UAE Nationals only. Robert Walters is partnering with a large Abu Dhabi organisation to recruit a Lead, Payroll. The role will oversee the full UAE payroll cycle for around 1,500 to 1,600 employees and lead a small team. Candidates should have 8+ years of UAE payroll experience, strong knowledge of Labour Law, pension, EOSB, reconciliations and controls, plus previous team leadership experience. Salary up to AED 42,000 per month.

Lead, Payroll

Abu Dhabi
UAE Nationals Only
Salary up to AED 42,000 per month

Robert Walters is partnering with a large and established organisation in Abu Dhabi to recruit a Lead, Payroll.

Please note that this opportunity is open exclusively to UAE Nationals as part of the organisation’s Emiratisation programme.

This is a hands on leadership position within the HR Payroll function, responsible for overseeing the complete UAE payroll cycle across approximately 1,500 to 1,600 employees.

The successful candidate will combine strong technical payroll expertise with the ability to lead, support and provide guidance to a team of payroll specialists.

This is not a purely strategic leadership position. The role requires someone who is comfortable remaining close to the detail, reviewing payroll accuracy, resolving complex issues and ensuring the payroll function operates effectively and compliantly.

Key responsibilities

The Lead, Payroll will take ownership of the end to end UAE payroll process and ensure accurate and timely payroll delivery across a large employee population.

Responsibilities will include:

• Managing the complete monthly UAE payroll cycle

• Reviewing payroll inputs, calculations and final outputs

• Payroll reconciliation and variance analysis

• Ensuring accurate processing of salaries, allowances and deductions

• Managing UAE pension related requirements

• End of service benefit calculations

• Leave encashment calculations

• Ensuring payroll processes comply with UAE Labour Law

• Maintaining strong payroll controls and governance

• Reviewing payroll discrepancies and ensuring issues are resolved accurately and efficiently

• Providing technical guidance and support to payroll specialists

• Supervising the day to day activities of the payroll team

• Conducting quality checks and ensuring payroll deadlines are consistently achieved

• Supporting improvements to payroll processes, controls and reporting

• Working closely with HR and other internal stakeholders on payroll related matters

Candidate profile

This position is open exclusively to UAE Nationals.

The ideal candidate will have approximately 8 years or more of relevant payroll experience, with strong end to end UAE payroll knowledge.

Candidates should have:

• Extensive UAE payroll experience

• Strong understanding of the complete payroll lifecycle

• Previous experience managing or supervising a payroll team

• Strong knowledge of UAE Labour Law

• Good understanding of UAE pension regulations

• Strong experience with end of service calculations

• Experience with leave encashment and other payroll related employee benefits

• Strong payroll reconciliation and variance analysis experience

• Good understanding of payroll controls and governance

• Experience working within a large or complex organisation

• Ideally managed payroll populations of 1,000 employees or more

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy

• The confidence and credibility to operate at Lead level

• The ability to provide technical guidance while remaining hands on within the payroll process

International payroll experience is not required. The primary requirement is deep UAE payroll expertise.

Leadership expectations

The role will manage and support a team of payroll specialists.

The organisation is looking for someone who has previous team leadership experience but remains technically strong and close to the payroll operation.

The successful candidate should be able to provide day to day leadership, review the quality of work produced by the team, resolve technical issues and take overall ownership of payroll delivery.

Strong communication skills and the confidence to engage with senior stakeholders will also be important.

Working environment

The organisation offers a flexible working environment.

Employees have four remote working days available per month and can choose when these are used.

Working hours are also flexible, with employees able to start between approximately 7:30am and 9:30am, subject to completing the required working day.

Package

The maximum salary for the position is approximately AED 42,000 per month.

Interview process

The recruitment process is expected to include three stages.

The first stage will be an initial telephone discussion with the Payroll Manager.

The second stage will be a face to face panel interview involving senior HR and payroll stakeholders.

The final stage will be a leadership interview with a senior executive.

Candidates should therefore be comfortable participating in a thorough interview process.

Apply

If you are a UAE National with strong end to end payroll experience and previous team leadership exposure, please apply or reach out to Robert Walters for a confidential discussion.

Applications from UAE Nationals only will be considered for this position.