Lead Payroll Associate

Job description

Company and benefits

Job ID

LEADP019171

Employment Type

Regular

Work Style

hybrid

Location

Pune City,India

Role

Lead Payroll Associate

Why UKG:

At UKG, the work you do matters. The code you ship, the decisions you make, and the care you show a customer all add up to real impact. Today, tens of millions of workers start and end their days with our workforce operating platform. Helping people get paid, grow in their careers, and shape the future of their industries. That’s what we do.

We never stop learning. We never stop challenging the norm. We push for better, and we celebrate the wins along the way. Here, you’ll get flexibility that’s real, benefits you can count on, and a team that succeeds together. Because at UKG, your work matters - and so do you.

Role Overview

The Payroll Specialist supports end-to-end payroll operations for assigned LATAM countries from a global delivery environment, ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll execution. The role partners with In-Country Partners (ICPs), clients, and internal stakeholders to deliver high-quality payroll services and resolve complex issues in a multi-country environment.

Key Responsibilities

Execute end-to-end payroll processing for assigned LATAM countries (e.g.: Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, etc)

Review payroll inputs, outputs, reconciliations, and variance reports

Partner with ICPs to ensure accurate and timely payroll delivery

Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies and client/employee queries within SLAs

Support GTN balancing, statutory reporting, and compliance activities.

Manage client interactions and handle escalations with appropriate ownership

Support integrations (employee data, time files) and drive root cause resolution. Conduct root cause analysis (RCA) and drive corrective and preventive actions

Maintain strong stakeholder relationships across clients, ICPs, and internal teams

Contribute to process improvements, documentation, and knowledge sharing

Ensure adherence to internal controls, SOC requirements, and year-end activities

Review and approve payroll reconciliations, variance analyses, audits, and payroll outputs.

Serve as an escalation point for complex payroll issues, client concerns, and compliance-related matters.

Mentor and support junior payroll team members through coaching and knowledge sharing.

Drive process improvements, standardization efforts, and payroll transformation initiatives. Ensure compliance with internal controls, SOC requirements, and audit standards.

Required Qualifications

4–6 years of payroll experience with strong exposure to LATAM payroll

Experience supporting payroll via ICP (In-Country Partner) model

Advanced Spanish proficiency (B2/C1+) with ability to manage business communication

Experience supporting one or more LATAM countries (multi-country preferred)

Experience in handling client escalations and complex payroll issues.

Strong understanding of payroll compliance, reconciliations, and controls

Strong analytical, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.

Advanced Excel skills (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUPs, formulas) for payroll analysis

Ability to work in LATAM-aligned shifts (evening/night IST as required)

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with UKG Pro or other global payroll platforms

Experience in shared services/global delivery model

Exposure to payroll implementations or transitions

Relevant Payroll certification (CPP or FPC equivalent)

Company Overview:

UKG is the Workforce Operating Platform that puts workforce understanding to work. With the world's largest collection of workforce insights, and people-first AI, our ability to reveal unseen ways to build trust, amplify productivity, and empower talent, is unmatched. It's this expertise that equips our customers with the intelligence to solve any challenge in any industry - because great organizations know their workforce is their competitive edge. Learn more at ukg.com.

Disability Accommodation in the Application and Interview Process

For individuals with disabilities that need additional assistance at any point in the application and interview process, please email UKGCareers@ukg.com

NOTICE ON HIRING SCAMS

UKG will never ask you for a copy of your driver’s license, social security card, or passport during a job inter

ABOUT OUR JOB DESCRIPTIONS

All job descriptions are written to accurately reflect the open job and include general work responsibilities. They do not present a comprehensive, detailed inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required for the job. Management reserves the right to revise the job or require that other or different tasks be performed if or when circumstances change.