Manager - Payroll at GMG in Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Who we are:

GMG is a global well-being company retailing, distributing and manufacturing a portfolio of leading international and home-grown brands across sport, everyday goods, health and beauty, properties and logistics sectors. Under the ownership and management of the Baker family for over 45 years, GMG is a valued partner of choice for the world's most successful and respected brands in the well-being sector. Working across the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, GMG has introduced more than 120 brands across 12 countries. These include notable home-grown brands such as Sun & Sand Sports, Dropkick, Supercare Pharmacy, Farm Fresh, Klassic, and international brands like Nike, Columbia, Converse, Timberland, Vans, Mama Sita's, and McCain.

Role Summary: The role holder will lead and manage end-to-end payroll operations for GMG group employees across multiple geographies, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant processing. This includes overseeing employee lifecycle changes, benefits, deductions, reimbursements, and final settlements, while maintaining strong governance and data integrity.

The role will also drive process standardization, automation, and robust control frameworks, leveraging systems such as SAP S/4HANA, SuccessFactors and Microsoft SharePoint to enhance efficiency, reduce manual dependency, and ensure compliance.

The role holder will collaborate closely with HRBP, Onboarding/Offboarding teams, Finance, GR, and external partners to ensure seamless payroll operations, enforce timelines, and strengthen cross-functional alignment. In addition, the role will play a key part in driving payroll transformation initiatives, including process optimization, system enhancements, and improved integration across functions. The role will also focus on enhancing reporting and visibility through dashboards, ensuring audit readiness, proactively identifying risks, and driving continuous improvement across the payroll function.

Responsibilities:

• Manages end-to-end payroll activities and program components across multiple geographies using SAP S/4HANA and SuccessFactors, ensuring effective department functioning, coordination of activities, and compliance with established financial, legal, and administrative requirements for the GMG group.

• Defines and implements robust controls, procedures, and reconciliation checks in payroll processing and payments to ensure accuracy, consistency, audit readiness, and compliance with standard processes.

• Ensures compilation and validation of payroll data from a wide variety of sources (e.g., attendance systems, leave, incentives, and statutory inputs) to maintain data integrity and accuracy of payroll outputs.

• Verifies and validates payroll-related information (e.g., time sheets, leave, overtime, benefits, statutory deductions, and final settlements) to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing.

• Oversees payroll runs, simulations, final settlements (FS), banking processes, and reconciliations, ensuring timely execution across all payroll cycles and regions.

• Reviews, approves, and signs (as per authority matrix) payment requests, payroll outputs, and employment-related documentation for banks and financial institutions, ensuring only authorized transactions are processed.

• Develops and enhances payroll administration policies, procedures, and SOPs, driving standardization, process improvement, and automation to improve efficiency and reduce manual dependency.

• Ensures effective implementation and governance of compensation and benefits structures (salary components, allowances, incentives, statutory contributions, and end-of-service benefits).

• Manages statutory compliance across regions (e.g., WPS, GPSSA, PF, NPS), ensuring timely submissions, validations, and adherence to local laws.

• Leads payroll calendar planning, cut-off management, and coordination with HRBP, Finance, GR, and banking partners to ensure timely payroll execution and proactive management of regional holidays and deadlines.

• Ensures generation and submission of payroll reports, dashboards, and ad-hoc analysis (e.g., headcount, payroll trends, and cost insights) to support business decision-making and improve visibility.

• Presents payroll reconciliations, trend analysis, and key insights effectively to senior leadership to support informed decision-making and ensure transparency across payroll operations.

• Oversees offboarding payroll activities, including final settlements, hold instructions, recoveries, and compliance with legal and internal requirements, ensuring timely closure of employee records.

• Leads the development and maintenance of payroll documentation, manuals, and guidelines, ensuring continuous updates aligned with business and regulatory changes.

• Drives payroll governance and control ownership by enforcing approval hierarchies, cut-off discipline, and audit-ready processes across all payroll activities.

• Proactively identifies payroll risks and implements mitigation plans to ensure compliance, accuracy, and operational continuity.

People Management: The incumbent is responsible for setting clear objectives and performance targets in collaboration with team members, ensuring alignment with overall organizational goals and payroll function priorities. The role involves actively mentoring, guiding, and providing direction to the team to build technical capability, strengthen process ownership, and drive operational efficiency across payroll activities.

The incumbent applies structured performance management practices to monitor progress, address challenges, and ensure timely achievement of defined KPIs, while reinforcing accountability and adherence to established processes and controls. Through continuous feedback, coaching, and knowledge sharing, the role fosters a high-performance, results-oriented environment, reduces dependency on individuals, and supports both individual development and collective team growth.

Functional / Technical Competencies :

SAP S/4HANA Payroll Systems

SAP SuccessFactors (Employee Data, Payroll Inputs & Workflows)

• Microsoft SharePoint / Attendance Systems Integration with Payroll

• Payroll Processing & Administration (Multi-country)

• Statutory Compliance (WPS, GPSSA, PF, NPS, etc.)

• Payroll Controls, Reconciliation & Audit Readiness

• Financial Planning & Reporting (Payroll-related)

• Data Management & Reporting (Advanced Excel / Dashboards)

• Payroll Banking (Multi-country)

• Time & Attendance Integration with Payroll Systems

• Knowledge of Local Laws & Regulations (UAE & GCC)

• Process Design, SOP Development & Automation

• Risk Management & Compliance Governance

• Analytical Ability

• Presentation Skills

• Stakeholder & Vendor Management (HR, Finance, Banks)

Experience: • Minimum 12+ years of progressive experience in payroll management, with at least 4–6 years of hands-on experience in SAP S/4HANA payroll systems within the MENA region.

• Proven experience in managing end-to-end, multi-country payroll operations (UAE and GCC mandatory; India exposure preferred), including statutory compliance (e.g., WPS, GPSSA, PF/NPS) in high-volume and complex payroll environments.

• Demonstrated track record in driving payroll transformation initiatives, including process standardization, automation, strengthening controls, and reducing manual dependency.

• Strong experience in stakeholder management and cross-functional coordination, particularly with HRBP, Finance, GR, and external partners, ensuring timely payroll inputs, validations, reconciliations, and issue resolution.

Certifications:

Professional certifications in payroll, finance, or HR (e.g., CPP, CIPD, SHRM, ACCA, CPA) will be an added advantage.