Payroll Specialist

About the Role We are looking for an experienced Payroll Specialist to take ownership of the accurate, timely and fully compliant delivery of payroll in India, and to act as a second pair of hands across our Asia-Pacific and Middle East payrolls. Reporting to the UK-based Head of Payroll and working day to day alongside the Senior Payroll Specialist in the UK, you will be the resident subject-matter expert on Indian payroll legislation and statutory obligations within a global, follow-the-sun payroll team. India payroll is delivered through a managed-service provider. Your role is not to key transactions into a system: it is to own the inputs, interrogate the outputs, hold the vendor to account, evidence the controls and stand behind every number that reaches employees, the regulator and the general ledger. This is a regulated financial services environment where confidentiality, accuracy and a demonstrable audit trail are non-negotiable. Key responsibilities India payroll delivery Own the end-to-end monthly India payroll cycle — calendar, cut-offs, inputs, validation, approval, funding, disbursement and post-payroll reconciliation. Prepare, validate and submit payroll inputs covering new hires, leavers, transfers, promotions, salary revisions, variable pay, bonuses, allowances, reimbursements, loans, advances and recoveries. Review the vendor’s gross-to-net output in detail; investigate and resolve every variance against prior period before sign-off, rather than relying on vendor assurance. Manage full and final settlements for leavers, including notice pay, leave encashment, gratuity, recovery of advances and correct tax treatment. Own the annual cycle: investment declarations and proof verification, Form 16 issuance, Form 24Q filings, perquisite valuation, and the transition between the old and new tax regimes. Maintain the payroll calendar and ensure all statutory and internal deadlines are met without exception. India statutory compliance You will be expected to operate independently on all of the following, and to be the person the wider team turns to when a question of Indian payroll law arises: Provident Fund (EPF/EPS/EDLI): contribution calculation, wage-ceiling application, international worker rules, UAN management, monthly ECR filing, National Pension System (NPS): corporate NPS administration, employer and employee contribution handling, PRAN management and the associated tax deductions and exemptions. Income tax and state-level taxes: TDS computation and deposit, quarterly eTDS returns, Labour Welfare Fund, and state-specific obligations across every state in which the entity employs staff. Professional Tax: registration, slab application and remittance across multiple states, with awareness that rates, slabs and due dates differ by state and change frequently. ESI and Gratuity: eligibility assessment, contribution and accrual, and coordination with Finance on provisioning. Labour Codes: tracking the phased…