Remote is a global leader in simplifying international employment by helping businesses recruit, pay, and manage teams worldwide with ease and compliance. Known for its asynchronous work culture and diverse, remote workforce spanning six continents, Remote offers an exciting opportunity for a Payroll Specialist Lead focused on UAE payroll operations.

In this role, you will own end-to-end payroll processing for the United Arab Emirates, ensuring compliance with local regulations such as DMCC, Ministry of Labour (MOL), and Wages Protection System (WPS). You will collaborate with Finance, Product, and Engineering teams, mentor payroll specialists, and drive continuous improvements in payroll processes within a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage full end-to-end payroll processing for UAE, including statutory filings, approvals, payments, and compliance

• Act as the payroll subject matter expert for UAE operations

• Maintain compliance with DMCC, MOL, and WPS payroll standards and reporting requirements

• Ensure data integrity, accuracy, and quality in payroll records and accounting reconciliations

• Monitor and meet KPIs and SLAs related to payroll operations

• Implement and optimize payroll processes for efficiency and accuracy

• Mentor and support junior payroll specialists

• Serve as backup to regional payroll managers as needed

• Manage relationships with key stakeholders across Payroll Implementation, Finance, Product, and Engineering teams

Qualifications & Skills:

• Proven experience managing UAE payroll end-to-end in-house or equivalent leadership experience

• Hands-on familiarity with DMCC, MOL, and WPS workflows and regulations

• Knowledge of payroll best practices and strong analytical/problem-solving skills

• Proficiency with payroll software tools such as SAP, Excel, or Google Sheets

• Adaptability to a fast-paced, international and asynchronous work environment

• Strong English communication skills, both written and verbal

• Self-motivated, productivity-focused, and process improvement mindset

• Experience working remotely is a plus but not required

Work Environment & Benefits:

• Fully remote work setup with asynchronous communication and flexible scheduling

• Competitive base salary range: $33,300 to $74,850 USD, dependent on location and experience

• Flexible paid time off and 16 weeks paid parental leave

• Stock options, learning budgets, home office equipment budget, and mental health support

• Inclusive and diverse workplace culture promoting equity and belonging

• Support for remote workers globally with budgets for local co-working spaces and social events

About Remote:

Remote’s mission is to make global employment simple, compliant, and empowering for companies and employees everywhere. The company values diversity, equity, and inclusion and supports employee resource groups for women, disability, LGBTQ+, and minorities in tech. Remote embraces AI tools to complement human expertise and creativity.