Payroll Manager
Job Fit Check
Base Career helps you apply smarter for this job.
Key skills for this role
About the Role
Who we are: GMG is a global well-being company retailing, distributing and manufacturing a portfolio of leading international and home-grown brands across sport, everyday goods, health and beauty, properties and logistics sectors.
Key Skills for This Role
Full Job Posting
Overview
Who we are:
GMG is a global well-being company retailing, distributing and manufacturing a portfolio of leading international and home-grown brands across sport, everyday goods, health and beauty, properties and logistics sectors.
Under the ownership and management of the Baker family for over 45 years, GMG is a valued partner of choice for the world's most successful and respected brands in the well-being sector.
Working across the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, GMG has introduced more than 120 brands across 12 countries.
These include notable home-grown brands such as Sun & Sand Sports, Dropkick, Supercare Pharmacy, Farm Fresh, Klassic, and international brands like Nike, Columbia, Converse, Timberland, Vans, Mama Sita's, and McCain.
Role Summary
The role holder will lead and manage end-to-end payroll operations for GMG group employees across multiple geographies, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant processing.
This includes overseeing employee lifecycle changes, benefits, deductions, reimbursements, and final settlements, while maintaining strong governance and data integrity.
The role will also drive process standardization, automation, and robust control frameworks, leveraging systems such as SAP S/4HANA, SuccessFactors and Microsoft SharePoint to enhance efficiency, reduce manual dependency, and ensure compliance.
The role holder will collaborate closely with HRBP, Onboarding/Offboarding teams, Finance, GR, and external partners to ensure seamless payroll operations, enforce timelines, and strengthen cross-functional alignment.
In addition, the role will play a key part in driving payroll transformation initiatives, including process optimization, system enhancements, and improved integration across functions.
The role will also focus on enhancing reporting and visibility through dashboards, ensuring audit readiness, proactively identifying risks, and driving continuous improvement across the payroll function.
Responsibilities
- Manages end-to-end payroll activities and program components across multiple geographies using SAP S/4HANA and SuccessFactors, ensuring effective department functioning, coordination of activities, and compliance with established financial, legal, and administrative requirements for the GMG group.
- Defines and implements robust controls, procedures, and reconciliation checks in payroll processing and payments to ensure accuracy, consistency, audit readiness, and compliance with standard processes.
- Ensures compilation and validation of payroll data from a wide variety of sources (e.g., attendance systems, leave, incentives, and statutory inputs) to maintain data integrity and accuracy of payroll outputs.
- Verifies and validates payroll-related information (e.g., time sheets, leave, overtime, benefits, statutory deductions, and final settlements) to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing.
- Oversees payroll runs, simulations, final settlements (FS), banking processes, and reconciliations, ensuring timely execution across all payroll cycles and regions.
- Reviews, approves, and signs (as per authority matrix) payment requests, payroll outputs, and employment-related documentation for banks and financial institutions, ensuring only authorized transactions are processed.
- Develops and enhances payroll administration policies, procedures, and SOPs, driving standardization, process improvement, and automation to improve efficiency and reduce manual dependency.
- Ensures effective implementation and governance of compensation and benefits structures (salary components, allowances, incentives, statutory contributions, and end-of-service benefits).
- Manages statutory compliance across regions (e.g., WPS, GPSSA, PF, NPS), ensuring timely submissions, validations, and adherence to local laws.
- Leads payroll calendar planning, cut-off management, and coordination with HRBP, Finance, GR, and banking partners to ensure timely payroll execution and proactive management of regional holidays and deadlines.
- Ensures generation and submission of payroll reports, dashboards, and ad-hoc analysis (e.g., headcount, payroll trends, and cost insights) to support business decision-making and improve visibility.
- Presents payroll reconciliations, trend analysis, and key insights effectively to senior leadership to support informed decision-making and ensure transparency across payroll operations.
- Oversees offboarding payroll activities, including final settlements, hold instructions, recoveries, and compliance with legal and internal requirements, ensuring timely closure of employee records.
- Leads the development and maintenance of payroll documentation, manuals, and guidelines, ensuring continuous updates aligned with business and regulatory changes.
- Drives payroll governance and control ownership by enforcing approval hierarchies, cut-off discipline, and audit-ready processes across all payroll activities.
- Proactively identifies payroll risks and implements mitigation plans to ensure compliance, accuracy, and operational continuity.
People Management
The incumbent is responsible for setting clear objectives and performance targets in collaboration with team members, ensuring alignment with overall organizational goals and payroll function priorities.
The role involves actively mentoring, guiding, and providing direction to the team to build technical capability, strengthen process ownership, and drive operational efficiency across payroll activities.
