Payroll Accountant at British Council

The Role:

• The Payroll Officer supports the delivery of accurate and compliant payroll operations across assigned countries, ensuring all payroll-related data is processed on time and to the highest standard of accuracy.
• The postholder is responsible for preparing, validating, and reconciling payroll input data, assisting in payroll runs, managing employee queries, and maintaining records in compliance with statutory and internal policies. This role contributes to continuous improvement, risk mitigation, and audit readiness by supporting payroll consultants and ensuring effective coordination with Finance, HR, and external vendors.

Main accountabilities but not limited to the following:  

Payroll Execution & Validation

• Support end-to-end payroll processing by validating input data (new hires, exits, salary changes, allowances, deductions, and benefits) in coordination with HR and Finance.
• Prepare and verify payroll input templates for review and approval by the Payroll Consultant.
• Ensure all payroll transactions are compliant with internal controls and statutory regulations.

Records Management & Documentation

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date payroll records, ensuring documentation is complete and properly stored in line with Information Governance and Records Management (IGRM) policies.
• Ensure all payroll records are available for internal and external audits.
• Support archiving and data-retention compliance in accordance with PDPA and GDPR standards.

Compliance & Risk

• Ensure compliance with local statutory regulations (tax, pension, social security) and escalate any discrepancies or anomalies for resolution.
• Follow payroll control checklists to ensure audit readiness and mitigate operational risk.
• Support the Payroll Consultant in preparing reports for compliance reviews, audits, and reconciliations.

Case Management & Employee Support

• Manage payroll-related cases and queries in the case management system (e.g., C4C), ensuring prompt, courteous, and accurate resolution within SLA.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, and the MSP to resolve employee concerns related to payroll, benefits, or statutory deductions.
• Maintain a strong customer-service mindset, providing empathetic and professional support to employees.
• Escalate complex cases to the Payroll Consultant or Manager for review.

Continuous Improvement & Collaboration

• Contribute to the documentation and refinement of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and process checklists.
• Participate in post-payroll reviews, lessons-learned sessions, and continuous-improvement initiatives.
• Support the implementation of automation tools or process simplifications introduced by the Payroll & People Data Manager.

Requirements of the role:

• Written and verbal proficiency in English
• Experience in payroll administration or data processing within a shared-services or multi-country environment.
• Knowledge of payroll processes, data validation, and statutory deductions.
• Familiarity with HRIS and payroll systems (e.g., SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle, or similar).
• Ability to manage confidential data responsibly and maintain high standards of accuracy.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills, with an ability to work under tight timelines.

Desirable:

• Experience working with external vendors or managed service providers.
• Exposure to continuous-improvement initiatives or process documentation.
• Understanding of statutory payroll compliance in one or more Asia-Pacific countries.