Senior Manager, Global Payroll

Job description

**This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Manager, Global Payroll based in United States.** As Senior Manager, Global Payroll, you will lead and scale global payroll operations across multiple countries, entities, and pay structures. You will own the end-to-end payroll operating model, ensuring every cycle is accurate, timely, compliant, and employee-centered. Working closely with Finance, Accounting, People, Legal, IT, Total Rewards, and external providers, you will strengthen controls and build scalable processes for a growing global workforce. The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution across payroll systems, compliance, reconciliations, reporting, and vendor management. You will also drive automation and responsibly explore AI-enabled tools to improve efficiency, reporting, and employee support. As a trusted payroll leader, you will help shape a high-performing function while navigating complex global requirements and sensitive employee matters. ### Accountabilities: - Own the end-to-end global payroll operating model, including calendars, standard operating procedures, data inputs, approvals, processing, funding, reconciliations, reporting, and issue resolution. - Lead U.S. and international payroll operations across multiple countries, entities, pay frequencies, and local requirements, ensuring every payroll cycle is accurate, timely, and complete. - Manage third-party payroll providers, EOR partners, and local payroll specialists, holding them accountable for service quality, compliance, deadlines, and issue resolution. - Establish and maintain strong payroll controls, review procedures, reconciliations, and audit-ready documentation covering employee data, taxes, deductions, benefits, equity, commissions, bonuses, and off-cycle payments. - Partner with People Operations and Total Rewards to ensure hires, terminations, transfers, promotions, compensation changes, benefits, leaves, and other employee lifecycle events are accurately reflected in payroll. - Work closely with Accounting on payroll reconciliations, journal entries, accruals, balance sheet accounts, cash funding, and month-end close activities. - Partner with Stock Administration to ensure equity transactions, vesting, exercises, and related taxable compensation are accurately processed and reported. - Collaborate with Legal and external advisors on payroll taxes, statutory requirements, registrations, wage and hour matters, audits, year-end reporting, and regulatory changes. - Serve as the senior escalation point for complex payroll issues, investigating root causes and communicating clear resolutions to stakeholders and affected employees. - Lead payroll audits and year-end processes, including W-2s, tax filings, statutory reporting, reconciliations, and other required employee and government reporting. - Evaluate and improve payroll systems, HRIS integrations, workflows, and reporting to reduce manual effort, strengthen data quality, and increase operational visibility. - Partner with IT and business stakeholders on system enhancements, integrations, provider transitions, entity launches, and other initiatives that improve scalability and employee experience. - Define and monitor payroll performance metrics, including accuracy, timeliness, exceptions, issue resolution, provider performance, reconciliations, and audit findings. - Analyze payroll trends, prepare forecasts and workforce-cost projections, investigate discrepancies, and provide clear reporting to Finance and leadership. - Improve the employee payroll experience by responding to questions, resolving issues promptly, and communicating clearly about payroll timelines and changes. - Identify opportunities to responsibly use automation and AI-enabled tools to enhance payroll operations, reporting, controls, and employee support. - Lead, mentor, and develop payroll team members and external partners while establishing clear accountability and a culture of operational excellence. - Act as a trusted partner to Finance and People leadership, balancing strong governance with practical, business-oriented problem solving. **Requirements:** - 10+ years of progressive payroll experience, including significant leadership experience overseeing global payroll operations in a multi-entity organization. - Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience; CPP certification is preferred. - Demonstrated experience managing U.S. and international payroll across multiple countries, pay frequencies, payroll providers, EOR partners, and local specialists. - Strong knowledge of U.S. payroll tax requirements, statutory obligations, year-end reporting, wage and hour considerations, benefits deductions, equity, commissions, and payroll accounting. - Hands-on experience processing or reviewing bonuses, commissions, equity compensation, off-cycle payments, and other non-recurring payroll transactions. - Experience with payroll platforms such as ADP and a proven track record of leading payroll implementations, migrations, integrations, or major system enhancements. - Demonstrated success designing and improving payroll controls, reconciliations, audit processes, documentation, and standard operating procedures. - Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to investigate variances, identify root causes, and recommend effective solutions. - Proven ability to collaborate cross-functionally and influence outcomes across Finance, Accounting, People, Legal, IT, Total Rewards, and business leadership. - Sound judgment and discretion when handling sensitive employee information and time-critical payroll matters. - Ability to move comfortably between strategic leadership and detailed execution with a high degree of ownership. - Experience working across multiple regions and time zones in a fast-paced, evolving environment. **Benefits:** - Base salary ranging from $116,000 to $187,000 USD depending on geographic pay zone. - 15% target bonus included across all geographic zones. - Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). - Health, vision, and dental insurance. - Mental health benefits. - Compensation determined based on factors including skills, experience, and location. - Opportunity to lead a global payroll function within a high-growth technology environment. - Collaborative culture emphasizing teamwork, transparency, respect, and trust. - Equal opportunity workplace committed to diversity and inclusion.