HR Manager - Operations & Payroll

Department – Human Resource Designation – Manager Location: Mumbai Experience: 8–10 Years Role Overview The Manager – HR Operations & Payroll will be responsible for managing the end-to-end HR operations, payroll processing, statutory compliance, employee compensation, attendance management, incentives and variable pay administration. The role requires strong hands-on experience in payroll management, HRMS administration (KEKA), employee lifecycle management, statutory compliances, taxation and advanced Excel. Key Responsibilities 1. Payroll Management Manage end-to-end monthly payroll processing, ensuring accuracy and timely salary disbursement. Validate monthly payroll inputs, salary revisions, new joiners, exits, LOP, reimbursements, deductions and arrears. Handle full and final settlements (F&F), notice pay, leave encashment and exit-related payroll adjustments. Reconcile payroll data and resolve salary discrepancies. Coordinate with Finance and Accounts for payroll processing, salary disbursement and accounting reconciliation. Maintain payroll records, salary registers and employee compensation data. 2. HR Operations & Employee Lifecycle Management Manage complete employee lifecycle activities, including onboarding, documentation, confirmation, transfers, promotions, salary revisions and employee exits. Ensure employee records, personal files and HR documentation are accurate and updated. Manage employee letters, HR documentation, employment certificates and other HR-related communication. Maintain accurate employee databases and manpower records across locations. 3. Statutory Compliance & Taxation Ensure compliance with applicable statutory requirements, including PF, ESIC, Professional Tax, Labour Welfare Fund, TDS and other applicable labour laws. Coordinate monthly and annual statutory filings, challans, returns and reconciliations. Manage employee investment declarations, proof submissions and tax-related payroll calculations. Handle Form 16, TDS calculations and employee tax queries. Coordinate with statutory auditors, consultants and government authorities whenever required. Maintain compliance records and ensure timely completion of statutory obligations. 4. Incentive & Variable Pay Management Manage end-to-end calculation, validation and processing of employee incentives, performance-linked pay and variable compensation. Validate incentive eligibility, achievement data, payout calculations and approvals in coordination with Business Heads. Maintain incentive MIS, payout trackers and reconciliation reports. 5. Attendance & Leave Management Monitor employee attendance, shift schedules, leave balances, weekly offs, late marks and loss of pay. Ensure accurate attendance inputs for monthly payroll processing. Coordinate with respective departments and reporting managers for attendance regularization and discrepancies. Ensure timely closure of attendance inputs before monthly payroll processing. 6. Employee Helpdesk Act as the primary point of contact for employee queries related to payroll, taxation, attendance, leave, incentives, HR policies and HRMS. Handle employee grievances and operational escalations professionally. Ensure effective communication of HR policies, processes and employee-related updates. Maintain query trackers and monitor resolution timelines. 7. MIS, Reporting & Process Improvement Prepare and publish monthly HR MIS covering payroll, attendance, manpower, attrition, employee movements and statutory compliance. Develop advanced Excel-based reports, dashboards and trackers. Perform data analysis, reconciliation and validation to ensure accuracy. Prepare periodic reports for HR leadership and senior management. Educational, Experience & Professional Qualifications Education: Bachelor's degree in Commerce, Management or a related discipline. MBA / PGDM in HR or equivalent qualification. Experience: 8–10 years of experience in HR Operations & Payroll. Strong hands-on experience in end-to-end payroll and statutory compliance. Good knowledge of PF, ESIC, PT, TDS and employee taxation. Experience in incentive, variable pay and attendance management. Mandatory: Hands-on experience with KEKA HRMS portal. Technical Skills: Advanced MS Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, IF, SUMIFS and MIS dashboards). Strong knowledge of payroll systems, HRMS and reporting. Key Competencies: Strong analytical and numerical skills. High attention to detail and accuracy. Good communication, coordination and employee query-handling skills. Ability to manage confidential employee data.