About this role.
This role leads APAC payroll operations for a global employment platform, with particular expertise required in Australia and New Zealand payroll. The manager owns end-to-end payroll delivery, country-level compliance, provider relationships, operational planning, and service performance. They will directly lead and mentor a payroll team while developing KPIs, SLAs, and scalable process improvements. Success requires strong regional payroll knowledge, analytical problem-solving, fluent English communication, and comfort working autonomously in an asynchronous international environment.
Role DNA
A quick view of the complexity, pace, ownership and collaboration implied by the job description.
Job Complexity
4/5Pace & Pressure
4/5Autonomy Level
5/5Communication Load
5/5Salary analysis
Estimated compensation compared with the broader US market for similar roles.
Core skills
Skills and capabilities most closely associated with this opportunity.
Sample interview questions
I would maintain documented payroll calendars, control checklists, and country-specific compliance requirements for each cycle. I would use reconciliations and exception reporting before finalization, monitor legislative updates through trusted advisors and providers, and conduct periodic post-payroll audits to identify recurring issues.
I establish clear SLAs, escalation paths, ownership matrices, and regular operating reviews. I track provider performance through accuracy, timeliness, response-time, and issue-resolution metrics, then use root-cause analysis and improvement plans when service levels are missed.
I set clear outcomes, compliance controls, decision rights, and communication expectations, then give team members ownership of their areas. I use regular coaching, visible dashboards, and structured problem-solving sessions so the team has support without losing autonomy.
I would first map the workflow and identify where delays originate, such as late data inputs, unclear approvals, provider handoffs, or manual reconciliations. I would prioritize high-impact fixes such as standardized cutoffs, automated validations, accountable owners, and a tracked escalation process, then measure whether cycle-time and error rates improve.
I document decisions, processes, deadlines, and context clearly so colleagues can progress without waiting for meetings. I use concise written updates, define response expectations for urgent matters, and schedule limited real-time sessions only when complex alignment or escalation requires them.
About Remote
Remote is solving modern organizations’ biggest challenge – navigating global employment compliantly with ease. We make it possible for businesses of all sizes to recruit, pay, and manage international teams. With our core values at heart and future focused work culture, our team works tirelessly on ambitious problems, asynchronously, around the world. You can find Remoters working from 6 different continents (Antarctica left to go!) and all of our positions are fully remote.
With Innovation as one of the core values, we have built Automation and AI capabilities into the requirements for every role.
We encourage every member of the Remote team to bring their talents, experiences and culture to the table to help us build the best-in-class HR platform.
If you are energetic, curious, motivated and ambitious, be part of our world. Apply now and define the future of work!
What this job can offer you
This is an exciting time to join Remote and make a personal difference in the global employment space as a Manager, Payroll Operations, joining our Global Payroll Operations team. As a dynamic and energetic professional, the Manager, Payroll Operations will own the planning, and implementation of our Payroll chapter.
What you bring
- Extensive experience in regional / global payroll operations specifically in Australia/ New Zealand
- Understanding of global payroll best practices.
- Experience in implementing payroll in multiple countries and in managing relationships with third party payroll services.
- You are passionate about managing people, and you don’t micromanage your reports.
- Proficient in using software tools like SAP, Excel / Google Sheet.
- An analytical mindset with great problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to adapt to a fast-paced, international work environment with a passion for making an impact.
- Is a productivity geek and will constantly think of ways to improve and speed up their work.
- You understand the need and ideal to work largely asynchronously.
- It’s not required to have experience working remotely, but is considered a plus.
- You write and speak fluent English.
Key Responsibilities
- The Payroll team will report to you and you will provide them with guidance and mentorship.
- The Manager, Payroll Operations will own the complete payroll function, ensuring payroll is processed on time, accurately, and in compliance with country specific government regulations.
- Serve as a point of contact between internal and external stakeholders on all payroll related matters.
- Lead the Payroll team, unblock and support them.
- Be up to date with various international payroll laws / regulations.
- Ensure compliance with all corporate and country-specific regulations, policies and procedures.
- Manages existing relationships with payroll, accounting and payroll service providers.
- Develop and implement best practices, key performance indicators and SLA metrics for the team.
Practicals
- You’ll report to: Senior Manager, Payroll Operations
- Team: Payroll Operations
- Location: APAC
- Start date: As soon as possible
Application process
- Interview with recruiter
- Interview with team members
- Interview with future manager
- Interview with Senior Director, Payroll Operations
- Bar Raiser Interview
- Prior employment verification check
Remote’s Total Rewards philosophy is to ensure fair, unbiased compensation and fair equity pay along with competitive benefits in all locations in which we operate. We do not agree to or encourage cheap-labor practices and therefore we ensure to pay above in-location rates. We hope to inspire other companies to support global talent-hiring and bring local wealth to developing countries.
At first glance our salary bands seem quite wide – here is some context. At Remote we have international operations and a globally distributed workforce. We use geo ranges to consider geographic pay differentials as part of our global compensation strategy to remain competitive in various markets while we hiring globally.
Our salary ranges are determined by role, level and location, and our job titles may span more than one career level. The actual base pay for the successful candidate in this role is dependent upon many factors such as location, transferable or job-related skills, work experience, relevant training, business needs, and market demands. The base salary range may be subject to change.
At Remote, we foster internal mobility as a key element of our culture of employee growth and development, supported by a compensation philosophy that guarantees pay equity and fairness. Therefore, all compensation changes associated with an internal move will be reviewed by the Total Rewards & People Enablement team on a case by case basis.
The annual salary range for this full-time position is
$45,000—$104,650 USD
Benefits
Our full benefits & perks are explained in our handbook at remote.com/r/benefits. As a global company, each country works differently, but some benefits/perks are for all Remoters:
- work from anywhere
- flexible paid time off
- flexible working hours (we are async)
- 16 weeks paid parental leave
- budget towards co-working spaces, learning and wellness (including gym memberships)
- mental health support services
- stock options
- home office budget & IT equipment
How you’ll plan your day (and life)
We work async at Remote which means you can plan your schedule around your life (and not around meetings). Read more at remote.com/async.
You will be empowered to take ownership and be proactive. When in doubt you will default to action instead of waiting. Your life-work balance is important and you will be encouraged to put yourself and your family first, and fit work around your needs.
If that sounds like something you want, apply now!
How to apply
- Please fill out the form below and upload your CV with a PDF format.
- We kindly ask you to submit your application and CV in English, as this is the standardised language we use here at Remote.
- If you don’t have an up to date CV but you are still interested in talking to us, please feel free to add a copy of your LinkedIn profile instead.
Not only do we encourage folks from all ethnic groups, genders, sexuality, age, abilities, disability status and any other under-represented group to apply, but we prioritize a sense of belonging. We have 4 ERGs (Women, Disability, Queer, Minorities in Tech) who meet regularly with the People team. During your interviews and beyond, we ask & encourage anybody who needs an accommodation to request one from their recruiter.
We will ask you to voluntarily tell us your pronouns at interview stage, and you will have the option to answer our anonymous demographic questionnaire when you apply below. As an equal employment opportunity employer it’s important to us that our workforce reflects people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences and this data will help us to stay accountable. We thank you for providing this data, if you chose to.
At Remote, we embrace AI as a valuable tool while prioritizing human creativity and authenticity. We look forward to meeting candidates who balance innovation with genuine expertise and experience. To learn more about Remote’s AI guidelines check see here.
Please note we accept applications on an ongoing basis.
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