Senior Payroll Specialist, APAC (12 Months Fixed Term Contract)

Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery… the stuff dreams are made of. Who We Are… When we say, “the stuff dreams are made of,” we’re not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD’s vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what’s next… From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive. Your New Role... The Senior Payroll Specialist, APAC is responsible for supporting the Senior Manager, APAC Payroll Services in delivering accurate, timely, and compliant payroll operations across multiple countries within the Asia Pacific region. This role works closely with Employee Connection, People & Culture Partner, Finance, and external payroll vendors to ensure payroll processing complies with local statutory requirements and company policies. The role also plays a key part in payroll transformation initiatives, including payroll system implementations, process improvements, and vendor management activities across the APAC region. Your Role Accountabilities... Payroll Operations • Support end-to-end payroll processing for APAC countries, including Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand • Coordinate payroll inputs, validations, and approvals with Regional Employee Connection, People & Culture Partner, Finance teams, and external payroll providers. • Review payroll calculations to ensure accuracy and compliance with local legislative requirements, company policies, and internal controls. • Ensure payroll is processed and funded according to established payroll calendars and service level agreements. • Manage year-end payroll and tax reporting processes for assigned APAC countries, including preparation, reconciliation, filing of annual tax returns, issuance of employee tax statements, and coordination with payroll vendors and tax authorities to ensure compliance with local regulations. Statutory Compliance • Prepare, review, and submit statutory filings and payments as required by local regulations. • Liaise with tax authorities, social security agencies, pension funds, and other government bodies on payroll-related matters. • Monitor legislative changes across APAC countries and support implementation of required payroll process updates. Payroll Accounting & Reporting • Prepare payroll journals and supporting reconciliations for General Ledger posting. • Partner with Finance teams to resolve payroll accounting discrepancies and reconciliation issues. • Maintain payroll records and documentation in compliance with audit and regulatory requirements. Vendor & Stakeholder Management • Act as a primary point of contact for payroll vendors and internal stakeholders on payroll-related inquiries. • Escalate payroll issues and drive timely resolution to minimize employee impact. • Build effective working relationships with HR, Finance, Benefits, Mobility, and external partners. Audit & Compliance Support • Support internal and external payroll audits. • Prepare audit documentation and respond to audit requests in a timely manner. • Ensure compliance with company policies, SOX/internal controls, and local payroll regulations. Qualifications and Experience • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or related discipline. • 5+ years of payroll experience, preferably supporting multiple APAC countries. • Strong knowledge of payroll legislation, taxation, social security, and statutory requirements across APAC markets. • Experience working with outsourced payroll providers. • Solid understanding of payroll accounting, general ledger postings, and reconciliations. How We Get Things Done… This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/ along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview. Championing Inclusion at WBD Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, disability or any other category protected by law. If you’re a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.