International Payroll Specialist – Japan
Overview
Support accurate, timely, and compliant payroll operations for employees in Japan as part of a fast-paced, high-growth organization. This hands-on, part-time role will manage the monthly Japan payroll cycle in partnership with a local payroll provider, coordinate closely with HR, support employees in Japanese and English, and help complete the Workday-to-Breeze integration. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, highly organized, comfortable working independently, and experienced in navigating Japan payroll requirements and recurring deadlines.
Required Skills
- Five or more years of payroll processing experience, including hands-on experience supporting payroll in Japan
- Ability to read and speak Japanese, with strong written and verbal communication skills in both Japanese and English
- Working knowledge of Japan payroll practices, including:
- Health and pension insurance
- Employment insurance
- Income tax withholding
- Resident tax
- Year-end adjustment, or nenmatsu chosei
- Strong attention to detail and accuracy when handling payroll data, employee inputs, wage information, and payroll codes
- Ability to maintain strict confidentiality when working with employee and payroll information
- Experience managing recurring payroll tasks independently within a part-time schedule
- Ability to coordinate with HR teams and payroll providers to meet payroll deadlines
- Strong reconciliation and problem-solving skills
- Ability to respond clearly and promptly to employee payroll questions in Japanese and English
- Comfort working in a fast-paced startup environment
Nice to Have Skills
- Experience with Freee, Breeze, or SmartHR
- Experience with Workday reporting, integrations, and international payroll workflows
- Experience supporting international payroll across APAC markets
- Experience coordinating with local payroll providers in multiple countries
- Experience supporting high-growth startups or rapidly scaling international teams
- Familiarity with payroll documentation, runbook development, and process stabilization
Preferred Education and Experience
- Five or more years of relevant payroll processing experience, including Japan payroll operations
- Preferred educational background was not specified; relevant payroll experience and demonstrated knowledge of Japan payroll practices are valued
- Experience supporting payroll system integrations, data transfers, reporting, and monthly reconciliations is preferred
Key Responsibilities
- Run the monthly Japan payroll cycle in Breeze and SmartHR in collaboration with the local payroll provider
- Transfer payroll files and employee data between Workday and Breeze
- Download payroll reports from SmartHR and upload required data into Breeze
- Verify payroll codes, employee inputs, salary data, and allowance information before each upload
- Coordinate with HR in Japan regarding timesheet entries and payroll deadlines
- Onboard new employees into payroll systems and ensure accurate data flows through the Workday-Breeze integration
- Test and help stabilize the Workday, Breeze, SmartHR, and provider workflows
- Respond to employee payroll questions through the payroll inbox and Slack in Japanese and English
- Reconcile monthly payroll reports against Workday and resolve discrepancies with the payroll provider
- Prepare inputs for the December year-end adjustment
- Support social insurance, labor insurance, and resident tax updates throughout the year
- Maintain accurate payroll documentation and the Japan payroll runbook
- Support international payroll operations across other APAC markets as needed
Other Requirements
- Work arrangement: Fully remote
- Schedule: Part-time, approximately 20–25 hours per week
- Ability to manage recurring payroll deadlines and work independently
- Ability to collaborate effectively with Japan-based HR partners, payroll providers, and international teams
- Successful completion of a background check is required
- Must be able to handle confidential employee information in accordance with applicable local requirements
