Global Payroll & Benefits Specialist

Job Description

Here at Rakuten Kobo Inc. we offer a casual working start-up environment and a group of friendly and talented individuals. Our employees rank us highly in terms of commitment to work/life balance. We realize that for our people to be innovative, creative and passionate they need to feel valued and supported. We believe in rewarding all our employees with competitive salaries, performance based annual bonuses, stock options and training opportunities.

If you’re looking for a company that inspires passion, personal, and professional growth – join Kobo and come help us on our mission of making reading lives better.

Are you a meticulously organized and customer‑centric payroll and benefits professional with a global mindset? Rakuten Kobo is seeking a highly skilled Global Payroll & Benefits Specialist to join our dynamic team. In this pivotal role, you will be instrumental in ensuring the accurate, compliant, and timely processing of payroll and administration of benefits for our diverse global workforce. If you thrive in a fast‑paced environment, possess a keen eye for detail, and are passionate about delivering an exceptional employee experience, we encourage you to apply!

• Global Payroll and Benefits Administration
  • Own and manage all aspects of the assigned payroll cycles, including new hires, terminations, other employee changes, on a timely and efficient manner.
  • Work collaboratively to be a secondary audit on other payroll cycles administered within the team.
  • Administer and maintain group benefits plans globally, including processing enrolments, terminations, amendments, and qualifying life events.
  • Reconcile and process monthly benefits plan billing, ensuring timely and accurate payments.
• Employee Support & Relations
  • Serve as a primary point of contact for employee, manager, and third‑party inquiries related to payroll and benefits, providing clear, concise, and empathetic responses.
  • Cultivate strong relationships with payroll and benefits providers, acting as the key liaison for technical issues and service improvements.
  • Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders, including HR Business Partners, Finance, and Legal, to ensure seamless integration and communication of payroll and benefits information.
  • Act as a trusted advisor to Employee Experience Team, managers, and International HR partners on payroll and benefits‑related matters, supporting employee relations and understanding.
• Compliance, Reporting & Risk Management
  • Lead and execute all year‑end global payroll tasks, including preparation and filing of tax forms, annual reconciliations, and regulatory returns.
  • Generate and provide comprehensive payroll reports and files for month‑end accounting/reporting to the Finance team.
  • Generate and analyze payroll and benefits data to identify trends, support decision‑making, and contribute to the optimization of programs.
  • Prepare insightful reports for management on payroll costs, benefits utilization, and other key metrics.
  • Ensure payroll and benefits processes adhere to all local, national, and international regulatory requirements and internal policies.
  • Proactively monitor changes in global payroll and benefits legislation, tax laws, and compliance requirements, advising on necessary adjustments to mitigate risk.
  • Collaborate with third‑party tax and legal consultants/auditors to ensure adherence to local regulations in all jurisdictions.
• Global Expansion & Special Projects
  • Actively participate in the implementation of new country payrolls and benefits programs as Rakuten Kobo expands its global footprint.
  • Process expatriate payroll changes and coordinate annual tax return filings with our tax providers and the Rakuten Global Mobility team.
  • Manage and update payroll contributions for global voluntary retirement programs.
• Continuous Improvement & Process Optimization
  • Identify and recommend opportunities for process improvements and automation within payroll and benefits operations.
  • Routinely audit payroll and benefits processes and data, investigating and resolving discrepancies to maintain data integrity and ensure accuracy.
  • Review, develop and maintain…