Payroll Specialist

We are seeking a Payroll Specialist to support end-to-end payroll operations for our Japan workforce, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timeliness in all payroll processes. This role partners closely with HR, Finance, and external vendors to manage statutory reporting, tax filings, and payroll controls in a dynamic, multinational environment. The ideal candidate thrives in detail-oriented work and enjoys contributing to operational excellence and employee experience.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Oversee payroll operational activities for Japan including but not limited to payroll and benefit administration, time and leave management, retirement (CB/DC), vendor coordination, annual payroll activities, statutory reporting, internal and external audit, process documentation and other related activities in alignment with global and regional objectives.
• Oversee all aspects of payroll including calculations, deductions, overtime, bonuses, tax withholding, social insurances, validation, compiling payroll reports to external and internal stakeholders e.g. Finance, etc.
• Always ensure timely, accurate salary payment to employees, statutory and service fee payments to relevant authorities and vendors.
• Work closely with other internal stakeholders to ensure consistency, and accuracy of payroll and employee information in local payroll system and HCM (SuccessFactors, ICIMS, etc.).
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, and other departments to improve processes and address payroll issues.
• Handle escalation on payroll related issues.  Analyze the issue, provide advice and solutions to the management team.
• Maintain payroll service quality standardization by providing guidelines, SOP, policies, and procedures and ensure excellent service delivery.
• Ensure compliance with legal and statutory requirements in related jurisdictions including statutory filings, etc..
• Act as the local payroll and benefit representative in Japan by answering payroll-related questions, coordinating payroll and benefits vendors, liaising with auditors and manage payroll tax audits.
• Other payroll ad hoc tasks and projects as required

Requirements

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in Japanese payroll
• Deep understanding of social insurance, experience in statutory filings, knowledge of taxes, and relevant laws in Japan.
• Business level written and oral communication skills in Japanese and English are must
• Strong proficiency in MS Office systems, Outlook, and SharePoint.
• Knowledge of payroll operations in other countries is considered an advantage.
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, human resources, business administration or a related field is a plus

Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT) is a global leader in analytical instruments, separations technologies, and software, serving the life, materials, food, and environmental sciences for over 65 years. Our Company helps ensure the efficacy of medicines, the safety of food and the purity of water, and the quality and sustainability of products used every day. In over 100 countries, our 7,600+ passionate employees collaborate with customers in laboratories, manufacturing sites, and hospitals to accelerate the benefits of pioneering science. 

Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our core values at Waters Corporation. It benefits our employees, our products, our customers and our community. Waters complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to sex, race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, marital status (including civil unions), military service, veteran status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, legally recognized disability, domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Waters is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.