Specialist, Payroll & Benefits

Job Description

Specialist Payroll & Benefits Specialist reports directly to the Regional Payroll Lead, GSD HR APJ and is responsible for the delivery of payroll services in India. In addition, s/he is responsible for directing our efforts to enhance our employer brand and employee experience through the provision of a differentiated benefits offering whilst driving the consolidation of suppliers and managing policy and jurisdictional diversity across the country in a compliant manner.

Specialist – Payroll & Benefits Administration is responsible for:- 

• Maintaining high standards in payroll compliance and up-to-date knowledge and understanding of laws, regulations, contracts, policies, procedures, and controls governing payroll operations in its jurisdiction.

• Driving organization efficiency, effectiveness and compliance with internal and external audit requirements and standards, sound fiscal practices and performance scorecard.

• Consistently demonstrating company's leadership standards, clarifying how the changes will help the organization meet business goals and articulates the benefits of change.  Challenges the status quo and creates an environment that adapts to rapid change.  Demonstrates willingness to take calculated risks.  Involves stakeholders to help implement and support change and develops strategies to deal with resistance to change.  Applies systematic thinking to multiple change initiatives.

Essential Function

Time Spent %

1. Payroll Management:

• Administer Payroll Data Setup and Maintenance

• Administer determination of gross payment, including flexi-pay elements, one time & variable pay items governed by the local country’s C&B policies

• Validate source system data and consult with service provider for determination of net pay

• Administer pay & respond to general questions on Executive Compensation

• Coordinate with service provider to set-up inbound/outbound payroll

• Administer absence management system, absenteeism reports for pay impact, T&A data governed by local country policy

• Administer full & final settlement dues of ex-employees

• Coordinate with service provider to administer direct taxation activities

• Oversight of Payroll Processes & Administration

• Develop & implement payroll strategy, policies, procedures, controls

• Develop and maintain payroll applications and technology; defining payroll views and interfaces to internal systems and third parties

• Administer payroll reporting, accounting & reconciliation statements, payroll related cross-charge activities with Finance

• Manage statutory external audits (including SOX, legal, etc.), internal audits (MCAAS), Labour Inspection audits & Statutory Reporting activities

• Ensure availability and proper maintenance of statutory and legal documentations required for audits and serves as point of contact for auditors’ requirements, investigations, and meetings. 

• Manage payroll related historical information and proprietary data of payments and deductions - 30%

2. Benefits Administration:

• Implement social security benefits programs and/or changes as governed by the country’s C&B policies

• Provide guidance to managers on retirement processes and benefits and respond to general questions about pension and retirement benefits  

• Administer defined contribution plans (recordkeeping, processing forms, filing, enrolling new hires, etc.)   

• Administer social security beneficiary enrolment and ongoing changes, benefits transfer and settlement processes

• Ensure regulatory and legal compliance of all retirement benefits plans (including audits) - 25%

3. Service Delivery Management, Escalation/Improvement:

• Manage all escalated service issues as a priority.

• Resolve all issues and evaluate procedures and processes to identify opportunities to improve service moving forward.

• Oversee the identification and analysis of issues based on system data or other available information

• Lead and prioritize the identification of opportunities for improvement and/or communication based on external market factors (including HR trends, industry, supplier market, economic factors and evolving legislation).

• Develop a trusted advisor relationship with relevant client contacts through effective communication and efficiency

• Serve as primary, daily contact to relevant teams on benefits administration

• Ensure delivery of high-quality services and products to the business and employees/ retirees with a constant focus on value

• Creates clearly defined performance parameters that are agreed upon by all parties involved

• Monitors performance, provides feedback, defines or approves/disapproves change control processes, and development of suppliers

• Manage suppliers to ensure high quality of service delivery

• Also manages SLA definition, service level monitoring and provides operational feedback to inform supplier negotiations

• Owns and manages the budget for the provision of services by relevant suppliers.

Change Management:  

• Continue to lead all aspects of organizational change and actively participate in strategy development and implementation with benefits administration stakeholders and suppliers

• Complete change management assessments, assess and analyze the change impact

• Assist in the creation of change management strategy

• Identify, analyze and prepare risk mitigation tactics

• Identify and manage anticipated resistance

Implement Global Payroll Program in the country

Skills/Knowledge Required/Preferred

• Proven knowledge and understanding of the HR business model with a particular emphasis upon benefits administration.

• Strong ability to acquire and process knowledge aligned to the HR portfolio. Knowledge of HR Workflows in a large delivery organization and the administration of a full range of payroll activities.

• Excellent communication and influencing skills.

• Strong listening & comprehension skills.

• Strong orientation toward Innovation & Creativity.

• Strong interpersonal skills including relationship building & maintaining.

• Strong attention to detail and follow up; strong analytical skills together with developed business acumen.

• Demonstrated ability to work in teams and collaborate / partner with others from across the business

• Strong IT skills incl. advanced excel & PowerPoint.

• A solid understanding of how people go through a change and the change process involved.

• Basic knowledge on local tax laws, labour laws, tax structures and its impacts on the salary structure

• Advanced knowledge of sound fiscal controls, including SOX and laws governing payroll systems.

• Ability to clearly articulate messages to a variety of audiences.

• Problem solving and root cause identification skills.

• Able to work effectively at all levels in an organization.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality, data privacy and exercise extreme discretion

• Familiarity with project management approaches, tools and phases of the project lifecycle in an environment that requires an ability to work and plan effectively with minimal direction in ambiguous situations and manage the implementation of the plan.

Required Skills:

Adaptability, Adaptability, Benefits Administration, Change Control Processes, Change Management, Compensation Program Design, Confidentiality, Data Privacy Standards, Data Reporting, Defined Contribution Plans, HR Information Management, HR Policy Development, HR Process Improvement, HR Systems Implementation, Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS), Human Resource Metrics, Internal Auditing, Legal Document Preparation, Organizational Change Management, Payroll Compliance, Payroll Management, Payroll Systems, Project Management, Statistical Analysis, Statutory Reporting {+ 2 more}

Preferred Skills:

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Not Applicable

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

04/22/2026

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.