ROLE SUMMARY:

The Assistant General Manager - Payroll Offshore will lead payroll governance, compliance assurance and operational oversight for the US payroll function. The role will ensure accurate, timely and compliant payroll operations across US entities while strengthening controls, vendor governance, audit readiness, SOPs and transformation initiatives.

The position will work closely with US leadership, Finance, HR, Legal, payroll vendors, auditors, brokers and third-party administrators, and will provide senior offshore ownership for a scalable, control-oriented payroll operating model.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Payroll Operations & Controls:

- Oversee end-to-end US payroll governance across entities, including bi-weekly and off-cycle payroll cycles.

- Ensure payroll accuracy, completeness, approvals, funding timelines and exception resolution through strong review controls.

- Provide senior escalation support for complex payroll matters, high-risk cases and control exceptions.

- Drive scalable payroll processes for business growth, new entities and acquisition integrations.

Compliance, Tax & Statutory Governance:

- Own compliance oversight for federal, state and local payroll regulations, wage and hour laws, payroll tax laws and statutory deadlines.

- Monitor payroll tax filings, payments, notices, W-2 timelines and vendor-led statutory reporting.

- Ensure payroll policies, systems and SOPs remain aligned with regulatory changes and enterprise governance.

- Oversee payroll tax account openings, closures, maintenance and issue resolution with payroll vendors.

Audit, 401(k), HSA & External Assurance:

- Lead payroll audits, regulatory audits and internal compliance reviews from planning to closure.

- Act as a Finances primary point of contact, partnering closely with HR to coordinate for auditors, brokers, third-party administrators and external stakeholders.

- Oversee payroll and the financial components of 401(k) and HSA compliance administration, including funding timelines, reconciliations, testing support and required documentation.

- Track audit findings, corrective actions and evidence repositories to ensure audit-ready payroll operations.

Vendor, Systems & Transformation:

- Govern payroll vendors and systems for service quality, compliance and control effectiveness.

- Lead payroll automation, system upgrades, outsourcing/vendor transitions and process improvement initiatives.

- Approve control frameworks during payroll implementations and ensure compliant post-change operations.

- Maintain payroll dashboards, KPIs, issue logs, compliance calendars and SOP ownership.

Stakeholder & Team Leadership:

- Partner with Finance for funding controls, reconciliations, journal entries and reporting.

- Partner with HR for employee lifecycle data, workforce alignment and employee query pathways.

- Partner with Legal/Compliance for regulatory interpretation and risk resolution.

- Lead and mentor the offshore payroll team, building accountability, backup coverage and continuous improvement discipline.

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

- Education: Masters degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Human Resources or related discipline; MBA, CPA, CPP or equivalent certification preferred.

- Payroll Expertise: Strong command of US payroll operations, multi-state payroll, payroll taxation, statutory reporting, wage and hour compliance, garnishments and W-2 processes.

- Controls & Governance: Experience managing payroll SOPs, control frameworks, compliance calendars, reconciliations, audit documentation and escalation mechanisms.

- Systems & Analytics: Payroll / HRIS exposure, timekeeping integrations, reporting, exception analytics and automation experience.

SOFT SKILLS / TRAITS:

- Strong ownership, professional maturity and discretion in handling sensitive payroll information.

- High attention to detail, compliance orientation and ability to work under tight payroll deadlines.

- Clear communication and stakeholder management across US and India teams.

- Proactive problem-solving mindset with ability to identify risks, drive closure and improve processes.

EXPERIENCE:

- 1215 years of progressive experience in US muti-state payroll operations (including California), compliance, controls and governance.

- Minimum 5 years in payroll leadership managing teams and/or payroll operations across geographies.

- Hands-on experience with multi-state US payroll, tax compliance, statutory filings, W-2s, audits and vendor management.

- Experience in healthcare, technology-enabled services, BPO / RCM or large employee-base businesses preferred.

- Any experience with Paycor, Darwinbox, and/or Employee Navigator is preferred.