Payroll/Finance Controller Specialist

About the role

Athena is looking for a Payroll/Finance Controller Specialist to build and manage a scalable, compliant financial operation for its Guatemala office. The role bridges Finance and HR, ensuring accurate payroll processing, statutory compliance, and robust financial reporting.

Key responsibilities

• Assist the Payroll Specialist with end‑to‑end payroll processing, calculating salaries, overtime, commissions, bonuses and deductions.
• Process mandatory Guatemalan statutory payments (Bono 14, Aguinaldo, IGSS) and submit payroll tax filings.
• Reconcile payroll transactions with the General Ledger, prepare journal entries and support month‑end and year‑end close.
• Handle accounts payable in Tipalti, onboarding vendors and posting transactions in QuickBooks.
• Act as primary contact for external auditors and ensure timely statutory reporting to local authorities.
• Maintain employee payroll records in HRIS/payroll systems and support internal and external audits.
• Collaborate with HR and Finance on employee lifecycle events and resolve complex payroll inquiries.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, HR or related field with 3–5 years of payroll or finance experience.
• CPA certification highly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Guatemalan labor law, IGSS, payroll taxes and statutory bonuses.
• Native or advanced fluency in Spanish; professional proficiency in English preferred.
• Excellent attention to detail, analytical and problem‑solving abilities, and high integrity.

Required skills

• Proficiency with QuickBooks.
• Experience using Tipalti for accounts payable.
• Familiarity with Planilla or similar payroll systems.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel (formulas, pivot tables, reconciliations).