, treasury and banking controls, and regulatory requirements. Oversee payroll operations across multiple markets within Asia Pacific. Drive process standardization, operational efficiencies, and continuous improvement initiatives. Lead and develop high-performing payroll operations teams. Support finance transformation and automation initiatives to enhance efficiency and controls. Manage risks, escalations, fraud prevention measures, and payment exceptions. Execute operational priorities and transformation initiatives under the direction of the RDFP. Lead day-to-day operations of payroll functions and ensure delivery against established performance targets and service levels. Provide leadership, coaching, and development for payroll teams. Strategic Planning & Business Partnerships: Serve as the regional functional Payroll Payment processes across Asia Pacific. Partner with HR, Treasury, and business stakeholders to identify service improvement opportunities. Develop and monitor KPIs, SLAs, and performance dashboards to drive operational excellence. Lead governance forums with key stakeholders to review performance, risks, control effectiveness, and improvement opportunities. Support organizational redesign and migration initiatives into centralized environments. Lead regional initiatives involving payment automation, transformation, payroll process improvements, and ERP enhancements. Monitor project timelines, budgets, risks, and benefits realization. Ensure payment processes align with both local compliance requirements and global standards. Make sound business decisions that balance stakeholder needs, operational realities, and long-term objectives. Monitor project timelines, budgets, risks, and benefits realization. Make quality business decisions that thoughtfully weigh the facts and understand the interests of stakeholders involved. Centralized Operations & Controls Responsible for operational leadership and service delivery performance of payroll processes including finance operations. Accountable for achieving agreed service levels, process efficiencies, and quality standards. Payroll Operations Act as primary finance owner for payroll governance across the region. Ensure payroll funding, payroll accounting, and disbursement processes comply with established internal controls. Review payroll-related balance sheet reconciliations and control account integrity. Ensure appropriate segregation of duties exists across payroll processing, approval, and payment activities. Monitor payroll compliance risks and coordinate remediation activities with HR and payroll service providers. Review payroll metrics, trends, and exception reports to identify process improvement opportunities. Ensure compliance with local labor laws, payroll regulations, tax requirements, and statutory obligations across all countries under scope. Treasury & Cash Management Partnership Partner with Regional Finance & Accounting team and Corporate Treasury team to optimize payment cycles and working capital management. Support cash forecasting related to payroll payments. Oversee cash utilization processes. Support management of banking platforms and electronic payment systems. Collaborate with Regional Finance & Accounting team and Corporate Treasury team on initiatives involving payment automation and liquidity optimization. Governance and Controls: Serve as process owner for SOX controls relating to Payroll Payments. Ensure adherence to SOX, MVW policies, Delegation of Authority requirements, and banking controls. Perform regular control reviews to identify weaknesses and opportunities for improvement. Ensure audit readiness and timely closure of audit findings. Lead compliance reviews relating to financial, statutory, and corporate policy requirements. Maintain documentation of key controls, process maps, and operating procedures. Implement fraud prevention and payment verification controls. Lead remediation efforts for control gaps and audit findings. Support internal and external audits relating to payments and payroll processes. Drive a culture of accountability, compliance, and control consciousness across centralized payroll teams. Project & Transformation Leadership Lead the execution of approved regional transformation initiatives and projects. Manage project plans, milestones, budgets, risks, and stakeholder communications. Coordinate cross-functional teams to ensure successful implementation and business adoption. Support business case development and benefits realization tracking. Drive automation and digital solutions that improve efficiency, control, and service quality. Provide regular project status updates and recommendations to the RDFP and leadership teams. Team Development Build and lead high-performing, geographically diverse teams. Develop capabilities in centralizing payroll team, transformation, and project management. Drive a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and innovation. Develop succession plans and capability-building initiatives within payroll functions. Collaborate with HR on workforce planning and capability building. Foster engagement and retention across in-market and payroll teams. Recommend organizational and operating model improvements to support payroll team effectiveness and scalability. Promote associate growth through mentorship, job shadowing, and rotation opportunities, fostering a culture of continuous development. Strengthen the organization by recruiting, motivating, and retaining talent, including remote or matrixed teams within the portfolio. Translate regional objectives into departmental goals and performance expectations for payroll team. Actively drive training programs by Regional or Corporate-led - to upskill team capabilities (technical, interpersonal or digital skills) Continuously enhance financial reporting by analyzing job tasks and structures to maintain strong controls, transparency, and operational efficiency. Work cross-functionally to identify and eliminate obstacles that hinder team performance and goal achievement. CANDIDATE PROFILE Preferred Education and Experience Bachelor's Degree in Finance or Accounting preferred; or related major. 