Senior Payroll Specialist, APAC

Job description

Job Senior Payroll Specialist, APAC Description POSITION TITLE: Senior Payroll Specialist, APAC Employment Type: Full-Time LOCATION: Seoul, South Korea (Regional Hub) ABOUT THE ROLE: Position Overview Deluxe Media is seeking an experienced Senior Payroll Specialist to join our People team in Seoul, our regional hub for Korea and Japan operations. In this role, you will own end-to-end payroll processing for Australia and New Zealand and serve as back-up processor for Korea and Japan, while also acting as the on-the-ground payroll point of contact for our Seoul-based team. This is a multi-country statutory ownership role — you will be the primary escalation point for AU/NZ payroll accuracy and compliance, and a secondary line of defense across two additional jurisdictions with materially different regulatory frameworks. Because this role sits in our Seoul office and coordinates daily with the local Korea/Japan HR and Finance teams, business-level Korean is required even though the core payroll ownership is Australia/New Zealand. Fluency supports local stakeholder communication, not the AU/NZ processing itself. RESPONSIBILITIES: Payroll Processing & Accuracy Manage and process end-to-end monthly payroll for employees in Australia and New Zealand in accordance with each country's statutory requirements and pay cycles. Serve as back-up for end-to-end monthly payroll for employees in Korea and Japan in accordance with each country's statutory requirements and pay cycles. Perform pre- and post-payroll audits to ensure data accuracy and resolve discrepancies before disbursement. Coordinate with local payroll vendors where applicable. Adhere to all internal control processes and ensure payroll is audit-ready. Troubleshoot payroll issues concerning payments, wages, taxes, deductions, and other related payroll items. Compliance & Regulatory Filings Ensure full statutory compliance across all four markets, including: Australia: superannuation contributions, Single Touch Payroll (STP) reporting, PAYG withholding. New Zealand: PAYE, KiwiSaver, and IRD filing obligations. Korea: 4 Major Insurances (국민연금, 건강보험, 고용보험, 산재보험), year-end tax settlement (연말정산), NTS filings, and requirements under the Labor Standards Act (근로기준법). Japan: social insurance (健康保険・厚生年金), resident tax withholding, and year-end adjustment (年末調整). Stay current on regulatory changes across all four jurisdictions and proactively update payroll processes to maintain compliance. Systems & Data Management Maintain and update employee payroll records with accuracy and confidentiality in Workday and/or local payroll platforms. Partner with HR and Finance to ensure employee master data integrity across systems. Prepare and deliver standard and ad hoc payroll reports for HR, Finance, and leadership. Participate in system upgrades, vendor transitions, and compliance reviews. Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner closely with the HRBP team on employee lifecycle events that impact payroll — onboarding, offboarding, leave of absence, promotions, and transfers. Liaise with external tax advisors, statutory agencies, and third-party payroll providers across the region. Respond to employee payroll inquiries accurately and professionally. Support internal and external audits with payroll data, documentation, and process walkthroughs. Process Improvement Identify and implement improvements to payroll workflows, reducing manual effort and risk of error. Lead development of payroll SOPs, controls, and compliance checklists for the APAC region. Support country-level payroll setup as Deluxe expands its APAC footprint. Participate in payroll-related projects focused on automation, standardization, and process optimization. QUALIFICATIONS: 5+ years of hands-on payroll experience, with a strong foundation in Australian payroll compliance. Demonstrated knowledge of Australian labor law. Experience processing payroll for at least two additional APAC countries (Japan, Korea, or New Zealand strongly preferred). Business-level proficiency in Korean and English (written and verbal), to support daily coordination with the Seoul-based team. Advanced Excel skills and hands-on experience with a payroll or HRIS platform (Workday, SAP, Oracle, ADP, or equivalent). High degree of numeracy, accuracy, and attention to detail. Ability to manage multiple, concurrent payroll deadlines across jurisdictions in a fast-paced environment. PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: Prior experience in media, entertainment, technology, or global EOR environments. Experience supporting payroll transitions from EOR to direct employment models. Experience building or maintaining payroll SOPs and internal controls across multiple countries. About the Company: Deluxe Media is a leading global provider of media localization, content creation, and distribution services. With operations spanning North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific, Deluxe partners with the world's top studios, broadcasters, and streaming platforms to bring content to life for audiences everywhere. Our Seoul office plays an integral role in our APAC growth strategy, serving as the hub for our Korea and Japan operations.