Global Director of Payroll

BENTLEY SYSTEMS, INC.; Durley; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Bentley Systems is seeking a Global Director of Payroll to lead payroll operations across 50 countries. This role involves strategic leadership, ensuring compliance, and optimizing processes in payroll systems. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience and demonstrated leadership in a global context, making it crucial to align payroll strategies with the company’s corporate objectives.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive experience in global payroll leadership roles.
• Expertise in international payroll compliance and regulatory environments.
• Demonstrated success in leading large-scale payroll transformations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a global payroll strategy across 50 countries.
• Oversee payroll processing ensuring compliance with local labor laws.
• Manage a global team of payroll professionals and third-party providers.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder Management

Global Payroll Compliance

Process Optimization

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

HCM Platforms (e.g., Workday, Dayforce)

Job description

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The Global Director of Payroll will lead and oversee the global payroll operations spanning 50 countries. This role is responsible for ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant payroll processing across all regions, aligning payroll strategy with corporate objectives, managing global payroll vendors, and leading transformation initiatives to enhance scalability and efficiency. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in global payroll, regulatory compliance, and leadership in complex, high-volume environments.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a global payroll strategy that supports the company’s growth and compliance needs across approximately 50 countries
• Partner with Finance, HR, Legal, and Tax teams to align payroll operations with broader corporate goals and objectives

Global Operations Oversight

• Oversee payroll processing for all global employees, ensuring timely and accurate disbursement in compliance with local labor laws, regulations, and statutory reporting
• Oversee payroll-related benefits deductions and retirement plan withholdings across locations, ensuring compliance with local statutory requirements and seamless integration with benefits administration platforms
• Process and report on equity incentive plans such as RSU’s and ESPP’s, as well as tax withholding and compliance
• Manage a global team of payroll professionals and third-party providers to deliver consistent, high-quality service
• Lead payroll integrations related to M&A activity, new country expansion, and system implementations

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, tax, and labor requirements across jurisdictions, including SOX controls, GDPR, and local withholding/taxation rules
• Own the preparation and oversight of external payroll audits and financial audits and coordinate with internal audit and external auditors

Process Optimization & Technology

• Identify and implement process improvements, automation opportunities, and best practices in payroll systems and reporting
• Collaborate with IT and Finance on system upgrades and the deployment of a global payroll platform
• Ensure payroll costs are accurately reported and in collaboration with Finance, reconciled in the general ledger
• Provide executive leadership with regular payroll metrics, insights, and compliance updates
• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing, geographically dispersed payroll team
• Foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
• Promote cross-functional collaboration with internal stakeholders (HR, Finance, Legal, etc.) to achieve payroll objectives and enhance overall efficiency
• Demonstrate leadership through a ‘one-team’ mentality and a growth mindset

Skills/Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 15+ years of progressive experience in global payroll leadership roles, with responsibility across multiple countries
• Expertise in international payroll compliance, tax, and regulatory environments in all global regions (North America, EMEA, LATAM, and APAC)
• Demonstrated success in leading large-scale payroll transformations
• Experience in a publicly traded environment with strong understanding of SOX and internal controls
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Proficiency in global HCM and ERP platforms (e.g., Workday, Dayforce)
• Requires sitting or standing at will while performing work on a computer

About Bentley Systems

Bentley Systems (Nasdaq: BSY) is theinfrastructure engineering softwarecompany. We provide innovative software to advance the world’s infrastructure – sustaining both the global economy and environment. Our industry-leading software solutions are used by professionals, and organizations of every size, for the design, construction, and operations of roads and bridges, rail and transit, water and wastewater, public works and utilities, buildings and campuses, mining, and industrial facilities. Our offerings, powered by theiTwinPlatform for infrastructure digital twins, includeMicroStationandBentley Openapplications for modeling and simulation,Seequent’ssoftware for geoprofessionals, andBentley Infrastructure CloudencompassingProjectWisefor project delivery,SYNCHROfor construction management, andAssetWisefor asset operations. Bentley Systems’ 5,200 colleagues generate annual revenues of more than $1 billion in 194 countries.
www.bentley.com

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Bentley is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, pregnancy, protected veteran status, religion, national origin, age, genetic information or any other protected characteristic. This commitment extends to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, compensation, and training.Know Your Rights as an applicant under the law.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Bentley is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. We encourage you to request a reasonable accommodation if you are not able to fully use or access our online application system. You can make an accommodation request by calling 610-458-5000 or sending us an email at [e-mail]

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