HR Generalist (Payroll, Workforce Planning & Budgeting)

About the role

The HR Generalist supports payroll, workforce planning, HR budgeting, HR systems and policy administration so that payroll is processed accurately, workforce planning is effective and company policies and regulations are followed. The role coordinates payroll activities, supports compensation initiatives, maintains HR policies and systems, monitors workforce data and costs, and prepares HR reports for management decisions.

Key responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end monthly payroll cycle, from preparation and validation through reconciliation, approval coordination and salary processing.
• Process payroll transactions such as attendance, leave, overtime, allowances, deductions, loans, arrears, gratuity, end-of-service benefits, insurance and other benefits.
• Conduct payroll audits, month-on-month variance analysis, reconciliations and exception reviews, and resolve discrepancies per approved policies.
• Maintain complete payroll and employee records, supporting documentation, reporting databases, reconciliations and audit trails.
• Support the annual HR and manpower budgeting process, consolidate headcount requirements and prepare workforce cost projections with the Central HR team.
• Monitor payroll and workforce costs against budgets, prepare variance reports and forecasts, and investigate significant variances with HR and line managers.
• Coordinate annual, mid-year and periodic manpower planning, and track approved, actual, vacant and forecasted headcount by department, position, grade, location and category.
• Analyze headcount, vacancies, attrition, workforce movements, employee costs and productivity trends, and conduct compensation benchmarking, salary surveys and market pay studies.
• Support remuneration policies, salary structures, grading frameworks, allowances and incentive programmes, and prepare cost analyses and business cases for salary adjustments and policy changes.
• Support HR digitalization and automation, coordinate the implementation and testing of HRIS, payroll, recruitment, attendance and self-service systems, and maintain HR process maps and SOPs.
• Develop, publish and interpret HR policies, support grievance and disciplinary matters, take part in internal and external audits, and prepare HR dashboards and reports on payroll, headcount, recruitment, attrition and KPIs.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or a related discipline.
• 6-8 years of progressive HR experience with exposure to payroll, compensation and benefits, manpower planning, budgeting, recruitment and HR operations.
• Preferred: professional HR certification such as CIPD, SHRM or PHR, and experience in aviation, a regulated industry or a multi-location organization.
• Fluent in English and local languages.

Required skills

• Proficiency in MS Office.
• Preferred: experience with HRIS, payroll systems, applicant-tracking systems and employee self-service platforms.