Payroll Coordinator

About Our School

The Metropolitan School of Panama is a top international school in Panama City, serving students from Early Childhood 3 to 12th grade. With 800 students from 45 nationalities and 120 globally experienced educators, our diverse community is one of our greatest strengths.

Founded in 2011, the MET was built on a vision of academic excellence, exceptional teachers, small class sizes, and a joyful, inspiring environment where every student can thrive.

Metropolitan School of Panama

Payroll Coordinator

The Payroll Coordinator is responsible for the accurate, timely, and confidential administration of the school's payroll function, ensuring full compliance with Panamanian labor legislation, tax regulations, Social Security requirements, and Nord Anglia Education policies and procedures. Reporting to the HR Director, this role works in close partnership with the Finance Department to ensure the integrity of payroll data, statutory compliance, payroll reconciliations, and internal controls.

The Payroll Coordinator serves as the primary point of contact for all payroll-related matters, maintaining the highest standards of accuracy, confidentiality, and customer service while supporting the school's operational and financial objectives.

HR Director

• Finance Director
• Accounting Manager
• Human Resources Team
• School Leadership Team
• Banking Institutions
• Government Agencies (CSS, DGI, MITRADEL)
• External Auditors
• Nord Anglia Regional HR and Finance Teams

• Coordinate and manage the complete payroll cycle, ensuring payroll is processed accurately, confidentially, and within established deadlines.
• Review and validate all payroll transactions, including new hires, salary adjustments, promotions, transfers, overtime, leave, benefits, deductions, and employee terminations.
• Verify that all payroll transactions are supported by the appropriate approvals before processing.
• Maintain complete and accurate payroll records and employee compensation information.
• Generate payroll reports, reconciliations, and supporting documentation for management review and approval.
• Process payroll payments through ACH and coordinate payroll banking activities.
• Generate employee payslips and payroll communications.
• Ensure payroll funding is available prior to each payroll cycle.
• Prepare and submit all statutory payroll obligations, including SIPE, CSS, Educational Insurance, Income Tax, DGI Form 03, PROFUTURO, and other applicable government filings.
• Perform payroll reconciliations, payroll provisions, vacation accrual reconciliations, and payroll-related General Ledger reconciliations.
• Maintain payroll documentation in accordance with audit and internal control requirements.
• Support internal and external audits by providing payroll documentation and supporting reports.

• Work closely with the Human Resources Department to ensure all employee movements are accurately reflected in payroll.
• Process payroll transactions related to onboarding, promotions, salary adjustments, organizational changes, benefits administration, leave management, and employee separations.
• Maintain accurate employee payroll information within Success Factors and the payroll system.
• Ensure payroll information remains current, complete, and aligned with approved HR documentation.
• Maintain accurate payroll and employee compensation data to support the preparation of the annual budget and periodic forecasts.
• Respond to payroll-related inquiries from employees in a professional, timely, and confidential manner.
• Prepare employment verifications, salary certifications, payroll letters, and other payroll-related documentation as required.
• Maintain the highest level of confidentiality regarding employee compensation and personal information.

• Ensure compliance with Panamanian labor legislation, tax regulations, Social Security requirements, and Nord Anglia Education policies and procedures.
• Maintain effective payroll controls to minimize operational and compliance risks.
• Identify opportunities to improve payroll processes, system efficiencies,…