Job description for Payroll Manager at Công ty TNHH Shelby Global
Location: Yokohama, Japan
Employment Type: Permanent / Full-time
Department: Payroll Operations – ROW
Experience: 8–12 years in payroll, including 3–5 years managing payroll teams
About the Role
Our client is seeking an experienced Payroll Operations Manager to lead end-to-end payroll operations for domestic and multinational clients in Japan.
The role is responsible for payroll service delivery, Japanese statutory compliance, client account management, team leadership, pre-sales support, new-client implementation, and continuous service improvement.
Key Responsibilities
1. Payroll Operations
- Manage end-to-end payroll processing for multiple Japanese and multinational clients.
- Ensure payroll accuracy, confidentiality, timeliness, and statutory compliance.
- Oversee monthly, semi-monthly, weekly, and off-cycle payroll processing.
- Review tax deductions, social insurance contributions, payroll reconciliations, statutory filings, and audit requirements.
- Manage payroll calendars, SLAs, escalations, and issue resolution.
2. Japanese Payroll Compliance
Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, including:
- Income Tax and Resident Tax
- Social, Health, Pension, Employment, and Labour Insurance
- Year-End Tax Adjustment
- Japanese Labour Standards Act
- My Number requirements
- Personal Information Protection Act
Client and Service Management
- Act as the primary contact for assigned payroll outsourcing clients.
- Conduct regular business reviews and maintain strong client relationships.
- Monitor client satisfaction, contractual deliverables, and SLA performance.
- Recommend payroll process improvements and identify service expansion opportunities.
- Support client transitions, onboarding, and implementation projects.
Pre-Sales and Solution Consulting
- Support payroll proposals, RFPs, RFIs, and client presentations.
- Participate in discovery sessions and analyse client payroll requirements.
- Develop Statements of Work, implementation plans, and service-model recommendations.
- Provide payroll subject-matter expertise during sales pursuits.
Leadership and Continuous Improvement
- Lead, coach, and develop payroll specialists and team leaders.
- Manage workforce planning, performance, and resource allocation.
- Drive automation, process optimisation, operational excellence, and risk-control initiatives.
- Promote Lean, Six Sigma, and Continuous Service Improvement practices.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
- 8–12 years of payroll experience, including at least 3–5 years managing payroll teams.
- Strong experience in payroll outsourcing, BPO, HR outsourcing, shared services, or managed payroll operations.
- In-depth knowledge of Japanese payroll legislation and statutory compliance.
- Experience managing payroll for Japanese and multinational organisations.
- Proven client-facing account management and stakeholder-management experience.
- Experience in payroll implementation, transition, pre-sales, or solution design is highly desirable.
- Strong leadership, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Language Requirements
- Native or business-level Japanese, preferably JLPT N1 or equivalent.
- Professional business English, both written and spoken.
- Ability to conduct meetings, presentations, and negotiations in Japanese and English.
Technical Skills
- Payroll platforms such as SAP HCM Payroll, Workday Payroll, Oracle HCM, ADP, TMF, SD Worx, Ramco, or equivalent.
- HRIS platforms and payroll reporting tools.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel.
- Power BI, CRM platforms, Microsoft Office, and project-management tools.
Preferred Certifications
- Certified Payroll Professional or equivalent
- Fundamental Payroll Certification
- HR or Payroll Professional Certification
- PMP or PRINCE2
- Lean Six Sigma
- ITIL Foundation
- Continuous Service Improvement certification
Key Success Measures
- Payroll accuracy of at least 99.8%
- On-time payroll delivery and SLA achievement
- Positive client satisfaction and retention
- Successful onboarding of new clients
- Compliance and audit performance
- Process automation and service-improvement results
- Development of a high-performing payroll operations team
