Manager, Payroll APAC

CREATIVITY IS OUR SUPERPOWER. It’s our heritage and it’s also our future. Because we don’t just make toys. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire fans, entertain audiences and develop children through play. Mattel is at its best when every member of our team feels respected, included, and heard—when everyone can show up as themselves and do their best work every day. We value and share an infinite range of ideas and voices that evolve and broaden our perspectives with a reach that extends into all our brands, partners, and suppliers.

The Team

At the heart of our company, the Global People & Culture (P&C) team partners with employees across the business to deliver a meaningful, end-to-end employee experience. We live our values every day and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels they truly belong. As part of our team, you’ll be encouraged to challenge the status quo, bring fresh, progressive thinking, and help drive impactful change. With a presence in over 30 countries and supporting more than 30,000 employees globally, our work has real scale and influence. We’re passionate about building an environment that amplifies purpose, passion, and play in every aspect of the employee experience. We value meaningful work, personalized career growth, and the opportunity to shape a world-class People & Culture organization.

Everyday, our Global People & Culture team role models the following strategic pillars:

- Performance and Growth: Attract and retain the best of the best. Support and inspire them to grow and contribute at the highest level
- Leadership Development: Cultivate skills and capabilities that make exceptional, innovative leaders
- Total Rewards: Reward and incentivize our people when and how it matters
- People Systems: Create integrated systems and processes that are intuitive and effective, and that yield actionable insights, designed with our people at the center
- Operational Excellence: Execute with excellence, fostering a culture of collaboration while empowering our people

The Opportunity

Responsible for leading payroll governance, standardisation and operational oversight across APAC (excluding Manufacturing). This role will establish a regional payroll governance model, drive process harmonisation, strengthen controls and compliance, and partner with local payroll providers and stakeholders to prepare the region for future global payroll transformation initiatives and global payroll standardisation.

The Manager, Payroll APAC will serve as the regional subject matter expert for payroll governance, ensuring payroll processes are accurate, compliant, efficient and aligned to global standards while reducing reliance on local market ownership.

Payroll includes salary, tax, attendance, benefits etc.

Responsibilities

Establish and lead the APAC payroll governance framework; Develop regional payroll standards, controls and operating procedures.; Drive harmonisation of payroll processes across markets.; Support preparation for future global payroll system implementation and transformation initiatives.; Ensure monthly payroll operation is well executed effectively and accurately per every market’s payroll calendar, in the compliant way.; End-to-end in charge of SEA‘s payroll operation work with team support.; Manage relationships with payroll vendors and service providers across APAC.; Partner with Finance, P&C Operations, Compensation & Benefits and Business Partners to ensure effective and accurate payroll governance.; Monitor vendor performance and service delivery against agreed standards.; Monitor for regulation/policy updates across the markets and ensure timely adaptation.; Ensure payroll controls, audit requirements and compliance obligations are maintained across all markets.; Review payroll processes and identify operational and compliance risks.; Support internal and external audit activities.; Identify automation opportunities and process improvements.; Drive payroll process standardisation and simplification.; Support readiness activities and future payroll transformation initiatives.; Develop payroll governance metrics and reporting.; Monitor payroll performance, accuracy and service delivery.; Provide payroll insights and recommendations to regional and global stakeholders.; Lead and develop payroll support resources.; Build payroll capability and succession planning within the function.; Foster a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Requirements

Demonstrated a growth mindset by staying curious and continuously learning, embracing challenges, and improving themselves. Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or a related discipline. Work Experience; 7+ years of payroll experience within a multinational organisation.; Experience managing payroll across multiple countries.; Experience working with outsourced payroll providers.; Experience leading payroll governance, compliance or transformation initiatives.; Experience supporting payroll system implementations or enhancements.; Experience working within APAC markets preferred.; Strong knowledge of payroll governance, controls and compliance.; Strong understanding of APAC payroll environments and vendor models.; Experience with Dayforce, Workday or equivalent payroll and HRIS platforms.; Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.; Strong inter-personal skills and collaborative with cross-teams.; Self-driver and strong ownership to drive the results; Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.; Experience managing payroll vendors and service level agreements.; Strong project management and change management skills.; Excellent written and verbal communication skills.; Advanced Microsoft Excel and reporting capabilities.; High level of discretion and ability to manage confidential information.