UAEN International Payroll Manager

Associate Manager, International Payroll

Location: Jebel Ali
Working Pattern: 4 days in office, 1 day remote
Salary: AED 39,000 to 42,000 per month
Nationality: UAE National only
Function: Finance
Experience: Around 8 years minimum
Team: 1 direct report

Our client is looking for a hands on Associate Manager, International Payroll to take ownership of payroll delivery across a large and complex employee population in the UAE and internationally.

This role sits within Finance and requires someone with a strong Accounting or Finance background who is comfortable getting into the technical detail of payroll rather than simply overseeing a team.

The successful candidate will be responsible for end to end payroll processing, technical payroll checks, reconciliations, variance analysis, payroll accounting, controls, reporting and the management of international payroll providers.

The formal JD positions the role as responsible for the operational effectiveness of international payroll across the wider group, including payroll systems, controls, governance and reporting.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the end to end monthly payroll process across UAE and international employee populations

• Ensure payroll is processed accurately, securely and within required deadlines

• Conduct detailed payroll checks, comparisons, reconciliations and variance analysis

• Review payroll calculations and identify discrepancies or potential errors

• Maintain accurate payroll master data within SAP

• Ensure appropriate controls are in place across payroll processes

• Manage payroll accounting activities and take ownership of relevant payroll general ledger accounts

• Support payroll reporting, financial analysis and management information requirements

• Coordinate with international payroll providers where payroll processing is outsourced

• Ensure employee and employer tax deductions are recorded accurately in line with local legislation

• Manage day to day international payroll operations and ensure processes are followed consistently

• Act as a subject matter expert for payroll related queries

• Support senior management with payroll information, budgeting and planning

• Identify opportunities to automate and improve payroll processes

• Support internal and external audit activity

• Ensure payroll documentation, controls and governance remain accurate and up to date

The JD specifically gives the role responsibility for monthly international payroll processing, third party payroll providers, tax deductions, SAP master data, reconciliations, variance analysis and payroll accounting.

Payroll Scope

The role supports a significant payroll population, including approximately 7,500 employees locally alongside employees across multiple international locations.

International payroll exposure includes markets such as Singapore and other overseas offices, with the JD also referencing Guinea, Shanghai, Korea, Switzerland and the USA.

Some payrolls may be managed through external payroll providers, so the successful candidate will need to be comfortable managing third party relationships while retaining internal ownership and control.

Monthly Payroll Cycle

The most critical payroll processing period is approximately between the 15th and 25th of each month.

During this period, the individual will need to be flexible and willing to work additional hours where required to ensure payroll is completed accurately and on time.

This is a genuinely hands on role. The client is not looking for someone who has only managed payroll teams or vendors from a distance. The successful candidate needs to understand the mechanics of payroll and be comfortable reviewing calculations, reconciliations and technical outputs personally.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be a UAE National with a strong Finance or Accounting background and significant experience in payroll operations.

The client is specifically looking for someone who combines technical payroll expertise with financial understanding.

Candidates coming primarily from HR or generalist HR Operations backgrounds are unlikely to be suitable unless they have substantial hands on payroll accounting experience.

Experience Required

• Around 8 years of experience across payroll, Accounting or Finance

• Strong hands on experience processing payroll end to end

• Experience working with large employee populations

• Strong payroll reconciliation and variance analysis experience

• Experience managing payroll accounting and payroll GLs

• Strong understanding of payroll controls and governance

• Experience with international or multi country payroll highly desirable

• Experience managing outsourced payroll providers

• Previous team leadership or people management experience

• Strong technical and analytical capability

The formal JD asks for 8 years of payroll, Accounting or Finance experience, including at least 4 years in roles with progressively increasing managerial responsibility.

Systems

Strong SAP experience is highly preferred.

The successful candidate should be comfortable managing payroll master data, reviewing outputs and ensuring data integrity across payroll processes.

The JD specifically lists SAP proficiency as a required technical competency.

Education

A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or a closely related discipline is preferred.

Although the formal JD also allows Business or equivalent qualifications, the client preference is clearly toward Accounting and Finance backgrounds for this hire.

Professional Qualifications

CIPP would be advantageous but is not mandatory.

Other payroll or treasury qualifications would also be considered positively.

The formal JD lists CIPP, Payroll Management and Treasury Management qualifications as well regarded.

Leadership Responsibilities

The role will manage 1 direct report.

The successful candidate will be expected to provide technical guidance, manage workload, support development and ensure payroll activities are completed to the required standard.

The JD also places responsibility on the role for team development, performance management and technical assistance.

Ideal Background

Relevant backgrounds could include:

• Metals and Mining

• Manufacturing

• Industrial

• Energy

• Utilities

• Oil and Gas

• Large multinational organisations

• Large UAE corporate groups

The most important factor is experience handling high volume and technically complex payroll within a structured Finance environment.

Ideal Candidate

The strongest profile would be a UAE National with approximately 8 to 12 years of experience, a Finance or Accounting background, strong end to end payroll experience, SAP exposure, large payroll population experience and ideally international payroll exposure.

The individual should be technically strong, detail focused, comfortable working under pressure during payroll periods and willing to remain personally involved in the processing and review of payroll rather than operating purely at management level.