Global Payroll Manager

Position Summary
The Global Payroll Manager is responsible for the accurate, timely, compliant, and efficient administration of payroll operations across multiple countries and jurisdictions. This role oversees end-to-end global payroll processes, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time while maintaining compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and international payroll regulations.
The Global Payroll Manager partners closely with Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, Benefits, HRIS, Legal, and external payroll providers to deliver a seamless payroll experience and continuously improve payroll processes, systems, controls, and reporting.
This position will play a key role in scaling global payroll operations, implementing automation, strengthening internal controls, and ensuring payroll data and processes support the organization's broader people and financial strategies.
Key Responsibilities
Global Payroll Operations
Manage end-to-end payroll processing for employees across multiple countries, including regular payroll, off-cycle payments, bonuses, commissions, equity-related payments, and other supplemental compensation.
Ensure payroll is processed accurately and on schedule in accordance with established payroll calendars.
Oversee payroll activities across the United States and international locations, coordinating with local payroll providers and/or Employer of Record (EOR) partners as applicable.
Establish and maintain standardized global payroll processes while accounting for country-specific requirements.
Review and approve payroll calculations, payroll registers, funding requirements, tax filings, and reconciliations.
Manage payroll escalations and resolve complex employee payroll issues in a timely and service-oriented manner.
Partner with Finance and Accounting to ensure accurate payroll accounting, accruals, journal entries, and month-end and year-end close activities.
Compliance & Risk Management
Maintain compliance with applicable payroll tax, wage and hour, statutory pay, social insurance, benefits, and employment regulations.
Monitor changes in payroll legislation and coordinate implementation of required changes.
Partner with Legal, HR, Tax, and external advisors on complex payroll compliance matters.
Ensure appropriate payroll controls, approvals, segregation of duties, and audit procedures are maintained.
Support internal, external, tax, and regulatory payroll audits.
Maintain accurate payroll records and documentation in accordance with applicable retention requirements.
Identify payroll risks and implement corrective actions to minimize compliance and financial exposure.
Payroll Systems & Technology
Serve as a key business owner for global payroll technology and integrations.
Partner with HRIS to optimize integrations between HR, payroll, timekeeping, benefits, finance, and other systems.
Identify opportunities to automate manual payroll processes and reduce operational risk.
Develop and maintain payroll controls, audit reports, validation procedures, and system workflows.
Support payroll system implementations, acquisitions, country expansions, and organizational changes.
Leverage payroll data and technology to improve accuracy, reporting, employee experience, and operational efficiency.
International Payroll
Partner with Global Mobility and HR teams on international assignments, relocations, expatriate payroll, tax equalization, and cross-border compensation matters.
Ensure appropriate payroll treatment for international transfers, new country hires, relocations, and temporary assignments.
Ensure payroll deductions, tax withholding, and reporting requirements associated with relocation and international assignments are properly administered.
Compensation, Benefits & HR Partnership
Partner with Compensation and HR teams to ensure salary changes, promotions, bonuses, commissions, equity, and other compensation actions are accurately reflected in payroll.
Coordinate with Benefits teams to ensure benefit deductions, employer contributions, and changes are accurately processed.
Partner with HR Business Partners and People Operations on employee payroll matters and organizational changes.
Establish clear processes for employee lifecycle events, including new hires, transfers, leaves of absence, relocations, and terminations.
Reporting & Analytics
Develop and maintain payroll reporting and dashboards to provide leadership with visibility into payroll costs, headcount, taxes, deductions, and other key metrics.
Analyze payroll data to identify trends, discrepancies, process gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
Provide Finance, HR, and leadership with accurate payroll forecasts and reporting.
Establish key performance indicators for payroll accuracy, timeliness, compliance, and service delivery.
Vendor & Stakeholder Management
Manage relationships with global payroll providers, tax vendors, EOR providers, consultants, and other third-party partners.
Establish service-level expectations and monitor vendor performance.
Lead regular vendor reviews and identify opportunities to improve service quality and reduce costs.
Coordinate with internal stakeholders across multiple functions and geographic regions.
Develop strong relationships with HR, Finance, Accounting, HRIS, Benefits, Global Mobility, and Legal teams.
Leadership & Process Improvement
Lead, coach, and develop payroll team members as applicable.
Establish clear goals, performance expectations, and operating standards for the payroll function.
Develop and maintain global payroll policies, procedures, process documentation, and standard operating procedures.
Continuously evaluate payroll processes for opportunities to improve efficiency, scalability, accuracy, and employee experience.
Lead or participate in cross-functional projects involving payroll, HR technology, acquisitions, international expansion, and organizational transformation.
Qualifications
Required
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
7+ years of progressive payroll experience, with significant experience managing multi-state and/or global payroll operations in EMEA.
Experience managing payroll across multiple countries and working with international payroll providers.
Strong knowledge of U.S. payroll tax requirements and familiarity with international payroll practices.
Experience with payroll systems and HRIS platforms such as Workday, ADP, UKG, Dayforce, Deel, Papaya, Rippling, or similar systems.
Strong understanding of payroll reconciliations, payroll accounting, taxes, deductions, benefits, and compliance.
Demonstrated experience managing payroll vendors and third-party providers.
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively with employees, managers, executives, Finance, HR, and external partners.
Ability to manage confidential employee and compensation information with a high degree of discretion.
Preferred
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC).
Experience with Workday Payroll or other enterprise global payroll platforms.
Experience supporting international expansion and new-country implementations.
Experience with payroll automation and HRIS integrations.
Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, or organizational integrations.
Experience working in a high-growth or technology-enabled organization.

Work arrangement
Yes