AVP, Payroll Operations

archgroup; Raleigh (NC); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Generous 401k matching

Paid Parental Leave up to 10 weeks

Job summary

archgroup is seeking an experienced Assistant Vice President (AVP), Payroll Operations, to oversee North America payroll operations. This role demands expertise in Workday Payroll and ADP SmartCompliance, ensuring accurate payroll delivery while fostering a high-performing team.

The AVP will drive payroll compliance, manage complex employee populations, and contribute to payroll modernization. The position is based in Raleigh on a hybrid schedule, allowing for both in-office and remote work.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in progressively senior payroll roles within complex North America payroll environments.
• Advanced proficiency in Workday Payroll and ADP SmartCompliance.
• Demonstrated capability managing outsourced payroll vendors and service providers.

Responsibilities

• Own North America payroll operations, ensuring accurate payroll delivery.
• Lead payroll operations leaders, focusing on talent development.
• Establish and govern payroll compliance for employee populations.

Skills

Workday Payroll

ADP SmartCompliance

Payroll tax compliance

People leadership

Global mobility payroll concepts

Equity and ESPP payroll reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field

Job description

With a company culture rooted in collaboration, expertise and innovation, we aim to promote progress and inspire our clients, employees, investors and communities to achieve their greatest potential. Our work is the catalyst that helps others achieve their goals. In short, We Enable Possibility.

The Assistant Vice President (AVP), Payroll Operations is a senior payroll leader responsible for the execution of North America payroll operations, ensuring accurate, compliant, and scalable payroll delivery. Reporting to the Vice President, Payroll & Equity Operations, this role serves as a critical link between strategy and execution, with accountability for operational performance, governance, and risk management. The AVP advances service excellence and payroll modernization in support of business growth, leveraging deep expertise in Workday Payroll and ADP SmartCompliance.

This role would be a great fit for candidates who have previous payroll leadership experience from a publicly traded company, with exposure to equity plans and ESPP. Experience in Workday and ADP Smart Compliance is required.

This role will sit in the Raleigh office on a hybrid schedule, with two days in the office, and three days remote.

Job Responsibilities

• Own North America payroll operations, ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll delivery across all entities and pay groups
• Lead payroll operations leaders, with accountability for results, talent development, and sustained service excellence
• Establish and govern payroll controls, risk management practices, audit readiness, and SOX compliance
• Direct payroll compliance for complex employee populations, including global mobility, expatriate, and cross‑border tax scenarios, ensuring accurate sourcing, withholding, and reporting
• Ensure effective execution of payroll tax operations, including tax filings, reconciliations, and end‑to‑end resolution of tax notices and inquiries
• Serve as the senior functional owner for Workday Payroll and ADP SmartCompliance, ensuring disciplined system use, strong controls, and timely delivery of regulatory updates and enhancements
• Oversee payroll processing of share‑based compensation taxable events, with specific expertise in payroll tax reporting obligations related to stock options, restricted stock, and ESPP transactions
• Maintain alignment between payroll processing, general ledger mapping, and financial reporting requirements, with strong understanding of accounting impacts
• Monitor and analyze payroll KPIs and operational metrics to drive performance, transparency, and continuous improvement
• Drive process standardization, scalability, and control enhancements to strengthen payroll operations and the employee payroll experience
• Shape and implement operational priorities within the Payroll team to ensure they support overall departmental goals and organizational requirements

Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent education and background
• 10+ years in progressively senior payroll roles within complex North America payroll environments
• Advanced proficiency in Workday Payroll and ADP SmartCompliance
• Strong command of payroll tax compliance requirements, including filings, audits, and notice resolution
• Comprehensive knowledge of global mobility and cross‑border payroll concepts, including expatriate taxation and related compliance considerations
• Background supporting equity and ESPP payroll reporting for a publicly traded company
• Proven people leadership capability, including leading managers and developing high‑performing teams
• Demonstrated capability managing outsourced payroll vendors and service providers, with focus on service quality, compliance, and issue resolution

Benefits

Arch offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes multiple medical plans plus dental, vision and prescription drug coverage; a competitive 401k with generous matching; PTO beginning at 20 days per year; up to 12 paid company holidays per year plus 2 paid days of Volunteer Time Offer; basic Life and AD&D Insurance as well as Short and Long-Term Disability; Paid Parental Leave up to 10 weeks; Student Loan Assistance and Tuition Reimbursement, Backup Child and Elder Care; and more.