Payroll Director

AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven BioPharmaceutical business that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious disease. But we’re more than one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies.

We are trusted partners who are connected and integrated across the global enterprise, working closely with all functions from Commercial to Manufacturing. It opens up greater development opportunities for more responsibility on a global scale.

Join our dynamic and innovative team at AstraZeneca as a Payroll Director. In this role, you will lead the Payroll & Time team, delivering proactive payroll support to customer groups located on and offshore. You will work collaboratively with colleagues located in global hubs and countries, functioning as an escalation and triage point, helping resolve issues raised by the team and its customers. You will be accountable for the compliant and quality delivery of customer service, data management, and administrative activities related to Payroll, Time, and Benefits.

Accountabilities

Service delivery:

• Lead the Payroll & Time team in the delivery of payroll support to both in country and global hubs/ global managers ensuring a consistent and engaging customer experience.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with stakeholders to ensure the team delivers the right level of service and that customers have the right level of expectations.
• Function as an escalation and triage point, taking ownership to resolve issues raised by the team and its customers.
• Interacting and managing queries to external vendors, dealing with escalations and service improvement.
• Be familiar with and use technologies e.g., global, and local payroll systems, Workday, Service Now, AdobeSign and how other enabling technologies support delivery of the payroll & time. Able to use these technologies to generate data in decision making.
• Work with the other GBS People Services leads across the AstraZeneca global next work to continuously improve the customer experience.
• Monitor service performance, utilizing key performance metrics and customer feedback.

Functional

• Accountable for the successful delivery of guaranteeing process payroll end to end (i.e. managing input to payroll, manage pay slips, validate payroll results (manage corrections, errors), post payroll activities (support payroll reconciliation, 3rd party information, bank payments), execute compliance controls (FCF, SOX), manage policy changes as needed.
• Accountable of vendor management (service review, monitor SLA, invoicing, issue process)
• Manage Time process (validate data, input to payroll, legal and policy changes etc.)

Compliance:

• Ensure that the guidance and support provided by the team is of the correct quality and in accordance with written procedures, current legal requirements, and quality / data privacy standards.
• Evaluate SLAs / KPIs / CSAT and other management information to ensure the team delivers according to agreed metrics
• Advise on quality matters and owns mitigation planning.

Demand and capacity planning:

• Prioritize the workload of team members to help them achieve business, team, and personal goals.
• Work to provide insights into anticipated future demand and escalate potential resourcing issues, working together to find a resolution.

Continuous improvement:

• Support the AZ organizational/simplification of processes by driving continuous improvement.
• Keep up to date with country service trends (internal and external) in relation to Payroll & Time
• Champion self-service opportunities, working closely with Advice and & Guidance team and relevant stakeholders to implement and drive utilization of self-service by employees and Line Managers.
• Identify and implement areas of improvement in service delivery, working with Global Payroll & Time team where appropriate.
• Guarantee, through the People Services Advisory Team, the regular update of AskAZ for any Payroll & Time activities.
• Support impact assessments on process / service change requests.
• Support execution of projects and their related transition into the Payroll & Time Service Line in collaboration with stakeholders (e.g., HR2030, Centre of Expertise, HR Business Partners, etc.)
• Will evaluate local change requests to policy, process, and technology, working with Global Process Owners and other stakeholders, as necessary.

People Management:

• Oversees Line Management responsibilities including performance and career development processes for HR Service teams.
• Ensure team members are highly motivated and have the right level of competence to perform their roles as expected.
• Provide consistent and constructive feedback to team members.

Essential Requirements

• Minimum 5-7 years of relevant experience in Payroll lead capacity and leadership
• University/college degree or equivalent
• Knowledge and Experience in people management and business decision-making
• Possesses knowledge and understanding of systems (Workday, ServiceNow, AdobeSign, Payroll)
• General knowledge and understanding of local regulatory policies and procedures related to Payroll
• Knowledge of in country legislation
• Excellent communication and Customer service skills
• Team player and works collaboratively.
• Fluent in English and local languages

Desirable Requirements

• Process improvement / lean expertise.
• Experience in working on financial controls.
• Previous experience in working in a service desk function.
• Experience working in shared services or similar operations capacity preferred
• Experience in managing / interacting with outsourced service providers desirable.
• Previous global or international experience preferred.

At AstraZeneca, we are driven by learning. We thrive on working seamlessly and inclusively across our different functions. It's the diversity of perspectives and opportunities that fuels our passion for lifelong learning. Join a talented global team that's powering AstraZeneca to better serve patients, every day. The fuel behind our evolving, rapidly growing enterprise, we're here to help unlock the power of what science can do and ultimately have a big impact on patients' lives.

Are you ready to fuel a growth mindset through diversity? Apply now to join our team!

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills. We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorisation and employment eligibility verification requirements.