APAC Payroll Transformation Manager

Job Description

Who we are

Aberdeen Investments is part of Aberdeen Group plc, one of the UK’s leading Wealth & Investments groups.

Strengthening talent and culture is one of our strategic priorities. We strive to make Aberdeen a great place to work so that we can attract and retain the industry’s best talent.

Our people put our stakeholders at the heart of everything they do by helping us to make a positive difference to the lives of our clients, customers, colleagues, shareholders and society.

We are repositioning our specialist asset management business to meet client demand and are committed to providing excellent client service, supported by leading technology and talent.

As a global business, Aberdeen consists of three divisions: Investments, Adviser, and interactive investor (ii). Each division is dedicated to meeting and adapting to our clients' evolving needs.

Our Asia Pacific Investments business has a large, dedicated and highly experienced investment team which has been investing across the region since 1985, and manages all our Asian products, including regional, country, smaller companies, and sustainable investing propositions.

The team has a strong regional footprint with offices in Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Seoul, and Sydney. This breadth gives us close proximity to the companies we own and the markets we invest in. Our APAC operations have been based in Singapore since 1992. We invest in Asian companies to grow with them and to help them to become better investors

The APAC Payroll Transformation Manager will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of payroll operations across the region. This position is responsible for driving end to end payroll transformation initiatives, enhancing operational efficiency, strengthening governance, and ensuring a seamless colleague experience across multiple APAC markets. You will work closely with global and regional stakeholders to modernise processes, optimise technology, and embed consistent standards that support a scalable and resilient payroll service. 

Based in Singapore and reporting to the Head of Global Payroll in the UK, you will act as a strategic partner to HR, Finance, Technology, and external vendors, ensuring that payroll transformation aligns with organisational goals and regulatory requirements.  In addition to shaping the strategic direction, this is a hands‑on delivery role, requiring the role holder to design, document, and operationalise the future‑state payroll processes and controls across APAC. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in complex, fast moving environments and enjoys leading change across diverse countries, cultures, and operating models.
 

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, delivery, and governance of payroll transformation initiatives across APAC, ensuring alignment with global strategy and local requirements.
• Assess current payroll processes, systems, and controls to identify opportunities for standardisation, automation, and efficiency improvements.
• Partner with HR, Finance, Technology, and external vendors to implement new payroll solutions, integrations, and process enhancements.
• Oversee change management activities, including stakeholder engagement, communication, training, and adoption planning.
• Ensure payroll transformation projects meet compliance, risk, and audit standards across all APAC jurisdictions.
• Develop and maintain documentation, process maps, and governance frameworks to support sustainable payroll operations.
• Monitor project progress, manage risks and issues, and provide regular updates to senior leadership.
• Support vendor selection, contract reviews, and ongoing vendor performance management related to payroll transformation.
• Use data and analytics to evaluate payroll performance, measure transformation outcomes, and inform continuous improvement.

Act as a subject matter expert for APAC payroll processes, regulations, and best practices.