Job Description

Job Description

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Payroll & Benefits Specialist to support end-to-end payroll operations for Indonesia and end-to-end benefits administration across multiple APAC markets. You will work closely with internal HR partners, Payroll, Compensation & Benefits, HR Systems teams, as well as external vendors (e.g., payroll vendors, insurers, brokers, TPAs) to ensure programmes are administered accurately, compliantly, and with a strong focus on employee experience.

This is a hands-on role ideal for a payroll and benefits professional who enjoys operational ownership, regional exposure, and continuous improvement in a structured shared services environment.

What You Will Do

 A. Indonesia Payroll Administration (approximately 40%)

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing for Indonesia, including salary calculations, overtime, allowances, deductions, net pay validation, and payslip distribution.

• Ensure payroll operations comply with Indonesian statutory and labor law requirements, including payroll reporting, tax withholding, statutory benefits, and audit support.

• Administer payroll data setup and maintenance, validate source data, and coordinate with payroll vendors or service providers to ensure timely and accurate payroll processing.

• Manage payroll reconciliations, payroll accounting inputs, GL posting preparation, month-end payroll close activities, and related finance coordination.

• Support administration of payroll-related activities such as absence impacts, full and final settlement, statutory documentation, and payroll record retention.

• Coordinate with local HR, Finance, and third-party payroll vendors to resolve payroll exceptions, employee cases, and escalations.

• Support payroll-related system changes, including data mapping, testing, UAT, and implementation activities that impact Indonesia payroll.

 B. AP Benefits Administration & Employee Support (approximately 40%)

• Administer APAC benefits programs (medical, life/disability, wellness, allowances, retirement, and market-specific benefits).

• Manage benefits enrollments and lifecycle changes (new hires/dependents, beneficiary updates) in line with policy and local regulations.

• Provide employee support on benefits coverage, enrollment, and claims; support onboarding and benefits communications.

• Manage benefits vendors (insurers, brokers, TPAs), ensuring service delivery, issue resolution, and SLA adherence; partner with HR/Payroll/C&B/HRIS for smooth end-to-end processes.

• Ensure governance and control through audits, reconciliations, compliance, reporting support, documentation/SOPs, and strict confidentiality of employee data.

 E. Regional Projects & Continuous Improvement (approximately 20%)

• Support regional benefits initiatives such as system implementations, vendor transitions, centralisation, and process improvement efforts.

• Participate in project activities including data validation, user acceptance testing (UAT), cutover support, and post-go-live stabilisation.

• Identify recurring operational issues and recommend practical improvements to enhance service quality, efficiency, and employee experience.

• Support additional HR Operations projects and initiatives as required.

 What We Are Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, or a related discipline.

• 3–5 years of experience in payroll and benefits, with hands-on Indonesia payroll expertise and strong exposure to regional benefits processes.

• Strong knowledge of Indonesian payroll legislation, including statutory deductions, tax, social security, and compliance requirements.

• Experience working with vendors (payroll vendors, insurers, brokers, TPAs) and in a multinational/shared services environment.

• Experience supporting system implementations/transitions, payroll/benefits integrations, UAT, reconciliations, and process documentation.

• Proficiency with payroll/HCM/benefits systems such as Workday and strong Excel capability.

• Intermediate Excel skills, including VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP and PivotTables.  

• Fluent in Bahasa Indonesia and English, both written and spoken.

 Key Skills & Attributes

• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and follow-through.

• Strong service mindset with a focus on employee experience.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with regional/local stakeholders.

• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.

• Strong problem-solving, root cause analysis, and change support capability.

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

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Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.

Requisition ID:R394974

Job Requirements