Payroll & Benefits Specialist, Asia Pacific

External

Merck · - Selangor - Petaling Jaya (ascent Paradigm), Malaysia

Full-timeHybridToday

ComplianceData AnalysisDocumentationExcelPayrollProcess Improvement

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About the role

We are seeking an experienced Payroll & Benefits Specialist to support end-to-end payroll operations for Indonesia and end-to-end benefits administration across multiple APAC markets . You will work closely with internal HR partners, Payroll, Compensation & Benefits, HR Systems teams, as well as external vendors (e.g., payroll vendors, insurers, brokers, TPAs) to ensure programmes are administered accurately, compliantly, and with a strong focus on employee experience. This is a hands-on role ideal for a payroll and benefits professional who enjoys operational ownership, regional exposure, and continuous improvement in a structured shared services environment.

Responsibilities

A. Indonesia Payroll Administration (approximately 40%)

Manage end-to-end payroll processing for Indonesia, including salary calculations, overtime, allowances, deductions, net pay validation, and payslip distribution.

Ensure payroll operations comply with Indonesian statutory and labor law requirements, including payroll reporting, tax withholding, statutory benefits, and audit support.

Administer payroll data setup and maintenance, validate source data, and coordinate with payroll vendors or service providers to ensure timely and accurate payroll processing.

Manage payroll reconciliations, payroll accounting inputs, GL posting preparation, month-end payroll close activities, and related finance coordination.

Support administration of payroll-related activities such as absence impacts, full and final settlement, statutory documentation, and payroll record retention.

Coordinate with local HR, Finance, and third-party payroll vendors to resolve payroll exceptions, employee cases, and escalations.

Support payroll-related system changes, including data mapping, testing, UAT, and implementation activities that impact Indonesia payroll.

B. AP Benefits Administration & Employee Support (approximately 40%)

Administer APAC benefits programs (medical, life/disability, wellness, allowances, retirement, and market-specific benefits).

Manage benefits enrollments and lifecycle changes (new hires/dependents, beneficiary updates) in line with policy and local regulations.

Provide employee support on benefits coverage, enrollment, and claims; support onboarding and benefits communications.

Manage benefits vendors (insurers, brokers, TPAs), ensuring service delivery, issue resolution, and SLA adherence; partner with HR/Payroll/C&B/HRIS for smooth end-to-end processes.

Ensure governance and control through audits, reconciliations, compliance, reporting support, documentation/SOPs, and strict confidentiality of employee data.

E. Regional Projects & Continuous Improvement (approximately 20%)

Support regional benefits initiatives such as system implementations, vendor transitions, centralisation, and process improvement efforts.

Participate in project activities including data validation, user acceptance testing (UAT), cutover support, and post-go-live stabilisation.

Identify recurring operational issues and recommend practical improvements to enhance service quality, efficiency, and employee experience.

Support additional HR Operations projects and initiatives as required.

Payroll & Benefits Specialist, Asia Pacific

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