Associate Manager Customer Support Japanese Bilingual

Dayforce is a global human capital management (HCM) company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, and Minneapolis, Minnesota, with operations across North America, Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA), and the Asia Pacific Japan (APJ) region.

Our award-winning Cloud HCM platform offers a unified solution database and continuous calculation engine, driving efficiency, productivity and compliance for the global workforce.

Our brand promise - Makes Work Life Better™- Reflects our commitment to employees, customers, partners and communities globally.

About The Opportunity

We are seeking a highly experienced and detail-oriented Bilingual Japanese Payroll Team Leader to oversee end-to-end payroll operations for Japan. This role will be responsible for managing full-cycle Japan payroll processing while leading and developing a team of payroll professionals based in the Philippines.

The ideal candidate is fluent in Japanese and English, has strong expertise in Japan statutory payroll requirements, and has proven leadership experience in managing payroll delivery within a high-volume, service-driven environment.

What You’ll Get To Do

Payroll Operations (Japan Payroll – End-to-End):

• Lead and oversee end-to-end payroll operations for Japan-based clients, ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll delivery.
• Ensure payroll controls are being observed, such as peer reviews/validations and reconciliations prior to delivery of payroll reports, ensuring accuracy and risk mitigation.
• Ensure timely processing of monthly payroll, bonuses, off-cycle payments, and year-end adjustments across multiple client accounts.
• Oversee payroll accounting activities, including general ledger reporting, reconciliations, and coordination with client finance teams, as applicable.
• Ensure compliance with Japan statutory requirements, including social insurance, labor insurance, resident tax, income tax, and regulatory filings, proactively managing legislative updates and implementation across client portfolios.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex payroll issues, client inquiries, and regulatory matters, maintaining strong client relationships and stakeholder confidence.
• Coordinate statutory submissions and tax filings, ensuring all deadlines are met and compliance risks are mitigated.
• Support internal and external audits for client payrolls, ensuring documentation accuracy, audit readiness, and timely resolution of findings.
  
  

Team Leadership & Delivery Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of payroll specialists supporting Japan payroll.
• Manage workload distribution, processing calendars, and payroll checklists to ensure SLA adherence.
• Drive performance management, coaching, and career development planning for team members.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on accuracy, accountability, and client satisfaction.
• Conduct regular team meetings and governance calls with stakeholders and/or clients in Japanese and English.
  
  

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary escalation point for Japan payroll-related issues.
• Communicate effectively with Japanese-speaking stakeholders, clients, and vendors.
• Provide payroll insights, reporting, and advisory support on statutory and compliance matters.
• Build trusted relationships with internal partners and external clients.
  
  

Continuous Improvement & Compliance

• Identify process improvement opportunities to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
• Implement best practices and standardization initiatives across payroll operations.
• Ensure documentation of processes, SOPs, and compliance controls.
• Maintain strict adherence to data privacy, security, and confidentiality standards.
  
  

Skills And Experience We Value

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field.
• Minimum 5–7 years of end-to-end payroll experience, with at least 3 years handling Japan payroll.
• At least 1–2 years of team leadership or supervisory experience in payroll operations.
• Strong knowledge of Japanese payroll legislation, statutory benefits, social insurance, and tax compliance (including year-end tax adjustment).
• Fluent in Japanese (business proficiency required; JLPT N1 or N2 preferred) and English.
• Experience working with payroll systems and HRIS platforms supporting Japan payroll.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and MS Office tools.
• Solid understanding of payroll accounting and reconciliations.
  
  

Competencies

• Excellent leadership and people management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication skills in both Japanese and English.
• Customer-focused mindset with strong stakeholder management capabilities.
• Proactive, organized, and able to work with minimal supervision.
  
  

What’s In It For You

Dayforce is fueled by the diversity of our talented employees. We are an equal opportunity employer and consider and embrace ALL individuals and what makes them unique. We believe our employees should be happy and healthy, with peace of mind and a sense of fulfillment.

We encourage individuals to apply based on their passions.

Dayforce encourages personal and professional growth. We offer excellent time away from work programs, comprehensive wellness initiatives and recognition through competitive pay and benefits.

With a commitment to community impact, including volunteer days and our charity, Dayforce Cares we provide opportunities for you to thrive both in your career and personal life. Our focus is not just on your job but on supporting you to be the best version of yourself.

Fraudulent Recruiting

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Dayforce actively monitors all job applications to ensure authenticity. Submissions determined to be fraudulent or misleading will be declined from the recruitment process

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