Senior People & Payroll Specialist

People Shared Services (PSS) unites key People functions—including Talent Operations, On-boarding, Payroll, People Programs, People Experience, Workplace & Facilities,  Workforce Compliance, Global Security, Health & Safety, People Analytics, and People Systems & Solutions. Our team delivers seamless transactional People services, optimizes processes, ensures global compliance, and builds scalable, tech-enabled solutions across the candidate and employee lifecycle. We partner closely with other People functions to streamline communication, documentation, and programs—always with a people-first, automation-driven mindset. As part of the Payroll Team, we act as strategic partners and subject matter experts for  Mexico and Brazil,Payroll, providing oversight and guidance on payroll operations, systems, and compliance. We support payroll initiatives, system changes, and process improvements while ensuring strong governance and alignment with global payroll standards and local regulations.

The Senior People & Payroll Programs Specialist is responsible for leading end-to-end payroll and employee lifecycle administration for Mexico and Brazil, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll execution and employee data management through Workday, TMF, and internal systems. This role requires deep regional payroll expertise, strong operational ownership, and the ability to independently manage complex processes across multiple systems, vendors, and regulatory environments.

The Senior Specialist serves as the primary regional expert for Mexico and Brazil, ensuring payroll accuracy, maintaining data integrity, supporting statutory compliance, and driving process consistency and improvements. This role partners closely with People Business Partners (PBPs), Finance, vendors, and internal stakeholders to ensure seamless execution and operational excellence across the employee lifecycle.

• Own and execute end-to-end payroll processing for Mexico and Brazil in partnership with TMF and internal systems, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll delivery.
•  Lead payroll input coordination, validation, approvals, and timelines, ensuring all compensation changes, employee updates, and statutory elements are accurately captured.
•  Review and validate payroll outputs, including base pay, variable compensation, statutory deductions, taxes, benefits, and terminations, ensuring compliance with local regulations.
•  Maintain and audit employee data in Workday, including hires, terminations, compensation changes, organizational updates, and statutory payroll elements, ensuring data accuracy and audit readiness.
•  Perform payroll reconciliations, funding validations, and variance analysis; investigate discrepancies and drive timely resolution prior to payroll sign-off.
•  Manage complex payroll and employee-related inquiries and escalations, providing clear guidance and resolution to stakeholders.
•  Ensure compliance with all Mexico and Brazil statutory requirements, including filings, remittances, year-end activities, and coordination with TMF on regulatory and legislative changes.
•  Partner closely with Finance on payroll reconciliations, accruals, reporting, and variance explanations.
•  Ensure accurate administration of employee lifecycle changes impacting payroll, including hires, terminations, leave-related changes, and compensation updates.
•  Support and lead audit activities by preparing documentation, reconciliations, and audit responses.
•  Identify and drive process improvements, automation opportunities, and operational efficiencies across payroll and employee data processes.
•  Serve as the regional subject matter expert, providing guidance on payroll practices, compliance requirements, and process execution.

• 6+ years of experience supporting payroll and employee administration, with direct ownership of Mexico and/or Brazil payroll strongly preferred.
• Deep knowledge of Mexico and Brazil payroll statutory requirements, including income tax, social security, termination calculations, and local compliance obligations.
• Experience working with payroll systems and third-party payroll providers, including Workday and/or TMF, supporting payroll processing, reporting, reconciliations, and vendor coordination.
• Strong experience maintaining employee data in HRIS systems, including compensation changes, lifecycle updates, and payroll-related data management.
• Proven ability to independently manage payroll operations, resolve complex issues, and ensure compliance across multiple countries.
•  Strong analytical, reconciliation, and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders in a fast-paced, global environment.
• Proficiency in English and Spanish - both in writing, reading, and conducting business
• Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential employee data with discretion and professionalism.
•  Experience supporting payroll audits, statutory compliance, and regulatory reporting – Preferred
• Experience working in a multinational, fast-growing, or matrixed environment – Preferred
• Strong Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, reconciliation formulas) – Preferred