Payroll Manager

Role Summary

The Payroll Manager is responsible for overseeing and managing the end‑to‑end payroll process to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll operations. This role leads payroll activities, manages payroll vendor, ensures adherence to statutory and company policies, and partners closely with HR, Finance, and Legal to support employees and the business.

Key Responsibilities

Payroll Operations

• Manage end‑to‑end payroll processing for all employees, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and confidentiality.
• Ensure payroll calculations comply with local labor laws, tax regulations, statutory contributions, and company policies.
• Oversee regular payroll cycles, off‑cycle payments, bonuses, commissions, and final settlements.
• Review and approve payroll reports prior to disbursement.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure full compliance with labor laws, tax regulations, social security, and other statutory requirements.
• Stay up to date on changes in payroll-related legislation and assess business impact.
• Manage payroll audits (internal and external) and address findings promptly.
• Maintain accurate payroll documentation and records in line with audit and data‑privacy requirements.

Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Serve as the key point of contact for payroll vendors, tax authorities, and statutory bodies.
• Partner with HR, Finance, and People Operations teams to ensure data accuracy (new hires, terminations, changes, leave, etc.).
• Resolve complex payroll issues and employee escalations professionally and efficiently.

Process Improvement & Systems

• Identify opportunities to streamline payroll processes through automation or system enhancements.
• Participate in payroll system implementations, upgrades, or integrations.
• Develop and maintain payroll SOPs, controls, and standardized workflows.

Reporting & Insights

• Prepare and present payroll reports for management, finance reconciliation, and audits.
• Provide payroll cost analysis and insights to support financial planning and decision‑making.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferably in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or a related field.
• Minimum 6–8 years of payroll experience.
• Strong knowledge of payroll regulations, tax requirements, and labor laws.
• Hands‑on experience with payroll systems and HRIS.
• High level of accuracy, attention to detail, and data confidentiality.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing payroll across multiple countries or legal entities.
• Professional payroll, accounting, or HR certification is an advantage.
• Experience working in a shared services or fast‑growing organization.

Key Competencies

• Excellent problem‑solving and analytical abilities
• Stakeholder management and communication skills
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and high confidentiality
• Continuous improvement and process mindset

Success Indicators

• On‑time and error‑free payroll processing
• Zero or minimal payroll compliance issues
• Positive employee experience related to payroll
• Well‑documented, scalable, and audit‑ready payroll processes
• High-performing and engaged payroll team

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/our-story.html.

Manulife is an Equal Opportunity Employer

At Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact recruitment@manulife.com.

Hybrid