What this job can offer you

The Payroll Specialist Lead - Pakistan is a critical role within Remote’s dynamic global payroll organization. Nestled within our EOR and Payroll Operations Team, this role is responsible for delivering accurate, compliant payroll operations within assigned countries while also contributing to the improvement and scalability of our global payroll processes.

You will work closely with internal stakeholders across Payroll Operations, Tax, Finance, Product and Customer Success, while coordinating with diverse payroll partners where applicable.

This role is well suited for a mid-to-senior career payroll ops professional who has deep hands-on experience running payroll in complex environments and is comfortable operating in globally distributed teams.

What you bring

• Brings meaningful mid-senior career experience in Pakistani payroll operations, including hands-on responsibility for end-to-end payroll processing in Pakistan
• Has managed payroll in multi-country environments or global organizations, with exposure to different payroll systems and local regulatory frameworks.
• Demonstrates strong understanding of payroll controls, reconciliations, statutory reporting, and compliance requirements.
• Comfortable working with internal and external stakeholders in Remote’s payroll ecosystem, and coordinating cross-functional stakeholders.
• Analytical and detail-oriented, with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to manage complex payroll scenarios.
• Strong written and oral communicator, comfortable working in asynchronous and globally distributed environments.
• Takes ownership of outcomes, raises risks early, and approaches operational challenges with curiosity and accountability.
• Comfortable working in scrappy, quick-moving start-up environments.
• Proficient in payroll tools and data analysis using in-house and external platforms
• Experience working in remote or globally distributed teams is an advantage.
• Demonstrates strong fluency in English; additional languages are a plus.

Key Responsibilities 

• Ensure payroll is processed accurately, on time, and in compliance with country-specific regulations and statutory requirements.
• Own end-to-end payroll execution for assigned jurisdictions, including validation of payroll inputs, payroll calculations, and post-payroll processes.
• Act as a subject matter expert on country payroll requirements, staying up to date with legislative, tax, and regulatory developments that may impact payroll operations.
• Support the operational implementation and rollout of payroll services in new or expanding jurisdictions, ensuring payroll execution processes are effectively integrated into operational workflows.
• Serve as a key point of coordination for internal teams and external stakeholders on country payroll matters.
• Identify and resolve payroll discrepancies, operational risks, or compliance issues, exercising sound judgment when escalating complex matters.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of payroll operational processes, identifying opportunities to streamline workflows and improve operational transparency.
• Support the development and maintenance of payroll documentation and operational knowledge to ensure processes remain clear, scalable, and aligned with internal governance requirements.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to support system enhancements, statutory updates, and operational improvements impacting payroll.
• Contribute to the adoption of automation and AI-enabled tools that improve payroll operational efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
• Participate in testing activities related to payroll system developments, enhancements, and process improvements to ensure operational readiness.

Practicals

• You'll report to: Manager, Payroll Operations
• Team: Global Payroll Operations
• Location: Pakistan
• Start date: As soon as possible

Application process

1. Interview with recruiter
2. Interview with team members (no managers present)
3. Interview with future manager
4. Bar Raiser Interview
5. Prior employment verification check 

What this job can offer you

The Payroll Specialist Lead - Pakistan is a critical role within Remote’s dynamic global payroll organization. Nestled within our EOR and Payroll Operations Team, this role is responsible for delivering accurate, compliant payroll operations within assigned countries while also contributing to the improvement and scalability of our global payroll processes.

You will work closely with internal stakeholders across Payroll Operations, Tax, Finance, Product and Customer Success, while coordinating with diverse payroll partners where applicable.

This role is well suited for a mid-to-senior career payroll ops professional who has deep hands-on experience running payroll in complex environments and is comfortable operating in globally distributed teams.

What you bring

• Brings meaningful mid-senior career experience in Pakistani payroll operations, including hands-on responsibility for end-to-end payroll processing in Pakistan
• Has managed payroll in multi-country environments or global organizations, with exposure to different payroll systems and local regulatory frameworks.
• Demonstrates strong understanding of payroll controls, reconciliations, statutory reporting, and compliance requirements.
• Comfortable working with internal and external stakeholders in Remote’s payroll ecosystem, and coordinating cross-functional stakeholders.
• Analytical and detail-oriented, with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to manage complex payroll scenarios.
• Strong written and oral communicator, comfortable working in asynchronous and globally distributed environments.
• Takes ownership of outcomes, raises risks early, and approaches operational challenges with curiosity and accountability.
• Comfortable working in scrappy, quick-moving start-up environments.
• Proficient in payroll tools and data analysis using in-house and external platforms
• Experience working in remote or globally distributed teams is an advantage.
• Demonstrates strong fluency in English; additional languages are a plus.

Key Responsibilities 

• Ensure payroll is processed accurately, on time, and in compliance with country-specific regulations and statutory requirements.
• Own end-to-end payroll execution for assigned jurisdictions, including validation of payroll inputs, payroll calculations, and post-payroll processes.
• Act as a subject matter expert on country payroll requirements, staying up to date with legislative, tax, and regulatory developments that may impact payroll operations.
• Support the operational implementation and rollout of payroll services in new or expanding jurisdictions, ensuring payroll execution processes are effectively integrated into operational workflows.
• Serve as a key point of coordination for internal teams and external stakeholders on country payroll matters.
• Identify and resolve payroll discrepancies, operational risks, or compliance issues, exercising sound judgment when escalating complex matters.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of payroll operational processes, identifying opportunities to streamline workflows and improve operational transparency.
• Support the development and maintenance of payroll documentation and operational knowledge to ensure processes remain clear, scalable, and aligned with internal governance requirements.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to support system enhancements, statutory updates, and operational improvements impacting payroll.
• Contribute to the adoption of automation and AI-enabled tools that improve payroll operational efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
• Participate in testing activities related to payroll system developments, enhancements, and process improvements to ensure operational readiness.

Practicals

• You'll report to: Manager, Payroll Operations
• Team: Global Payroll Operations
• Location: Pakistan
• Start date: As soon as possible

Application process

1. Interview with recruiter
2. Interview with team members (no managers present)
3. Interview with future manager
4. Bar Raiser Interview
5. Prior employment verification check 

More About WPP Media

WPP is the creative transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients and communities. For more information, visit wpp.com.

WPP Media is WPP’s global media collective. In a world where media is everywhere and in everything, we bring the best platform, people, and partners together to create limitless opportunities for growth. For more information, visit wppmedia.com

At WPP Media, we believe in the power of our culture and our people. It’s what elevates us to deliver exceptional experiences for both our clients and each other. In this role it will be critical to embrace WPP & WPP Media’s shared core values:

•  Be Extraordinary by Leading Collectively to Inspire transformational Creativity.
•  Create an Open environment by Balancing People and Client Experiences by Cultivating Trust.
•  Lead Optimistically by Championing Growth and Development to Mobilize the Enterprise.

Reporting of the role

This role reports to Head of Taxation

In this role, your goals will be:

• Supervising a team of two individuals to ensure timely and accurate filing of Provincial Sales Tax Returns on monthly basis. This task also includes reconciliation of relevant Sales Tax Input, Output and Payables Reconciliation.
• Participate in preparing the information on Annual Income Tax Return in a timely manner to ensure the return is filed on a timely basis.
• Preparation of quarterly advance income tax liability and further discuss the same with the HOD for any corrections/changes.
• Review the weekly income tax payments and submit the same to the HOD for approval. This also involves the reconciliation of the relevant ledgers to ensure no tax goes unpaid.
• Preparation of Litigation Summary and submitting the same to HOD for further actions.
• Ensure all the relevant ledgers pertaining to taxation are reconciled and resolving the reconciling items. This would also involve but not limited to preparation of revenue to return reconciliation/debtors to revenue reconciliations and bank credits to revenue reconciliations.
• Liaison with tax consultants to ensure compliance of notices received from tax authorities on a timely basis. This would also involve preparation of reconciliations/information sought by the tax departments.
• Coordinating with clients and vendors in complex business transaction and advising for an amicable solution to resolve dead locks. This may also involve advising on issues raised due to difference in interpretation of law.
• Do escalations with the HOD on time (as needed), recommend a proper resolution of such incident/escalations.
• Supervising the recovery of Sales Tax and Income Tax Challans and submitting the same to vendors. This would also involve reconciliation of relevant ledgers.
• Liaison with the business development team to ensure smooth onboarding of new clients and advising on changes in agreements where necessary.
• Coordinating and suggesting solutions to other team members within finance to resolve queries/deadlocks.
• Dealing with external auditors to ensure the audit is concluded smoothly and provide necessary information to the auditors where required.
• Review the tax compliances of all new vendors which are being onboard.
• Coordinate with the commercial finance team to address any issues which arise from the client’s end.
• Any other tasks assigned by the HOD.

Minimum qualifications:

• 4+ years’ experience in tax preferably from a reputed firm.
• Must have a Bachelors degree from a reputable university of equivalent. 

Life at WPP Media & Benefits

Our passion for shaping the next era of media includes investing in our employees to help them do their best work, and we’re just as committed to employee growth as we are to responsible media investment. WPP Media employees can tap into the global WPP Media & WPP networks to pursue their passions, grow their networks, and learn at the cutting edge of marketing and advertising. We have a variety of employee resource groups and host frequent in-office events showcasing team wins, sharing thought leadership, and celebrating holidays and milestone events. Our benefits include competitive medical, vision, and dental insurance, significant paid time off, employee wellbeing facilities, and employee mental health awareness days.   

WPP Media is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. 

About Pakistan

WPP Media Pakistan is the leading global media investment management operation in Pakistan. We see major growth coming on Digital platforms with internet penetration growing to 87 million broadband users and 85 million 3G/4G subscribers. Social media platforms have also grown substantially in Pakistan where Facebook stands at 34 million subscribers and Tik Tok has replaced Instagram to become the second most penetrated social platform. While the digitalization of the market is happening at a fast pace, it has also opened up opportunities for specializations like e-commerce, Digital Content, Video Planning solutions, Technology and Data & Analytics in Pakistan. 

Please read our Privacy Notice (https://www.wppmedia.com/pages/privacy-policy) for more information on how we process the information you provide. While we appreciate all applications received, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. 

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