Associate Manager - International Payroll (UAE Nationals only)

About Emirates Global Aluminium

Emirates Global Aluminium is the world’s biggest ‘premium aluminium’ producer and the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside the oil and gas industry.  EGA is an integrated aluminium producer, with operations on four continents from bauxite mining to the production of cast primary aluminium and recycling. EGA employs over 7,000 of these people including more than 1,200 UAE Nationals. EGA operates aluminium smelters in Jebel Ali and Al Taweelah in the United Arab Emirates, an alumina refinery in Al Taweelah, a bauxite mine and associated export facilities in the Republic of Guinea, a speciality foundry in high strength recycled aluminium in Germany, and a recycling plant in the United States.

In this role, you will provide functional expertise and plans and manages all operational aspects of the EGA International Payroll, driving the effective development and implementation of a comprehensive and integrated employee and contractor payroll system (covering all payroll related areas). You will ensure necessary controls are in place and adhered to by the respective teams and stakeholders. Maintain accurate records for management reporting purpose.  Identify any areas of opportunity that could be automated and design area processes and procedures to ensure transparency across team and cross functional areas. You will ensure that the international payroll strategies, practices and policies are aligned and integrated into the EGA organizational culture, business strategies and processes and that the overall international payroll risk is in line with the desired risk appetite and established governance framework.

The role parameters include accountability for the ongoing effectiveness of the international payroll of the EGA Group encompassing GAC and all overseas offices.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Strategy Development & Implementation 

• Manages the development of an effective international payroll program across EGA by implementing the approved payroll framework, reviewing policies, and ensuring adherence to the governance structure.
• Leads and guides the development and implementation of training frameworks and expertise to business units to ensure accuracy and integrity of employee payroll data
• Ensures that the implementation of the international payroll strategy is in line with EGA’s vision, mission as well as corporate objectives and shareholder risk appetite and tolerance levels
• Directs the implementation of the functional strategy ensuring alignment to group and individual subsidiary strategy, EGA’s vision, mission, and corporate objectives.
• Ensures the provision of subject matter expertise to EGA business units on all related areas to facilitate the achievement of EGA’s strategy.

Leadership

• Manages the achievement of functional objectives through effective leadership and by setting of individual objectives, managing performance, developing, and motivating team members
• Manages the workload across the portfolio to ensure the right mix between analysis, risk and business objectives is achieved.
• Acts as a role model and drive adherence to organizational values and ethics to ensure the establishment of a value driven culture within EGA.

Budgeting and Financial Performance 

• Prepares and recommends the functional budget and monitors financial performance versus budget so that the business is aware of areas of unsatisfactory performance are identified, and potential areas of cost reduction or performance improvement opportunities are capitalised upon.

Policies, Systems, Processes & Procedures

• Directs and guides the development and oversees the implementation of functional policies, systems, processes, procedures, and controls covering all areas of the international payroll function so that all applicable procedural/legislative requirements are fulfilled while delivering a quality, cost-effective service in a consistent manner.
• Leads initiatives for development of methodologies for measurement of the international payroll portfolio
• Responsible for the annual review and update of the international payroll management framework and policy.

Operations Management

• Responsible for preparing the monthly payroll in a timely accurate and secure manner for all international payrolls  (Guinea, Singapore, Shanghai, Korea, Switzerland, USA)
• For those payrolls which are outsourced, liaise with international third-party payroll providers to ensure accurate filings to the relevant authorities.
• Ensures that appropriate policies, procedures and work practices are in place to accurately record and deduct employee and employer tax deductions in line with the local laws.
• Maintain master data integrity in SAP to the highest standard and ensures that monthly management reconciliation and variance analysis is submitted on time. 
• Manages the international payroll accounting process including ownership of the relevant accounting and payroll GL’s. and reviewing expense claims for applicability and adherence to policy.
• Manages the day-to-day operations of the international payroll to ensure that work processes are implemented as designed and comply with established policies, processes, and procedures
• Mentors, encourages, and provides technical assistance to the international payroll team on a continual basis as part of core operational activities.
• Acts as the subject matter expert for EGA in all international payroll activities and enquiries feeding into senior management and area leader discussions, budgeting and planning.
• Ensures the design, development and implementation of appropriate systems and necessary models to accurately model and forecast the international payroll risk exposure..

Risk Awareness and Compliance

• Acts as a subject matter expert in relation to ERM and provides advice on activities relating to enterprise risk.

Reporting

• Directs and guides the establishment of international payroll reporting mechanisms across the Group
• Ensures that all international payroll reports are prepared timely and accurately and meet business requirements, policies, and standards.
• Ensures the reporting of all international payroll matters to the respective management and committee’s in an effective and efficient manner.
• Oversees the development and execution of an international payroll communication plan to ensure appropriate stakeholders are continuously informed.
• Ensures reports and dashboards are generated, disseminated, followed-up, and filed appropriately ensuring adherence to define procedures and quality standards.
• Leads and directs the development of external disclosures in conjunction with other functions, including communications, to meet external regulatory requirements.
• Ensures that all functional reports are prepared timely and accurately and meet EGA requirements, policies, and quality standards.
• Leads and guides the development of department and management reports on credit risk portfolio performance to facilitate decision making, ensuring adherence with EGA quality standards
• Leads the effective coordination for the development and monitoring of KPIs and appropriate performance reporting tools.

Audit Specialist Assistance

• Leads and guides the timely liaison with internal / external auditor for quarter-end / year-end audits, and coordinates with other departments for all integrated and inter-related matters to resolve any variance.

Communication and Networking 

• Develops and maintains effective business relationships with all relevant external/internal entities and all sections with the highest standards of business ethics, whilst promptly attending to all critical issues in-order to ensure the services required by the organisation are delivered in the most effective manner.  
• Leads the effective coordination across subsidiaries to find congruence and harmonisation and ensure adequate and consistent practices across EGA.

Safety, Quality & Environment

• Ensures compliance to all relevant safety, quality and environmental management policies, procedures, and controls across the section to guarantee employee safety, legislative compliance, and a responsible environmental attitude.

Change Management

• Leads the management of change through continuous improvement of functional systems, processes and practices considering global standards and changes in the business environment which demand proactive action plans.

Reporting

• Ensures that all functional reports are prepared timely and accurately and meet EGA requirements, policies, and quality standards.
• Leads and guides the development of department and management reports on credit risk portfolio performance to facilitate decision making, ensuring adherence with EGA quality standards
• Leads the effective coordination for the development and monitoring of KPIs and appropriate performance reporting tools.

AUTHORITY/ DECISION MAKING:

Guidelines:

• Thinking within clearly defined policies, standards and specific objectives whilst being familiar with and cognisant of external regulatory and legislative requirements.

Decision Making:

• Direction of work is subject to practices and procedures, output is managed

QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree preferably in Finance, Business, Accounting or equivalent
• Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP), Diploma in Payroll Management (Australian Payroll Institute), Diploma / Certificate In Treasury Management (ACT) would be well regarded

Minimum Experience:

• 8 years of experience in payroll or accounting or finance including at least 4 years in positions of progressively increasing managerial responsibilities
• Experience of interacting with national/international institutions