Manager – Payroll & Compliance

About Credit Saison India

Established in 2019, Credit Saison India (CS India) is one of the countrys fastest growing Non-Bank Financial Company (NBFC) lenders, with verticals in wholesale, direct lending and tech-enabled partnerships with Non-Bank Financial Companies (NBFCs) and fintechs. Its tech-enabled model coupled with underwriting capability facilitates lending at scale, meeting Indias huge gap for credit, especially with underserved and under penetrated segments of the population.

Credit Saison India is committed to growing as a lender and evolving its offerings in India for the long-term for MSMEs, households, individuals and more. Credit Saison India is registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and has an AAA rating from CRISIL (a subsidiary of S&P Global) and CARE Ratings.

Currently, Credit Saison India has a branch network of 80+ physical offices, 2.06 million active loans, an AUM of over US$2B and an employee base of about 1,400 employees.

Credit Saison India is part of Saison International, a global financial company with a mission to bring people, partners and technology together, creating resilient and innovative financial solutions for positive impact. Across its business arms of lending and corporate venture capital, Saison International is committed to being a transformative partner in creating opportunities and enabling the dreams of people.

Saison International is the international headquarters (IHQ) of Credit Saison Company Limited, founded in 1951 and one of Japans largest lending conglomerates with over 70 years of history and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The Company has evolved from a credit-card issuer to a diversified financial services provider across payments, leasing, finance, real estate and entertainment. Based in Singapore, Saison Internationals global operations span over Singapore, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Mexico, Brazil, with active investments in debt, equity, corporate venture capital, and technology.

Job Description: Manager Payroll & Compliance (India)

This Job Description (JD) is tailored for a highly experienced professional (10+ years) who can combine strategic compliance oversight with hands-on, multi-state payroll execution and financial reconciliation, including team management.

Position: Manager Payroll & Compliance

Experience: 10+ Years

Location: Bangalore

Job Summary

The Manager Payroll & Compliance will be the Subject Matter Expert (SME) responsible for the end-to-end management of the company's payroll function across all Indian states. This role is critical for ensuring 100% statutory compliance, data accuracy, timely disbursement, and accurate financial accounting. The Manager will lead and mentor the payroll team while actively managing high-stakes compliance and financial reconciliation activities.

Key Responsibilities

1. Payroll & Compensation Management (Execution Focus)

• End-to-End Payroll Processing: Oversee and execute the complete monthly payroll cycle for all employees (on-roll and off-roll), ensuring 100% accuracy and timely salary disbursement.
• Data Integrity & Reconciliation: Implement robust controls to validate input data (attendance, leaves, variable pay, reimbursements, benefits) and conduct meticulous pre and post-payroll reconciliation between the payroll system and general ledger (GL).
• JV Posting & Financial Reconciliation: Own the preparation and posting of Salary Journal Vouchers (JVs) into the ERP/Accounting system and perform detailed monthly reconciliation of all payroll-related GL accounts (e.g., Salaries Payable, PF, ESI, TDS, Professional Tax) to ensure financial accuracy for audit.
• Final Settlement (F&F): Ensure accurate and timely processing of Full & Final (F&F) settlements for exiting employees in strict adherence to legal and company timelines.

2. Statutory & Labour Law Compliance (SME Focus)

• Multi-State Compliance: Take complete ownership of mandatory statutory adherence across all applicable states and central laws, including:
• Provident Fund (PF/EPF): ECR filing, remittance, and compliance related to withdrawal/transfer.
• Employee State Insurance (ESI): Compliance, contribution, and filing.
• Professional Tax (PT): Ensure timely calculation, deduction, and remittance across all required Multiple States with varying slab rates and filing requirements.
• Labour Welfare Fund (LWF): Ensure timely contribution and filing as per state-specific regulations.
• Labour Compliances: Maintain comprehensive knowledge and monitor compliance under key acts, including the Shops & Establishment Act, Payment of Wages Act, Payment of Bonus Act, Payment of Gratuity Act, and Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970 (where applicable).
• Audit Management: Serve as the primary point of contact for internal, external, and statutory audits related to payroll and compliance, providing all necessary documentation and corrective action plans.

3. Income Tax & Regulatory Management (Expert Focus)

• TDS Management: Ensure accurate calculation and deduction of TDS on salaries for all employees, covering both the New Tax Regime and Old Tax Regime , along with timely challan deposit and quarterly return filing (Form 24Q).
• Tax Planning & Advice: Provide expert guidance to employees on tax deductions, exemptions (HRA, LTA), and the tax treatment of various perquisites and allowances under the Income Tax Act.
• Annual Documentation: Oversee the accurate and timely generation and issuance of statutory documents, including Form 16 and investment declarations.
• Stay Updated: Proactively monitor and implement all changes arising from amendments in the Income Tax Act, and any new or revised Labour Codes (e.g., Code on Wages).

4. Team Management & Process Excellence (Leadership Focus)

• Team Leadership: Lead, coach, and mentor the existing payroll and compliance team, ensuring high-quality output, motivation, and professional development.
• Monitoring & Allocation: Effectively monitor team performance, allocate tasks, and manage workloads to meet non-negotiable compliance and payment deadlines.
• SOP & Automation: Develop, document, and strictly enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all high-risk payroll processes. Drive initiatives for process improvement and system automation to enhance efficiency and reduce human error.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Experience: Minimum 10+ years of dedicated experience in India Payroll Processing, Statutory Compliance, and Financial Reconciliation, preferably in a mid-to-large sized organization with multi-state operations.
• Education: Graduate/Post-Graduate degree in Commerce, Finance, or Human Resources. Relevant professional certifications (e.g., in Payroll Management or Labour Law) are a plus.
• Technical Proficiency:
• Deep, hands-on expertise in a multiple payroll softwares.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (Pivot Tables, LOOKUPs, financial modeling, reconciliation).
• Working knowledge of financial JV posting and GL reconciliation.
• Compliance Expertise: Non-negotiable expertise in all central and state statutory compliance, including Professional Tax and LWF for at least 3 or more key states (e.g., Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal).
• Communication:Good written and verbal English communication skills are essential for interacting with internal stakeholders, external auditors, and senior management.
• Soft Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, meticulous attention to detail, high integrity, and proven ability to maintain confidentiality.