The incumbent applies structured performance management practices to monitor progress, address challenges, and ensure timely achievement of defined KPIs, while reinforcing accountability and adherence to established processes and controls.
Through continuous feedback, coaching, and knowledge sharing, the role fosters a high-performance, results-oriented environment, reduces dependency on individuals, and supports both individual development and collective team growth.
Sap S And 4hana Payroll Systems
- SAP SuccessFactors (Employee Data, Payroll Inputs & Workflows)
- Microsoft SharePoint / Attendance Systems Integration with Payroll
• Payroll Processing & Administration (Multi-country)
- Statutory Compliance (WPS, GPSSA, PF, NPS, etc.)
• Financial Planning & Reporting (Payroll-related)
- Data Management & Reporting (Advanced Excel / Dashboards)
• Payroll Banking (Multi-country)
- Time & Attendance Integration with Payroll Systems
- Knowledge of Local Laws & Regulations (UAE & GCC)
• Risk Management & Compliance Governance
- Analytical Ability
- Presentation Skills
- Stakeholder & Vendor Management (HR, Finance, Banks)
Experience
- Minimum 12+ years of progressive experience in payroll management, with at least 4–6 years of hands-on experience in SAP S/4HANA payroll systems within the MENA region.
- Proven experience in managing end-to-end, multi-country payroll operations (UAE and GCC mandatory; India exposure preferred), including statutory compliance (e.g., WPS, GPSSA, PF/NPS) in high-volume and complex payroll environments.
- Demonstrated track record in driving payroll transformation initiatives, including process standardization, automation, strengthening controls, and reducing manual dependency.
- Strong experience in stakeholder management and cross-functional coordination, particularly with HRBP, Finance, GR, and external partners, ensuring timely payroll inputs, validations, reconciliations, and issue resolution.
Certifications
Professional certifications in payroll, finance, or HR (e.g., CPP, CIPD, SHRM, ACCA, CPA) will be an added advantage.
Apply for this job in 1 click
Skip the repetitive application forms
Install the Base Career Chrome Extension and autofill job applications across major job boards with your profile.
Trusted by over 500,000 job seekers on Base Career
More from this employer
More jobs at GMG
Manager / Senior Manager - E-commerce
Dubai, UAE
We are seeking an Ecommerce Manager/Senior Manager to own the full 360-degree P&L, strategy, and operational excellence of digital platforms. The role integrates buying, performance marketing, operations, and customer ex
Teacher - Emirates British Nursery
Dubai, UAE
Emirates British Nursery is hiring a Teacher for September 2026 classes. The role involves planning and delivering educational activities following the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, ensuring children's safety a
Sales Executive (Health & Beauty) - Everyday Goods
Dubai, UAE
GMG is seeking a Sales Executive to manage and develop a territory in Dubai/Abu Dhabi/Sharjah & Northern Emirates, driving sales growth and expanding distribution in the pharmacy channel. The role involves achieving sale
Assistant Category Manager (Fruits & Veg)
Dubai, UAE
GMG is looking for an Assistant Category Manager to manage and optimize the Fresh Fruits & Vegetables category. The role involves tailoring assortments, planograms, and promotions to store formats, driving performance th
Office Assistant
Dubai, UAE
GMG is looking for an Office Assistant to provide administrative support and ensure smooth daily operations. The role involves filing, document management, data entry, handling office supplies, and assisting departments
Senior Manager - e-CRM
Dubai, UAE
GMG is seeking a Senior Manager - eCRM to lead the strategic development and execution of eCRM strategies across digital channels including push notifications, email, WhatsApp, SMS, and web notifications. The role requir
Sales Executive (Modern Trade) - Everyday Goods
Dubai, UAE
GMG is seeking a Sales Executive for Modern Trade in Dubai to manage and expand the customer base in the FMCG sector. The role involves achieving sales targets, identifying new business opportunities, managing sales oper
Office Assistant
Dubai, UAE
GMG is seeking an Office Assistant to provide administrative support, handle clerical tasks, manage office supplies, and assist with logistical tasks. The role involves filing, data entry, and coordinating with vendors.
Manager / Senior Manager - E-commerce
Dubai, UAE
Teacher - Emirates British Nursery
Dubai, UAE
Sales Executive (Health & Beauty) - Everyday Goods
Dubai, UAE
Assistant Category Manager (Fruits & Veg)
Dubai, UAE
Office Assistant
Dubai, UAE
Senior Manager - e-CRM
Dubai, UAE
Sales Executive (Modern Trade) - Everyday Goods
Dubai, UAE
Office Assistant
Dubai, UAE