Senior Payroll Specialist, APAC (Contract)

About the company: Our client is leading the digital transformation of energy management and automation. Location: Petaling Jaya, Malaysia Work Mode: Hybrid Contract: 12 month About the Role Manage end-to-end payroll operations across a cluster of countries (APAC), while driving payroll transformation, digitalization, and process excellence initiatives. This role partners with regional stakeholders to deliver timely, accurate, compliant, employee-centric payroll services and support ongoing organizational change. Key Responsibilities: End-to-End Payroll Delivery: Manage accurate, timely, and compliant multi-country payroll processing, checking, and delivery in line with statutory and company standards. Stakeholder & Vendor Engagement: Act as a trusted payroll advisor and primary contact for HR, Finance, vendors, and external agencies to ensure service excellence and issue resolution. Governance, Compliance & Controls: Govern payroll controls, compliance requirements, audits, reconciliations, and risk management to maintain a robust control environment. Transformation & Automation: Lead payroll transformation, process optimization, automation, and digitalization to improve operational efficiency, scalability, and employee experience. System Implementations & Projects: Partner with cross-functional stakeholders to support payroll system implementations, technology enhancements, integrations, and regional/global projects (including acquisitions, transitions, and new country deployments). Change Management: Drive change management activities, including stakeholder engagement, communication planning, training, and adoption strategies. Documentation & Policies: Develop, maintain, and enhance payroll policies, standard operating procedures, documentation, control checklists, and knowledge repositories. Process Standardization: Identify opportunities to standardize workflows, strengthen governance, reduce operational risks, and embed industry best practices. Subject Matter Expertise & Coaching: Serve as a process SME by troubleshooting complex issues, coaching junior team members, and fostering capability development. Cross-Regional Collaboration: Collaborate with teammates across regions to ensure operational resilience, business continuity, and a culture of continuous learning. Requirements Degree in Human Resources, Business, Finance, Accounting, or a related field. At least 8 years of payroll experience. Experience in payroll operations, preferably in multiple countries. Solid understanding of payroll processes, compliance, and controls. Effective analytical, project management, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to solve problems and collaborate effectively across teams. Able to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and thrive in a fast-paced environment. Experience in payroll transformation or automation is an advantage. Remuneration Basic salary: RM7,000 - RM10,000 Completion bonus Other benefits