Senior Manager - Payroll
- Full-time
- Compensation: INR 0 - INR 0 - yearly
Company Description
Organizations everywhere struggle under the crushing costs and complexities of “solutions” that promise to simplify their lives. To create a better experience for their customers and employees. To help them grow. Software is a choice that can make or break a business. Create better or worse experiences. Propel or throttle growth. Business software has become a blocker instead of ways to get work done.
There’s another option. Freshworks. With a fresh vision for how the world works.
At Freshworks, we build uncomplicated service software that delivers exceptional customer and employee experiences. Our enterprise-grade solutions are powerful, yet easy to use, and quick to deliver results. Our people-first approach to AI eliminates friction, making employees more effective and organizations more productive. Over 72,000 companies, including Bridgestone, New Balance, Nucor, S&P Global, and Sony Music, trust Freshworks’ customer experience (CX) and employee experience (EX) software to fuel customer loyalty and service efficiency. And, over 4,500 Freshworks employees make this possible, all around the world.
Fresh vision. Real impact. Come build it with us.
Job Description
The Worldwide Payroll Senior Manager will lead and manage end-to-end global payroll operations for a multinational technology company.
Based in Bangalore, India, this role is responsible for ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll processing for all employees across India, the United States, EMEA, and APAC.
This role oversees the complete payroll lifecycle across all entities and regions, including payroll processing, statutory compliance, payroll accounting, vendor management, and internal controls. The Worldwide Senior Payroll Manager will lead a team of payroll professionals and manage global payroll vendors, ensuring payroll operations scale effectively with company growth.
The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in India payroll compliance, strong experience managing multi-country payroll operations, and demonstrated leadership managing payroll teams in a high-growth technology or multinational environment.
Global Payroll Operations
• Own and manage end-to-end payroll processing for all company entities globally, including India, United States, EMEA, and APAC.
• Ensure payroll is processed accurately and on schedule across all jurisdictions.
• Maintain global payroll calendars, approvals, reconciliations, and payroll funding processes.
• Oversee payroll inputs, including compensation changes, bonuses, commissions, equity events, and employee lifecycle changes.
• Ensure payroll compliance with all local labor laws, tax regulations, and statutory requirements.
Global Payroll Compliance & Governance
• Ensure compliance with payroll regulations and statutory requirements across all regions including India, US, EMEA, and APAC.
• Manage relationships with global payroll vendors and regional service providers.
• Maintain payroll documentation, policies, and procedures to support internal controls and audits.
• Support internal and external audits, including SOX compliance where applicable.
Payroll Accounting & Financial Controls
• Partner with Accounting to ensure payroll-related journal entries, accruals, and reconciliations are accurate and timely.
• Support month-end and quarter-end close processes related to payroll.
• Reconcile payroll accounts including wages, payroll taxes, benefits, and statutory liabilities.
• Provide payroll reporting and analytics to Finance leadership.
Systems & Process Improvement
• Manage payroll systems and integrations with HRIS platforms (e.g., Workday or similar systems).
• Evaluate payroll providers and drive improvements in payroll automation, efficiency, and scalability.
• Lead payroll process improvements and standardization across regions.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner with HR / People Operations on employee lifecycle events impacting payroll.
• Collaborate with Compensation and Equity teams on payroll treatment for bonuses and stock compensation.
• Work with Finance and Accounting on payroll reporting, forecasting, and reconciliations.
• Partner with Legal and Compliance to ensure adherence to global employment regulations.
Team Leadership
• Manage and mentor a global payroll team of 6 direct reports.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and professional development to payroll team members.
• Establish standardized payroll processes and best practices across all regions.
• Ensure proper training and documentation across the payroll function.
Qualifications
Qualifications – Education
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
Qualifications – Experience
• 10+ years of payroll experience, including global payroll management.
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-country payroll operations across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC.
• Strong hands-on experience managing India payroll and statutory compliance.
• Experience managing payroll teams and global payroll vendors.
• Experience working in technology or high-growth multinational companies.
• Experience with payroll systems such as ADP, Allsec, CloudPay, Papaya, Workday Payroll, or similar platforms.
Skills
• Deep understanding of India payroll regulations and statutory compliance.
• Strong knowledge of global payroll regulations and compliance requirements.
• Experience with payroll accounting and reconciliations.
• Familiarity with equity compensation payroll processing.
• Advanced Excel and payroll reporting capabilities.
• Strong leadership and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage complex global payroll operations across multiple time zones.
Preferred Qualifications
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or equivalent certification.
• Experience supporting public company payroll or SOX environments.
• Experience implementing global payroll systems or leading payroll transformations.
• Experience supporting rapid international expansion in a technology company.
Additional Information
At Freshworks, we have fostered an environment that enables everyone to find their true potential, purpose, and passion, welcoming colleagues of all backgrounds, genders, sexual orientations, religions, and ethnicities. We are committed to providing equal opportunity and believe that diversity in the workplace creates a more vibrant, richer environment that boosts the goals of our employees, communities, and business. Fresh vision. Real impact. Come build it with us.