Payroll Implementation Specialist at Unilever Nigeria Plc – Lagos

Unilever Nigeria Plc is recruiting a contract Payroll Implementation Specialist in Lagos to support payroll migration, vendor coordination, testing and readiness across assigned markets. Working hours are 8am–5pm, Monday to Friday.

Main Responsibilities

• Support the implementation of payroll operations and Day 1 payroll readiness across assigned markets.
• Gather payroll requirements and work with vendors to ensure compliance with local tax, statutory, and social security regulations.
• Review payroll processes and recommend improvements to ensure operational efficiency and compliance.
• Create, maintain, and update payroll standard operating procedures (SOPs) and process documentation.
• Support payroll data migration activities, including data mapping, validation, and testing.
• Execute payroll testing, parallel runs, reconciliations, and go-live readiness activities to ensure accurate payroll processing.
• Review and validate payroll inputs, including benefits, deductions, and time and attendance data.
• Support payroll system integrations between HR, payroll, finance, banking, and other business systems.
• Ensure payroll accounting entries, cost allocations, and finance interfaces are accurate and properly maintained.
• Track project risks, issues, and dependencies and ensure timely resolution and escalation where required.
• Maintain project documentation, implementation plans, status reports, and governance records.
• Collaborate with HR, Finance, IT, Tax, Treasury, vendors, and other stakeholders to deliver project milestones.
• Support payroll processing activities, audits, reconciliations, and performance monitoring where required.

Requirements

• 5-8 years of proven experience in payroll implementation, transition or transformation, preferably within a multi-country environment.
• Strong hands-on knowledge of payroll systems and integrations – Workday and SAP, General Ledger / Finance interfaces and payroll accounting.
• Demonstrated payroll processing expertise (gross-to-net, statutory deductions, benefits, Time & Attendance) and understanding of local labor, tax and social-security requirements.
• Experience managing third-party payroll vendors, service designs, Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and vendor governance.
• Solid grasp of test management, parallel runs, data migration and cutover methodology.
• Ability to manage and track multiple concurrent requests under tight, fixed payroll deadlines with accuracy and composure.
• Strong governance, controls and compliance discipline (SOX, COBP, GFCF); confident with risk/issue management and escalation.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills across technical, HR, Finance and senior leadership audiences.
• Excellent project management capability (PMO, RAID, status reporting).
• Comfortable working in a fastmoving and evolving environment.
• Payroll certification (e.g. FPC / CPP) is an added advantage.