Senior Specialist GBS Payroll

This role serves as a key senior payroll specialist within the GBS H2R Services team for Japan, managing Japan payroll operations and benefits-related processes. It supports the Team Leader and collaborates with Japan HR stakeholders, GBS H2R Dalian team members and third-party vendors across core payroll, compensation, statutory benefits, time management, vendor management, employee enquiries and payroll system support. The role also covers Japan-specific statutory, operational and process requirements, including payroll system support, UAT and parallel runs.

• Manage end-to-end Japan payroll operations for Corporate and Retail employees, ensuring accurate, timely and compliant delivery in line with local requirements and internal standards.
• Perform validation, reconciliation, exception handling and control checks across payroll outputs, inputs and related HR data to ensure completeness, accuracy and proper support.
• Manage Japan-specific processes covering tax, statutory benefits, year-end activities, audits, reporting, employee enquiries and other local operational requirements.
• Coordinate benefits, time management and HR programme impacts, ensuring relevant changes are reflected accurately in downstream processes.
• Support system upgrades, UAT, parallel runs and process transitions, including impact assessment, issue follow-up and change communication with relevant stakeholders.
• Work closely with Japan HR stakeholders, GBS H2R Dalian team members and third-party vendors to ensure smooth service delivery, timely issue resolution and effective vendor management.
• Maintain process documentation, control evidence and work instructions to support review, audit readiness, business continuity and knowledge transfer.
• Identify process risks and improvement opportunities, and drive practical actions to strengthen control effectiveness, service quality and operational efficiency.

• Minimum of 7 years of hands-on end-to-end payroll experience in Japan.
• Experience in the retail industry and with benefits is required.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Strong knowledge of Japan payroll business needs, company rules, local payroll practices, retail payroll implications, local regulations and HR/payroll compliance obligations.
• Knowledge of Japan payroll legislation and practices is a must.
• Fluent Japanese and good command of spoken English.
• Strong hands-on knowledge of Japan payroll operations, statutory requirements and local compliance practices.
• Good understanding of Japan tax, statutory benefits, year-end adjustment, social insurance and related employee lifecycle impacts.
• Familiarity with Japan Retail workforce practices, including working hours, overtime, allowances, leave-related payments and attendance/time management processes.
• Experience with leading Japan payroll systems, local time management systems and other HR/payroll-related platforms.
• Advanced Excel and data reconciliation skills.
• Strong analytical mindset, attention to detail and ability to identify risks, exceptions and improvement opportunities.
• Good communication, stakeholder management and vendor management skills, with the ability to work effectively with Japan HR, GBS teams and external service providers.
• Strong service mindset, ownership and ability to manage priorities independently in a changing environment.
• Continuous learning mindset and willingness to keep local knowledge, process understanding and system capability up to date.

• System implementation experience is an advantage.
• Access, Python, AI or automation experience is an advantage.
• Experience using AI is highly desirable.

The company states that it strongly believes embedding diversity, equity and inclusion into its culture and talent processes gives employees a sense of belonging and the brand a competitive advantage.