Senior Manager, Payroll APAC at Zendesk

pune, maharashtra, India -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

14 Feb, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

16 Nov, 25

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Payroll Management, Team Leadership, Compliance, Risk Management, Process Improvement, Data Analysis, Excel, Communication, Vendor Management, HRIS, Statutory Benefits, Equity Compensation, Project Management, Collaboration, Organizational Skills, Adaptability

Industry

Software Development

Description

Job Description Who we're looking for At Zendesk, we know that getting payroll right means more than just accuracy—it’s about creating trust and peace of mind for every employee. We’re searching for a Senior Payroll Manager to oversee our Asia-Pacific payroll operations, driving excellence and equity in everything we do. This is a role for a collaborative leader who thrives in complexity, believes in the impact of reliable payroll, and is eager to build a culture where everyone belongs. If you value teamwork, care deeply about process and people, and seek to make a difference as Zendesk continues to grow, we’d love to hear from you. What you'll be doing Lead Regional Payroll: Manage and coordinate all payroll activities across APAC countries—including India, Singapore, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea—ensuring consistent, timely, and compliant delivery. Team Leadership: Directly supervise 2–3 payroll professionals, providing coaching, professional development, and support. Oversee hiring and play an active role in workforce planning and budget management for the payroll function. Vendor and Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong partnerships with external payroll vendors, the Workday HRIS team, and benefit providers. Foster collaborative relationships with colleagues in People Operations, Finance, and Benefits. Payroll Excellence: Oversee the full payroll lifecycle for all APAC employees, including wages, equity awards, statutory and supplementary benefits, and taxes. Confirm that pay and benefits are accurate and on time, every pay cycle. Compliance & Risk Management: Stay current with statutory payroll and benefits regulations in each country. Ensure all payroll processes uphold compliance, mitigate risks, and prepare for internal or external audits. Process Improvement: Lead projects to streamline, transform, or standardize regional payroll processes—including supporting potential system upgrades, vendor migrations, M&A integrations, or expansions into new markets. Reporting & Analysis: Prepare, review, and present payroll data and operational metrics using Excel and other reporting tools. Use insights to drive continuous improvement. Hybrid Collaboration: Work in the Pune office 3 days a week (Tuesday–Thursday), engaging actively with your team and remote stakeholders. What you bring to the role Basic Qualifications 8+ years of progressive experience managing end-to-end payroll for multiple countries within the APAC region (including mandatory experience in India, Singapore, and Australia). 4+ years of proven experience managing and developing a team of payroll professionals Expert knowledge of APAC payroll taxes, tax filings, compliance frameworks, statutory benefits, and complex pay element handling (e.g., equity, executive compensation). Strong working relationship experience with outsourced payroll vendors and using HRIS platforms (preferably Workday). Advanced proficiency in Excel (VBA, pivot tables, complex formulas) for reporting, data analysis, and validation controls. Clear, empathetic communicator—able to explain complex payroll concepts to a variety of audiences. Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to balance competing priorities and meet tight deadlines. Flexible and open-minded—comfortable with change, ambiguity, and growth Preferred Qualifications Experience implementing or migrating payroll systems, integrating M&A payrolls, or leading large-scale standardization projects. Familiarity with equity compensation administration in a global organization. Track record of improving or transforming payroll operations across regions. Experience operating within a shared service model or a high-growth, globally matrixed technology company collaborating across multiple time zones. A proven track record of using technology (automation, system workflows) to eliminate manual work and enhance the employee payroll experience. #LI-MJ1 Please note that Zendesk can only hire candidates who are physically located and plan to work from Karnataka or Maharashtra. Please refer to the location posted on the requisition for where this role is based. Hybrid: In this role, our hybrid experience is designed at the team level to give you a rich onsite experience packed with connection, collaboration, learning, and celebration - while also giving you flexibility to work remotely for part of the week. This role must attend our local office for part of the week. The specific in-office schedule is to be determined by the hiring manager. The intelligent heart of customer experience Zendesk software was built to bring a sense of calm to the chaotic world of customer service. Today we power billions of conversations with brands you know and love. Zendesk believes in offering our people a fulfilling and inclusive experience. Our hybrid way of working, enables us to purposefully come together in person, at one of our many Zendesk offices around the world, to connect, collaborate and learn whilst also giving our people the flexibility to work remotely for part of the week. As part of our commitment to fairness and transparency, we inform all applicants that artificial intelligence (AI) or automated decision systems may be used to screen or evaluate applications for this position, in accordance with Company guidelines and applicable law. Zendesk is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to foster global diversity, equity, & inclusion in the workplace. Individuals seeking employment and employees at Zendesk are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabled employer. If you are based in the United States and would like more information about your EEO rights under the law, please click here. Zendesk endeavors to make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities and disabled veterans pursuant to applicable federal and state law. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to submit this application, complete any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please send an e-mail to peopleandplaces@zendesk.com with your specific accommodation request. Zendesk is on a mission to simplify the complexity of business and make it easy for companies and customers to create connections. Our customer experience software unlocks the power of billions of interactions, enabling businesses to build rich, meaningful relationships with their customers. What’s it like to work here? Our offices reflect the global cities we call home, and have spaces for collaboration, quiet, and events. With our hybrid approach, you’ll experience flexibility and connection, collaboration, and learning with your team. We’re aware of an increase in recruitment scams where individuals falsely claim to represent Zendesk. These scammers may ask for money or personal information by offering fake job opportunities through e-mail, text message or social media. Please verify the source of any job-related communications carefully. All official Zendesk communications are conducted through "@zendesk.com" email addresses. If you encounter suspicious messages, do not respond and report them to peopleandplaces@zendesk.com

Responsibilities

Manage and coordinate all payroll activities across APAC countries, ensuring timely and compliant delivery. Oversee the full payroll lifecycle for all APAC employees and lead projects to streamline payroll processes.