Lead, Payroll & Compliance

Role: Manager – Payroll, Accounting & Compliance
Location: IBC, Bangalore
Reporting to: Head - Talent Ops
Team Name: POPS
About the Team and the Role:
The POPS (People Operations & Strategy) team at Ather is responsible for building a long-term affiliation of talent using a mix of the best work content, cash, benefits, and long-term incentives. We focus on delivering an incredible experience for every team member by driving process excellence, culture building, and high-impact people initiatives.
This role is for a highly experienced and detail-oriented finance leader to manage end-to-end payroll operations, payroll accounting, ESOP administration and accounting, and corporate compliance/audit management. With 10 to 12 years of hands-on and managerial experience, the ideal candidate will ensure immaculate financial accuracy, rigorous statutory compliance, robust internal controls, and seamless collaboration across HR, Finance, and external auditors.
Responsibilities:
End-to-End Payroll Management & Accounting: Oversee full-lifecycle monthly payroll processing for full-time employees, contractors, and international entities; record and verify monthly payroll journal entries, accruals, bonus distributions, leave encashments, and payroll tax liabilities in ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, or NetSuite); perform month-end account reconciliations for GL accounts, clearings, and tax withholdings; and deliver variance analysis comparing actual costs to budgets/forecasts to executive management.
ESOP Management & Accounting: Administer the company's Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP) lifecycle (option grants, vesting, exercises, lapses, and cancellations) on platforms like Qapita; execute ESOP accounting in compliance with Ind AS 102 / IFRS 2 (fair value, stock compensation expenses, and deferred tax impacts); and handle tax implications, perquisite calculations, and statutory withholding for stock-based compensation
Statutory Compliance & Tax Management: Ensure 100% adherence to all regional and national payroll compliance requirements (including PF, ESI, Professional Tax, LWF, TDS on Salaries, Form 16, or local remittances); prepare and file periodic payroll tax returns and statutory filings; and monitor changes in employment laws, labor codes, and tax regulations to update internal systems proactively.
Audit, Controls & Governance: Lead internal, external, statutory, and regulatory payroll audits, serving as the primary point of contact; ensure robust internal financial controls (SOX / IFC compliance) across all payroll and equity-based accounting processes; and perform regular internal checks to eliminate errors, overpayments, or compliance vulnerabilities.
System Optimization & Process Improvement: Drive automation initiatives and continuous improvement across HRMS, payroll engines, and ERP accounting systems; establish standard operating procedures (SOPs), service-level agreements (SLAs), and clear workflows between HR, Finance, and external vendors.

Experience
8 - 12 Years

Employment type
Permanent

Work arrangement
No