Sr. Associate I, Payroll

At Alcon, we are inspired by the meaningful work we do to help people see brilliantly. As the global leader in eye care, we boldly innovate, champion progress, and act with speed. We recognize and celebrate the contributions of our people, offering career opportunities that empower growth and fulfillment. Together, we go above and beyond to make a lasting impact on the lives of our patients and customers. We cultivate an inclusive culture and invite diverse, talented individuals to join us in shaping the future of eye care.

Sr. Associate I, Payroll is primarily responsible for delivering accurate and compliant payroll services across assigned countries while supporting payroll accounting, reporting, controls, audit, tax, equity administration, and continuous improvement initiatives within Alcon's shared services environment. The role serves as a key partner to Payroll, Finance & Reporting Accounting (FRA), Human Resources, Treasury, Global Mobility, and external payroll vendors to ensure payroll operations are processed accurately, timely, and in accordance with statutory and company requirements.

The position acts as a subject matter resource for payroll processes and systems, supporting payroll execution, issue resolution, payroll reconciliations, regulatory compliance, reporting requirements, and payroll-related projects. The role also contributes to payroll process standardization, system enhancements, automation initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts to drive operational excellence and strengthen control effectiveness.

Additionally, Sr. Associate I is responsible for ensuring payroll activities comply with applicable legislative requirements, internal control frameworks, audit standards, company policies, and documented operating procedures while maintaining a high level of service delivery and stakeholder support.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Service Deliveries

• Collect, validate, review, and consolidate payroll inputs received from multiple upstream sources for assigned country payrolls.
• Support end-to-end payroll processing activities and monitor payroll vendor performance to ensure accurate and timely payroll delivery.
• Review payroll outputs, reports, and reconciliations to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with payroll requirements.
• Apply advanced knowledge of payroll systems and processes to support payroll operations and issue resolution.
• Troubleshoot payroll issues, investigate discrepancies, and respond to employee and stakeholder inquiries within agreed service levels.
• Coordinate payroll funding requests, payroll tax payments, and statutory remittances while ensuring timely processing by Treasury and third-party providers.
• Provide analysis and operational support for payroll-related legislative and regulatory changes.
• Support payroll system enhancements, automation initiatives, process improvements, and payroll transformation projects.
• Maintain payroll calendars, holiday schedules, payroll cut-offs, and critical processing timelines.
• Ensure payroll documentation, standard operating procedures, and work instructions remain current and accurate.

Payroll Accounting & Reporting

• Partner with Payroll and FRA teams to provide clarity and support regarding payroll expenses, accounting entries, reconciliations, postings, and accruals.
• Support payroll accounting activities and ensure accurate payroll financial reporting.
• Investigate and resolve open, aged, or unreconciled payroll-related financial items.
• Assist with statistical reporting, payroll forecasts, cost analysis, and finance-related ad hoc requests.
• Support mobility payroll reporting and timely submission of payroll results for International Assignment (IA) associates.
• Assist in payroll-related reconciliations to support financial reporting accuracy and month-end activities.
• Prepare, validate, and distribute payroll reports required by internal stakeholders and management.

Controls & Audit

• Support payroll controls execution and compliance with the Alcon Financial Controls Manual.
• Maintain payroll documentation and audit evidence to ensure readiness for internal and external audits.
• Perform payroll control reviews and reconciliations to identify and address control gaps.
• Respond to audit requests accurately and within required timelines.
• Support remediation activities and implementation of corrective actions arising from audit findings.
• Promote adherence to established payroll governance standards, controls, and compliance requirements.

Tax & Equity

• Support tax-related payroll activities, including statutory filings, tax clearances, and regulatory reporting requirements.
• Coordinate with local authorities, external tax advisors, and payroll vendors on tax-related matters.
• Support monthly payroll data reconciliation activities to ensure accurate income declaration and tax reporting.
• Assist with annual tax reporting cycles and payroll tax compliance activities.
• Support equity-related payroll transactions, including RSU payment processing, tax withholding, reporting, and reconciliations.
• Ensure payroll tax records, documentation, and supporting schedules are maintained accurately and completely.

Manage Day-to-Day Activities

• Monitor payroll processing milestones and ensure payroll deadlines are achieved.
• Review and validate payroll transactions including new hires, terminations, compensation changes, deductions, benefits, taxes, and statutory payments.
• Manage payroll case queues and respond to inquiries through established case management processes.
• Coordinate with HR, Global Mobility, Benefits, Compensation, Master Data Management, and external providers to resolve payroll matters.
• Identify payroll trends, recurring issues, and process inefficiencies, and recommend corrective actions.
• Support country-specific payroll compliance requirements and regulatory updates.
• Participate in payroll transitions, process migrations, testing activities, and implementation projects.
• Serve as backup support for payroll operational activities as required.

Compliance

• Ensure payroll processes, policies, and procedures are documented, maintained, and consistently followed.
• Maintain compliance with local labor laws, tax regulations, statutory requirements, and company policies.
• Ensure payroll records and supporting documentation remain complete, accurate, and auditable.
• Support internal control requirements, risk mitigation initiatives, and compliance programs.
• Complete all required compliance, quality, and regulatory training within established timelines.
• Identify process, compliance, and control risks and support implementation of corrective and preventive actions.
• Promote a strong culture of accountability, compliance, and operational excellence.

People Management

• Demonstrate Alcon Values through collaboration, accountability, innovation, and customer focus.
• Build positive working relationships with internal stakeholders, business partners, payroll providers, and external agencies.
• Share payroll knowledge, best practices, and process expertise across teams.
• Support onboarding, training, knowledge transfer, and process documentation initiatives.
• Participate actively in change management, payroll projects, system enhancements, and continuous improvement programs.
• Contribute to a high-performing service organization focused on quality, efficiency, and stakeholder satisfaction.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

Education

(minimum/desirable)

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, Economics, or equivalent.
• Professional certifications in Payroll, Accounting, Finance, HR, or related fields are an advantage.

Languages

• Fluent in written and spoken English.
• Additional regional language capabilities are an advantage depending on country support requirements.

Experience

• 3 to 5 years of relevant experience in Payroll Operations, Payroll Shared Services, HR Operations, Finance, Accounting, or related functions.
• Experience managing payroll processes in a multinational or shared services environment.
• Working knowledge of payroll regulations, statutory compliance, payroll accounting, tax, and reporting processes.
• Experience partnering with payroll vendors and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Exposure to payroll audits, reconciliations, controls, and compliance activities.
• Experience supporting payroll projects, system implementations, process transitions, or continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience within healthcare, pharmaceutical, medical device, or highly regulated industries is an advantage.

Technical Skills

• Payroll systems knowledge (SAP, Workday, ADP, SuccessFactors, or equivalent).
• Strong Microsoft Excel and data analysis capabilities.
• Payroll reconciliation, reporting, and payroll accounting knowledge.
• Understanding of payroll controls, statutory compliance, and audit requirements.
• Knowledge of payroll tax, equity processing, and mobility payroll administration is advantageous.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and process improvement skills.

Personal Attributes

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Excellent analytical and troubleshooting abilities.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet critical deadlines.
• Proactive, organized, and solution-oriented mindset.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrates accountability, adaptability, and continuous learning.
• Effective collaborator within a global and multicultural environment.

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