LATAM Payroll Analyst

Overview: The primary role of the Payroll Analyst is to provide subject matter expertise to the team and the Business on payroll related compliance and guidance. Audit and review the monthly payroll for accuracy and completeness as well as any related tax remittances and third party payments. This position is responsible for all external and year end filing and reporting requirements. The position requires an individual with payroll expertise who can be relied on to test and provide advice on complex payroll issues and/or changes in legal requirements. This position will also play a key role in compliance with SOX requirements; ensuring the integrity of payroll postings. This position will continue to support employee data changes as a part of regular work.

Responsibilities:
• Review the payroll for accuracy and compliance with SOX guidelines prior to approval and submission for payment to employees.
• Review all government filings and payments to ensure compliance with local country laws and external audits.
• Prepare and remit all external reporting, inclusive of year end filings.
• Responsible for guidance on regulatory changes related to local country laws as well as testing these changes within our SAP system.
• Provide high level of customer experience while partnering on employee and manager related issues. Meet with the Business on a regular basis to discuss payroll issues, changes to the Business and/or upcoming regulatory changes in payroll.
• Works with the Payroll Process Lead to implement regulatory changes in payroll system (i.e. SAP). Provides guidance on testing changes in the system.
• Assists team with most complex problems related to reconciliations of FI to Payroll accounts.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance. Equivalent combination of education and relevant payroll experience may be considered.
• Certification in Payroll (preferred).
• 3+ years of experience in payroll processing and administration across LATAM countries (Mexico a must, and at least one more LATAM country: Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Panama, Argentina, or others), preferably in a corporate or multinational environment.
• Experience supporting both salaried and hourly employees, as well as unionized employees.
• Solid knowledge of end-to-end payroll processes, including payroll calculations, deductions, taxes, statutory benefits, additional benefits and annual tax adjustments.
• Experience processing employee lifecycle transactions across at least 2 LATAM countries, including new hires, terminations, salary changes, promotions, bonuses, commissions, profit sharing, statutory annual payments, vacation premiums, and other country-specific compensation and benefits.
• Knowledge of LATAM payroll budgeting is an advantage.
• Experience managing payroll data, employee changes, time and attendance information, and payroll-related reports.
• Excel, with the ability to manage and reconcile payroll information from multiple countries and systems.
• Ability to analyze payroll information, identify discrepancies, investigate variances, and resolve issues accurately and timely.
• Ability to operate in a regional LATAM environment, adapting to different payroll calendars, statutory requirements, labor regulations, currencies, processes, and local practices while maintaining standardized regional controls and processes.
• Experience working and coordinating with external payroll providers across LATAM, ensuring timely delivery of payroll inputs, accurate payroll processing, compliance with local requirements, review and validation of payroll results, resolution of discrepancies, and effective communication with local providers throughout the payroll cycle.
• Ability to interact effectively with employees, managers, HR, Finance, auditors, external payroll providers and authorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (medium-advance preferred); experience with ERP payroll systems (SAP, Peoplenet, Evolution).
• English proficiency: Intermediate-Advanced level, with the ability to communicate effectively in written and verbal interactions within a professional environment.