Payroll Tax Manager

About the team

The Global Payroll team at Airwallex is responsible for delivering accurate, timely and compliant payroll for employees across all of our entities and markets worldwide. They partner closely with Legal and local People Operations to navigate country-specific regulations, optimise our HR and payroll systems, and drive automation, controls and process improvements as we scale. This team plays a critical role in the overall employee experience, ensuring every team member is paid correctly while enabling data-driven insights on people costs and supporting Airwallex’s global expansion.

What you'll do

We are looking for a Manager, Payroll Tax to own and evolve Airwallex’s global payroll tax strategy and operating framework. You will be the subject matter expert for employment tax, payroll withholding, employer social security, benefits-in-kind, equity compensation and related reporting obligations across our entities and jurisdictions.

You will work closely with Global Payroll, People Operations, HR, Finance, Legal, Accounting, Global Mobility, HRIS and external advisers to ensure payroll tax is accurate, compliant and scalable. You will also help strengthen controls, improve data quality and use automation to reduce manual work across the payroll tax lifecycle.

This role is based in Singapore.

Responsibilities:

• Own Airwallex’s global payroll tax strategy, policies and operating framework across entities and jurisdictions.

• Establish standards for payroll tax governance, ownership, controls, documentation, escalation and audit readiness.

• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting employment tax, payroll withholding, employer social security, benefits-in-kind, equity compensation and related reporting.

• Partner with Global Payroll to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing, tax calculations, reconciliations, payments, year-end reporting and statutory filings.

• Oversee payroll tax compliance across multiple jurisdictions, including income tax reporting, employer contributions, social security, pension obligations and local levies.

• Review payroll registers, tax calculations, payroll journals and reconciliations, ensuring discrepancies are identified and resolved before filing or payment deadlines.

• Advise on payroll tax implications arising from new hires, terminations, bonuses, commissions, benefits, allowances, equity awards and employee relocations.

• Provide subject matter expertise on benefits-in-kind, including valuation, withholding, employer contributions and reporting requirements.

• Oversee the tax treatment and reporting of equity arrangements, including ESOPs, RSUs, share awards, tender offers and other equity transactions.

• Partner with Legal, People and business teams on new entity launches, market entry and changes to employment models.

• Manage payroll tax audits, authority correspondence, notices and information requests.

• Manage external payroll tax advisers and vendors, ensuring quality, consistency, timeliness and appropriate escalation.

• Drive standardisation of payroll elements, tax treatment, chart-of-accounts mapping and reporting requirements across regions.

• Identify opportunities to automate calculations, reconciliations, validations, tax reporting

• Use data and analytics to identify anomalies, recurring issues, control gaps and opportunities for process improvement.

• Communicate complex technical matters clearly to senior stakeholders and educate partners on payroll tax responsibilities, deadlines and control requirements.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Tax, Human Resources or a related discipline.

• At least 8 years of experience in payroll tax, employment tax, global mobility tax, payroll operations or a related discipline.

• Strong experience working across multiple jurisdictions in a multinational organisation.

• Demonstrated knowledge of payroll withholding, employer social security, benefits-in-kind, equity compensation and employment tax compliance.

• Experience managing payroll vendors and partnering with HRIS, payroll and finance systems teams.

• Strong understanding of payroll reconciliations, controls, year-end reporting, statutory filings and audit processes.

• Excellent analytical, organisational and project-management skills.

• Ability to interpret complex legislation and communicate practical recommendations clearly.

• High level of discretion when handling confidential employee, payroll and compensation information.

• Strong ownership, attention to detail and ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience in a global technology, financial services or fintech organisation.

• Experience supporting payroll transformation, payroll platform implementation or HRIS and payroll integration projects.

• Experience with equity compensation tax and reporting, including RSUs, ESOPs or share awards.

• Experience with Employer of Record arrangements, contractors and cross-border employee mobility.

• Professional qualification such as CPA, CTA, CA, ACCA or equivalent.

• Experience using data, automation or AI-enabled tools to improve tax and payroll processes.

• Experience leading cross-functional projects, influencing senior stakeholders or mentoring team members.