Sr. Associate I, Payroll

At Alcon, we are inspired by the meaningful work we do to help people see brilliantly. As the global leader in eye care, we boldly innovate, champion progress, and act with speed. We recognize and celebrate the contributions of our people, offering career opportunities that empower growth and fulfillment. Together, we go above and beyond to make a lasting impact on the lives of our patients and customers. We cultivate an inclusive culture and invite diverse, talented individuals to join us in shaping the future of eye care.

Sr. Associate I, Payroll is responsible for delivering accurate and compliant payroll processing services across assigned APAC countries while ensuring a high level of service delivery, operational excellence, and employee satisfaction. The role serves as a key contributor within Alcon's Human Resources Shared Services function, supporting end-to-end payroll operations, payroll vendor management, payroll data administration, employee inquiries, and payroll-related compliance activities.

The position works closely with Payroll Vendors, HR, Finance, Treasury, Total Rewards, Workday teams, and business stakeholders to ensure timely payroll execution, resolution of payroll-related issues, and adherence to local statutory requirements. The role also supports payroll transitions, process improvements, system enhancements, and legislative changes impacting payroll operations across supported countries.

Additionally, the Sr. Associate I is responsible for maintaining payroll accuracy, supporting governance and compliance requirements, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and ensuring payroll processes are documented, standardized, and aligned with Alcon policies and global operating standards.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Service Deliveries

• Deliver accurate and timely payroll processing services for assigned countries, including Korea, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
• Collect, validate, review, and consolidate payroll inputs from multiple upstream sources, both automated and manual.
• Ensure payroll transactions are processed accurately in accordance with company policies, statutory regulations, and established payroll calendars.
• Monitor payroll vendor performance and processing activities to ensure payroll outputs are complete, accurate, and delivered on time.
• Review payroll results, reports, reconciliations, and exception items prior to payroll finalization.
• Support payroll funding requests, including payroll payments, payroll taxes, and third-party remittances while coordinating with Treasury and Finance teams.
• Respond to payroll-related inquiries from associates, managers, HR partners, and other stakeholders within agreed service level commitments.
• Provide support for payroll audits, compliance reviews, and statutory reporting requirements.
• Maintain payroll documentation, process guides, and standard operating procedures to ensure knowledge continuity and process consistency.
• Support payroll system implementations, transitions, upgrades, and process transformation initiatives.
• Provide analysis and operational support for legislative and regulatory changes impacting payroll processing.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll accuracy, efficiency, controls, and employee experience.

Manage Day-to-Day Activities

• Execute payroll administration activities in accordance with agreed payroll schedules and service level agreements.
• Validate employee payroll data, including earnings, deductions, taxes, benefits, leave transactions, and time & attendance inputs.
• Analyze payroll discrepancies, investigate root causes, and implement corrective actions to minimize future occurrences.
• Review payroll interfaces, data feeds, and system integrations to ensure data accuracy between HR, payroll, and finance systems.
• Coordinate closely with payroll vendors to resolve processing issues, payroll exceptions, and compliance-related matters.
• Manage payroll cases and requests through ServiceNow and other case management platforms.
• Utilize Workday, payroll vendor systems, Kronos, and related platforms to maintain payroll transaction accuracy.
• Support payroll reconciliations and payroll reporting activities to ensure completeness and audit readiness.
• Ensure accurate maintenance of payroll records and supporting documentation.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, Benefits, Compensation, and Treasury teams to resolve payroll-related matters.
• Support organizational projects involving payroll process optimization, automation, and service enhancements.
• Participate in knowledge sharing and cross-training activities within the payroll team.

Compliance

• Ensure payroll processes are executed in accordance with local labor laws, tax regulations, and statutory requirements.
• Maintain adherence to company policies, internal controls, audit requirements, and payroll governance standards.
• Ensure accurate documentation and retention of payroll records and supporting materials.
• Support internal and external audits by preparing required payroll documentation and reports.
• Monitor compliance risks and escalate issues appropriately to management and relevant stakeholders.
• Support implementation of legislative and regulatory payroll changes across supported countries.
• Complete all mandatory compliance, quality, and regulatory training requirements within designated timelines.
• Promote a strong culture of compliance, accuracy, confidentiality, and accountability.

People Management

• Demonstrate Alcon values through collaboration, accountability, customer focus, and continuous improvement.
• Develop effective working relationships with internal stakeholders, external payroll vendors, and regional business partners.
• Share payroll knowledge, best practices, and process expertise with team members and stakeholders.
• Support onboarding, training, and knowledge transfer activities as required.
• Contribute to a high-performing shared services organization focused on service excellence and operational effectiveness.
• Actively participate in process improvement and transformation initiatives across the payroll function.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

Education

(minimum/desirable)

• Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Finance, Business Administration, Accounting, or related discipline.
• Professional payroll certification or equivalent payroll qualification is an added advantage.

Languages

• Fluent in written and spoken English. It will be added advantage to have other APAC language skills.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of payroll experience, preferably within a regional or multi-country payroll environment.
• Experience supporting payroll operations across APAC countries is highly preferred.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end payroll processes, payroll controls, payroll reconciliations, and statutory compliance requirements.
• Experience managing payroll vendors such as ADP, Strada, SD Worx, NGA, or similar payroll service providers.
• Hands-on experience with Workday and payroll case management systems.
• Experience handling payroll inquiries and stakeholder communications in a shared services environment.
• Exposure to payroll process transitions, system implementations, and payroll transformation initiatives is an advantage.
• Experience supporting legislative and regulatory payroll changes across multiple jurisdictions is preferred.

Technical Skills

• Workday HRIS and Payroll systems.
• ServiceNow case management platform.
• Payroll vendor platforms such as ADP, Strada, SD Worx, and NGA.
• Kronos or equivalent Time & Attendance systems.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills for payroll reporting, analysis, and reconciliation.
• Strong payroll reporting, data analysis, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Understanding of payroll compliance, taxation, and statutory requirements across APAC countries.

Personal Attributes

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to payroll accuracy.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication capabilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrates ownership, accountability, and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Capable of working independently with minimal supervision.
• Highly organized with strong planning and execution skills.
• Adaptable and resilient when managing deadlines and operational challenges.
• Collaborative team player with a customer-focused approach.
• Maintains confidentiality and professionalism when handling sensitive payroll information.

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