HR & Payroll Consultant

Job Purpose

As an HR & Payroll Consultant , you will act as a trusted advisor to a portfolio of clients across the UAE , delivering end-to-end HR advisory, compliance, and payroll outsourcing services. This role goes beyond operational HR—focusing on risk management, regulatory compliance, process optimisation, and strategic workforce advisory .

You will support clients ranging from SMEs to growing corporate groups , ensuring alignment with UAE Labour Law, WPS requirements, immigration regulations, and best practice HR frameworks , while delivering accurate and scalable payroll solutions.

Key Responsibilities

Client Advisory & Relationship Management

• Act as the primary point of contact for assigned client portfolio on HR, payroll, and workforce compliance matters.
• Build long-term trusted relationships with key client stakeholders (owners, finance teams, HR leads).
• Provide practical, commercially focused HR advice tailored to UAE market conditions.
• Lead regular client review meetings, providing insights, risk updates, and improvement recommendations.
  
  
  

HR Advisory & Compliance

• Advise clients on UAE Labour Law (Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021) and related regulations.
• Support clients in:
• Employment contracts (mainland & free zone)
• Employee classifications and benefits structuring
• Terminations, disciplinary processes, and grievance handling
• Leave policies, EOSB (End of Service Benefits), and compensation frameworks
  
• Conduct HR health checks / compliance reviews and provide actionable remediation plans.
• Develop and implement HR policies, employee handbooks, and SOPs aligned with UAE legal requirements.
• Support immigration and visa-related HR processes (in coordination with PRO/CSP teams).
  
  

Payroll Management & Processing

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing for multiple clients, including:
• Salary calculations, allowances, deductions
• Overtime, commissions, and bonus structures
• Leave salary and EOSB calculations
  
• Ensure compliance with Wages Protection System (WPS) requirements.
• Coordinate payroll outputs including:
• Payslips
• WPS file preparation
• Bank transfer reports
• Perform payroll reconciliations and resolve discrepancies proactively.
• Maintain strong controls to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and audit readiness of payroll data.
  
  
  
Systems, Automation & Process Improvement


• Implement and manage HRMS / payroll systems (e.g., Zoho People, Zoho Books, or similar platforms).
• Identify opportunities to automate payroll and HR workflows to improve efficiency and reduce risk.
• Develop standardised templates, trackers, and dashboards for client reporting.
• Support integration of HR/payroll systems with accounting and finance platforms.
  
  
  
Reporting & Insights

• Prepare and deliver monthly HR and payroll reports, including:
• Headcount analysis
• Payroll summaries
• Cost analysis and trends
• Provide clients with actionable insights on workforce costs, productivity, and compliance risks.
• Support clients with audit requests, documentation, and regulatory submissions.
  
  
  
Business Development & Growth

• Identify opportunities for:
• Upselling HR services
• Cross-selling related services (accounting, tax, corporate services)
• Support proposal development, client onboarding, and solution design.
• Contribute to thought leadership content (guides, articles, webinars) on HR and payroll topics in the UAE.
  
  
  
Internal Collaboration

• Work closely with:
• Accounting & Tax teams (for payroll postings, provisions, compliance)
• Corporate Services teams (for visas, licensing, labour files)
• Technology teams (for system implementations and integrations)
• Contribute to continuous improvement of firm-wide service delivery standards.
  
  
  

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field
• Minimum 2–4 years of experience in HR and payroll, preferably within:
• Professional services / consulting firms
• Outsourced HR/payroll environments
  
• Strong working knowledge of:
• UAE Labour Law
• WPS regulations
• EOSB calculations and payroll compliance
  
• Experience handling multiple clients or entities simultaneously
  
  

Technical Skills

• Hands-on experience with:
• Payroll systems and HRMS platforms (Zoho, Bayzat, ZenHR or similar)
  
• Strong proficiency in:
• Microsoft Excel (advanced preferred – payroll reconciliations, trackers)
• Reporting and data analysis
  
• Familiarity with UAE compliance frameworks and documentation standards
  
  

Core Competencies

• Strong consultative and client delivery mindset
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
• High attention to detail and accuracy in payroll processing
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and client priorities
• Strong problem-solving and analytical capabilities
• High level of confidentiality and professional integrity
  
  
  

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English (written and verbal) is mandatory
• Arabic is an advantage
  
  
  

What Success Looks Like In This Role

• Clients view you as a trusted HR and payroll advisor
• Payroll is consistently accurate, compliant, and delivered on time
• HR risks for clients are proactively identified and mitigated
• Strong client retention and growth in service scope
• Contribution to building a scalable HR outsourcing practice within the firm