HR Operations Specialist – Payroll & Compensation/Benefits
About the Company
Founded in the late 1920s in Europe, this global fashion brand began as a wholesale seller of women’s accessories and expanded into handbag collections by the 1970s. From the 1990s onward, the company opened stores and branches worldwide, now operating in over 50 countries with hundreds of retail points of sale, including flagship boutiques, franchised shops, and travel retail locations.
Role Objective
The HR Operations function manages all daily HR activities from employee onboarding to offboarding. This includes payroll, benefits, social insurance, attendance tracking, and leave management, ensuring compliance with local labor laws and internal policies.
Key Responsibilities
Oversee monthly payroll processing (outsourced), annual bonuses, year-end tax adjustments, and social insurance procedures for all direct employees
Manage attendance, annual leave, and overtime in compliance with local labor laws
Administer employee life cycle processes, including maternity/parental leave, sick leave, and retirement payouts
Lead employee financial benefit programs, including life insurance and paid leave entitlements
Coordinate onboarding and offboarding processes
Review HR policies with the Senior HR Director to ensure best practices and legal compliance
Optimize payroll procedures for efficiency and accuracy
Stay up to date on compensation, benefits, and HRIS developments
Lead the annual labor management agreement process
Maintain HR records on employee changes, job history, retirements, and leave
Issue employment-related certificates and create required reports
Act as the main point of contact for HR inquiries in assigned areas
Support the HR/GA team with administrative duties and ad hoc projects
Requirements
5+ years’ payroll experience in a mid-sized company (300+ employees)
Bachelor’s degree or CPP certification preferred
Social Insurance and Labor Consultant (Sharoshi) certification preferred
Native-level Japanese and business-level English (TOEIC 750+)
Strong knowledge of attendance management and social/labor insurance processes
Solid understanding of Japanese labor law and tax administration
Experience with DC pension plan management
Proven business partnering ability with excellent interpersonal skills
Strong numerical, problem-solving, and time management abilities
Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel (VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, SUM, SUMIF) and Word
Preferred: experience with HR systems such as King of Time, Kao Navi, and ADP
Highly organized, detail-oriented, adaptable, and capable of working well under pressure
Core Values & Competencies
Inspire and guide others toward success
Demonstrate customer focus and adaptability
Show passion, energy, and persistence
Take action and deliver results
Embrace diversity of thought and authenticity
Take ownership from start to finish, with a sense of urgency
Be flexible in the face of change and execute with clarity and precision