8 -12 years of progressive payroll and accounting experience. Minimum 5 years of leadership experience managing payroll teams. Proven experience in leading Global Business Services organizations is preferred. Experience managing cross-border teams and complex regional operations. Proficiency in reading and writing in English (additional language required for certain positions). Positive, self-starter and highly driven Strong business acumen and strategic thinking Deep understanding of P2P and payroll processes. Working knowledge of payroll tax and statutory requirements across APAC markets. Expertise in process improvement (Lean, Six Sigma, automation) Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills Effective communication and executive presentation skills Experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and analytics tools (e.g., Power BI) This role requires flexibility to support business needs across time zones and may involve occasional travel within the region. COMPETENCIES, BASIC SKILLS, PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS Leadership Adaptability - Determines how change impacts self and others; displays flexibility in adjusting priorities; and communicates both the reasons for change and how it impacts the workplace. Communication - Customizes approach to conveying complex information and ideas to others in a convincing and engaging manner; appropriately interprets verbal and non-verbal behavior; and models active listening to ensure understanding. Problem Solving and Decision Making - Models and coaches others on breaking complex issues into manageable parts, identifying and evaluating alternatives and their implications before making decisions, and involving and gaining agreement from others when making key decisions. Professional Demeanor - Exhibits behavioral styles that convey confidence and command respect from others; makes a good first impression and represents the company in alignment with its values. Leading Through Vision and Values - Keeps the organization's vision and values at the forefront of decision making and action. Managing Change - Initiates and/or manages the change process and energizes it on an ongoing basis, taking steps to remove barriers or accelerate its pace; serves as role model for how to handle change by maintaining composure and performance under pressure or when experiencing challenges. Strategy Development - Develops business plans by exploring and systematically evaluating opportunities with the greatest potential for producing positive results; ensures successful preparation and execution of business plans through effective planning, organizing, and on-going evaluation processes Managing Execution Building and Contributing to Teams - Leads and participates as a member of a team to move the team toward the completion of common goals while fostering cohesion and collaboration among team members. Driving for Results - Sets high standards of performance for self and/or others; assumes responsibility for work objectives; initiates, focuses, and monitors the efforts of self and/or others toward the accomplishment goals; proactively acts and goes beyond what is required. Planning and Organizing - Gathers information and resources required to set a plan of action for self and/or others; prioritizes and arranges work requirements for self and/or others to accomplish goals and ensure work is completed. Building Relationships Coworker Relationships - Interacts with others in a way that builds openness, trust, and confidence in the pursuit of organizational goals and lasting relationships. Customer Relationships - Develops and sustains relationships based on an understanding of customer needs and actions consistent with the company’s service standards. Global Mindset - Supports employees and business partners with diverse styles, abilities, motivations, and/or cultural perspectives; utilizes differences to drive innovation, engagement and enhance business results; and ensures employees are given the opportunity to contribute to their full potential. Strategic Partnerships - Develops collaborative relationships with fellow employees and business partners by making them feel valued, appreciated, and included; explores partnership opportunities with other people in and outside the organization; influences and leverages corporate and continental centralized services and/or discipline leaders (e.g., HR, Sales & Marketing, Finance, Revenue Management) to achieve objectives; maintains effective external relations with government, business and industry in respective countries; performs effectively as a liaison between locations, disciplines, and corporate to ensure needed resources are received and corporate strategies are understood and executed. Generating Talent and Organizational Capability Organizational Capability - Evaluates and adapts the structure of team assignments and work processes to best fit the needs and/or support the goals of an organizational unit. Talent Management - Provides guidance and feedback to help individuals develop and strengthen skills and abilities needed to accomplish work objectives. Learning and Applying Professional Expertise Business Acumen - Understands and utilizes business information to manage everyday operations and generate innovative solutions to approach team, business, and administrative challenges. Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership techniques, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. Applied Business Knowledge - Evaluates market conditions, organizational objectives, and important aspects of the business to accurately diagnose market opportunities and threats; anticipates opportunities and threats, identify issues, and develop strategies and plans. Aligning individual and team actions with strategies and plans to drive business results. Management of Financial Resources – Determining how money will be spent to get the work done and accounting for these expenditures. Continuous Learning - Actively identifies new areas for learning; regularly creates and takes advantage of learning opportunities; uses newly gained knowledge and skill on the job and learns through their application. Strategy Knowledge - Understanding and utilizing professional skills and knowledge in a specific functional area to conduct and manage business operations and generate innovative solutions to approach function-specific strategic work challenges. Technical Acumen - Understands and utilizes professional skills and knowledge in a specific functional area to conduct and manage everyday business operations and generate innovative solutions to approach function-specific work challenges. This includes but not limited to Auditing and Reconciliation, General Finance and Accounting, Analysis, Accounting Knowledge, Auditing Skills and Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable. Marriott Vacations Worldwide is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture.