Payroll Automation & Transformation Specialist

Joining Razer will place you on a global mission to revolutionize the way the world games. Razer is a place to do great work , offering you the opportunity to make an impact globally while working across a global team located across 5 continents. Razer is also a great place to work, providing you the unique, gamer-centric #LifeAtRazer experience that will put you in an accelerated growth, both personally and professionally. Job Responsibilities : The Payroll Automation & Transformation Specialist is responsible for the accurate, timely, and compliant delivery of payroll across multiple Asia Pacific (APAC) countries, working primarily through third-party payroll vendors, while directly managing end-to-end in-house payroll processing for Malaysia. This role also leads payroll-related audit activities — including SOX compliance, statutory audits, and other entity-level audits — and drives continuous improvement of payroll processes, controls, and systems across the region, with a strong focus on leveraging AI, automation, and digital tools (e.g., RPA, intelligent document processing, AI-assisted validation and analytics) to modernise payroll delivery and improve accuracy, speed, and cost efficiency. 1. Payroll Malaysia In-House Payroll Own end-to-end processing of Malaysia payroll in-house, including new hires, terminations, salary changes, allowances, bonuses, and deductions, applying RPA and automated workflows to reduce manual touchpoints wherever possible. Calculate and process statutory contributions (EPF, SOCSO, EIS, PCB/MTD) and ensure timely remittance and filing. Prepare and reconcile payroll journal entries, GL postings, and payroll-related balance sheet accounts. Manage year-end tax reporting (e.g., EA forms) and other statutory filings for Malaysia. Ensure full compliance with the Employment Act and other applicable Malaysian labor regulations. Rest of APAC (excl SG) Payroll Operations (Vendor-Managed) Act as the primary point of contact and relationship owner for outsourced payroll vendors across assigned APAC countries. Review and validate payroll inputs, calculations, and outputs (salary, statutory contributions, tax filings, benefits deductions) submitted by vendors for accuracy and compliance with local regulations, leveraging AI-assisted data validation and anomaly detection tools where available to strengthen quality checks. Coordinate monthly payroll cycles with vendors, ensuring adherence to agreed SLAs and internal deadlines. Manage escalations, discrepancies, and query resolution between vendors, employees, and internal stakeholders. Monitor vendor performance against KPIs/SLAs and participate in periodic vendor reviews and contract renewals. Stay current on statutory and regulatory changes (e.g., tax, social security, employment law) across APAC jurisdictions and ensure vendors implement required changes. 2. Audit & Compliance Management Lead and coordinate SOX audit requirements related to payroll processes, including control documentation, walkthroughs, and remediation of findings. Manage statutory and external/internal audits for all applicable entities across APAC, acting as the key liaison between auditors, vendors, and internal teams. Prepare audit schedules, supporting documentation, and evidence for payroll-related controls and transactions, using automation and AI-assisted tools to accelerate evidence gathering and strengthen audit trail accuracy. Track audit findings and action items through to closure, ensuring timely remediation and process updates. Maintain payroll process documentation, SOPs, and control matrices to support audit readiness at all times. 3. Process Improvement & AI Transformation Identify inefficiencies, risks, and gaps in current payroll processes and controls across the region. Lead the exploration, design, and rollout of AI-driven and automation solutions (e.g., AI-assisted data validation, anomaly detection, generative AI/chatbots for employee payroll queries, intelligent document processing, RPA, predictive analytics for payroll cost forecasting) to improve payroll accuracy, speed, and cost efficiency. Evaluate emerging AI/automation tools and vendor capabilities, building business cases and roadmaps for adoption across APAC payroll operations. Partner with HR, Finance, IT, and vendors to streamline payroll workflows, system integrations (e.g., HRIS-payroll interfaces), and data flows to support AI-enabled processes. Develop and maintain payroll process documentation, checklists, and control frameworks, including updates needed to support new AI/automation tools. Support system implementations, upgrades, or vendor transitions as needed. Lead or contribute to other payroll, HR, or finance transformation projects as assigned, acting as a flexible resource for cross-functional initiatives beyond core payroll operations. 4. Reporting & Stakeholder Management Prepare monthly, quarterly, and ad hoc payroll reports and reconciliations for management and finance teams, increasingly leveraging AI-powered analytics and dashboards to surface trends and insights. Provide payroll data and analysis to support budgeting, forecasting, and headcount reporting. Build strong working relationships with in-country HR, Finance, vendors, and regulatory bodies as needed. Pre-Requisites : A specialist with at least 4 years of regional payroll experience gained, preferably in a multi-country environment. Hands-on experience with Malaysia payroll processing (EPF, SOCSO, EIS, PCB) is required. Experience managing outsourced payroll vendors across multiple jurisdictions. Prior experience supporting SOX, statutory, or internal/external audits is highly preferred. Experience in payroll process improvement, automation, or AI-enabled transformation projects is highly preferred. Exposure to RPA, AI tools, or data analytics platforms applied to HR/payroll processes is a strong plus. Hands-on experience with automation or AI platforms such as UiPath, P