{"id":1360436,"url":"https://alion.io/job/pearson-specialist-payroll","title":"Specialist, Payroll","company":{"id":34029,"name":"Pearson","domain":"pearson.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/pearson","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Oracle","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":79,"open_postings":19,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.842,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":34,"computed_at":"2026-10-01T05:45:00Z"}},"role":"Finance","role_family":"Finance","seniority":null,"employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Sri Lanka"],"countries":["LK"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":null,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"ServiceNow","optional":false}],"status":"closed","first_seen_at":"2026-09-18T11:09:55Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-18","last_verified_at":"2026-09-30T09:42:33Z","board_verified":false,"closed_at":"2026-09-30T09:42:33Z","days_open":11,"trust":{"level":"not_scored","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":11},"description":"Payroll Specialist - Sri Lanka & MEA\nRole Overview\nThe Payroll Specialist is responsible for operating payroll as an end-to-end business service across Sri Lanka and an assigned portfolio of Middle East and Africa (MEA) countries, ensuring payroll is delivered accurately, compliantly, and efficiently while continuously improving the employee and stakeholder experience.\nReporting to the Regional Payroll Leader, this role partners with Human Resources, Finance, payroll providers, and other business stakeholders to deliver reliable payroll services, maintain data integrity, resolve employee inquiries, manage operational risks, and identify opportunities to improve payroll performance.\nThe Payroll Specialist takes ownership of payroll activities across assigned countries, from payroll readiness and input validation through payroll review, approval, post-payroll activities, reconciliations, and issue resolution.\nAs payroll continues to evolve through automation, analytics, and AI-enabled technologies, this role contributes to building a scalable, data-driven payroll operating model focused on operational excellence and continuous improvement.\nWhy Join Our Team\nOur payroll team is evolving into a modern, strategic capability, and that work has been recognized by the broader payroll community. We have received accolades from the Global Payroll Association and have been featured in industry podcasts and publications for our approach to payroll transformation, optimization, and future readiness.\nKey Responsibilities\nDeliver the Payroll Service\nOwn and coordinate end-to-end payroll activities across Sri Lanka and assigned MEA countries, ensuring payroll is delivered accurately, compliantly, and on time.\n\nManage payroll readiness including payroll inputs, employee changes, variable payments, deductions, allowances, leave, terminations, and other payroll transactions.\n\nValidate payroll data and review payroll outputs to identify and resolve discrepancies prior to payroll finalization.\n\nCoordinate payroll approvals, funding requirements, and payroll sign-off activities.\n\nComplete and support post-payroll activities including reconciliations, reporting, statutory requirements, and payroll-related financial activities.\n\nManage employee payroll inquiries through ServiceNow, ensuring a high-quality and timely employee experience.\n\nPartner with payroll providers and internal stakeholders to ensure successful payroll delivery and timely resolution of issues.\n\nManage Service Performance\nMonitor payroll operations, service commitments, and key performance indicators to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.\n\nMaintain process documentation and support operational consistency across assigned countries.\n\nPerform root-cause analysis on recurring issues and coordinate sustainable solutions.\n\nSupport operational reviews with internal stakeholders and payroll providers.\n\nPartner Across the Business\nBuild collaborative relationships with Human Resources, Finance, Tax, Benefits, Technology, and payroll providers.\n\nSupport reconciliation activities by helping ensure employee, payroll, and financial data remain accurate and aligned.\n\nCoordinate resolution of operational issues that impact employees or payroll delivery.\n\nContribute to initiatives that improve employee experience, operational efficiency, and enterprise collaboration.\n\nProvide payroll guidance and support to internal stakeholders within the scope of assigned countries.\n\nImprove and Protect the Service\nExecute operational controls that support payroll accuracy, compliance, and audit readiness.\n\nIdentify operational risks, data quality issues, and process improvement opportunities.\n\nSupport automation, standardization, and technology initiatives that simplify payroll operations.\n\nContribute to building a scalable, future-ready payroll operating model.\n\nSupport internal and external payroll audits and ensure required documentation and evidence are maintained.\n\nRequired Qualifications\nDemonstrable experience delivering or supporting end-to-end payroll operations, ideally within a multinational or outsourced payroll environment.\n\nWorking knowledge of payroll processing, reconciliations, controls, compliance, and payroll-related statutory requirements.\n\nExperience collaborating with payroll providers and cross-functional stakeholders.\n\nExperience managing payroll activities across multiple countries or jurisdictions would be advantageous.\n\nStrong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.\n\nStrong attention to detail with a commitment to payroll accuracy and data integrity.\n\nAbility to manage multiple payroll deadlines and priorities in a demanding environment.\n\nExcellent communication and stakeholder management skills.\n\nFluency in English.\n\nPreferred Experience\nExperience managing or supporting payroll in Sri Lanka and Middle East and Africa countries.\n\nKnowledge of Sri Lankan payroll legislation, statutory requirements, and payroll practices.\n\nExperience working within a regional or global payroll operating model.\n\nExperience working with outsourced payroll providers.\n\nExperience using ServiceNow or similar employee case-management technology.","description_format":"text","description_chars":5192,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":null,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":null,"security_clearance":false,"languages":[{"language":"English","level":"Advanced (C1)","optional":false}]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":[],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-27T23:45:59Z"},{"event":"close","at":"2026-09-30T09:42:33Z"}],"liveness":null,"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/pearson-specialist-payroll","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/pearson-specialist-payroll.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-01T09:57:18Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":857,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":4143,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-02T00:00:00Z"}}}