Director, Global Payroll

Neurocrine Biosciences; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 181,000 - 246,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement plan

Paid vacation

Medical leave

Health benefits

Parental leave

Personal days

Job summary

Neurocrine Biosciences is seeking a strategic payroll leader to direct the global payroll program for the U.S. and international populations. You will partner with HR, Finance, Tax, and Legal to ensure accurate, timely payroll delivery and scalable operating models across markets.

The role requires deep expertise in U.S. payroll operations, regulatory reporting, and complex compensation, with a track record in governance and cross‑functional leadership at the executive level.

Qualifications

• Broad expertise in U.S. payroll operations, wage and hour rules, payroll taxation, regulatory reporting, payroll accounting, and complex compensation structures.
• Experience leading international or multi-country payroll operations, with governance of local statutory requirements, compliance obligations and third‑party provider models.
• Strong executive‑level communication skills with the ability to influence senior leadership on payroll strategy, risk, and priorities.

Responsibilities

• Develops and directs the global payroll strategy and operating model for U.S. and international populations, aligned with growth and needs.
• Leads the payroll organization and vendors, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll delivery including bonuses, equity, mobility, and complex pay arrangements.
• Oversees SOX controls, audit readiness, risk management, data privacy, and remediation of control issues in the payroll function.

Job description

Who We Are:Neurocrine Biosciences is a leading biopharmaceutical company with a simple purpose: to relieve suffering for people with great needs. We are dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing life-changing treatments for patients with under-addressed neurological, psychiatric, endocrine and immunological disorders. The company's diverse portfolio includes FDA-approved treatments for tardive dyskinesia, chorea associated with Huntington's disease, classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hyperphagia in Prader-Willi syndrome, endometriosis* and uterine fibroids*, as well as a robust pipeline including multiple compounds in mid- to late-phase clinical development across our core therapeutic areas. For more than three decades, we have applied our unique insight into neuroscience and the interconnections between brain and body systems to treat complex conditions. We relentlessly pursue medicines to ease the burden of debilitating diseases and disorders, because you deserve brave science. For more information, visit neurocrine.com, and follow the company on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and YouTube. (*in collaboration with AbbVie)At Neurocrine, strong leadership drives both business results and team success. We look for leaders who think strategically, anticipate what’s ahead and set clear direction, while building and empowering high-performing teams. Successful leaders foster an environment where people are motivated to do their best work and deliver meaningful, measurable impact through sound decision-making and accountability.About the Role:Provides strategic leadership and governance for the Company's U.S. and international payroll operations. Develops and directs the global payroll strategy and operating model and is accountable for the performance and results of the payroll sub-function, including accurate, timely, and compliant payroll delivery; a scalable global operating model; leadership of the payroll team and third-party providers; and effective systems, controls, reporting, and service. Partners with Human Resources, Finance, Tax, Treasury, Legal, Stock Administration, and Information Technology to support employees, business growth, and evolving regulatory requirements._Your Contributions (include, but are not limited to):• Develops and executes the multi-year global payroll strategy and operating model for U.S. and international employee populations, aligned with business growth and employee needs• Leads, develops, and retains the payroll organization; sets organizational priorities and performance expectations; builds leadership and technical capability; establishes clear accountability, service standards, succession plans, and a culture of operational excellence• Provides strategic oversight and escalation leadership for accurate and timely payroll delivery, including regular and off-cycle payrolls, bonuses, equity compensation, mobility-related items, garnishments, and other complex pay arrangements• Establishes and directs the governance framework for international payroll operations and third-party providers, including country-specific compliance, statutory reporting, tax withholding, social contributions, data privacy, and local filing requirements• Partners and provides cross-functional leadership across Human Resources, Total Rewards, Finance, Tax, Treasury, Legal, Stock Administration, and Information Technology, leveraging payroll expertise to influence enterprise policies, shape business decisions, and drive organizational change; leads payroll workstreams for transactions and other significant business initiatives; and advises senior leadership on payroll strategy, performance, risk, controls, and priorities• Directs payroll compliance, tax governance, year-end reporting, regulatory filings, and audit support across applicable jurisdictions; assesses regulatory developments and establishes organizational responses and control changes as needed.• Establishes and provides a strategic oversight of the payroll control environment, including SOX controls, reconciliations, segregation of duties, documentation, business continuity, and timely remediation of identified issues• Directs payroll accounting, funding, reconciliations, management reporting, and payroll treatment of equity, executive compensation, and other complex programs• Develops and directs the payroll technology strategy and roadmap; establishes governance for payroll-related systems and interfaces and drives automation, standardization, scalability, data quality, and effective access controls• Establishes vendor strategy and governance and directs relationships, contracts, service-level expectations, performance, risk, and issue escalation across domestic and international providers• Performs other duties as assignedRequirements:16+ years of relevant training, education and experience consisting of progressive payroll experience, including progressively responsible payroll leadership roles with accountability for teams, complex payroll operations, and/or multi-country payroll deliveryBS / BA degree AND 12+ years of progressive payroll experience, including 5+ years in progressively responsible payroll leadership roles with accountability for teams, complex payroll operations, and/or multi-country payroll delivery ORMaster's degree AND 10+ years of progressive payroll experience, including significant leadership responsibility for complex and/or multi-country payroll operationsCertified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification strongly preferred; global payroll certification preferred Deep expertise in U.S. payroll operations, wage and hour requirements, payroll taxation, regulatory reporting, payroll accounting, and complex compensation arrangementsDemonstrated experience leading international or multi-country payroll operations, including governance of local statutory requirements, compliance obligations and third-party provider modelsDemonstrated experience establishing and overseeing payroll governance, internal controls, SOX compliance, audit readiness, risk management, data privacy, and remediation of control or compliance issuesDemonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders, resolve complex or ambiguous issues, and exercise sound judgment on complex, sensitive, or high-risk mattersProven ability to develop functional strategy, translate business objectives into scalable operating models and multi-year roadmaps, and lead organizational change across a complex organizationDemonstrated experience leading payroll transformation and technology initiatives, including process optimization, system implementation or enhancement, HCM/financial-system integrations, automation, data integrity, interfaces, and access controls; ADP Workforce Now experience preferredExperience governing payroll platforms and HCM/financial-system integrations, with accountability for data integrity, interfaces, workflow automation, and access controls; ADP Workforce Now experience preferredExperience overseeing payroll implications of equity compensation, executive compensation, mobility, fringe benefits, and other complex compensation programs; Equity Edge Online/E*TRADE experience a plusDemonstrated ability to govern complex vendor relationships and lead large-scale, cross-functional initiatives requiring sound judgement, structured decision-making and effective change leadership Executive-level communication skills, including the ability to clearly communicate payroll strategy, operational performance, risk, and recommendations to senior leadership and other key stakeholders; demonstrated discretion in handling confidential employee and compensation informationProven people leadership experience, including developing high-performing teams, coaching and developing leaders and professionals, establishing accountability, and supporting succession and talent planning#LI-TM1Neurocrine Biosciences is an EEO/Disability/Vets employer.We are committed to building a workplace of belonging, respect, and empowerment, and we recognize there are a variety of ways to meet our requirements. We are looking for the best candidate for the job and encourage you to apply even if your experience or qualifications don’t line up to exactly what we have outlined in the job description._The annual base salary we reasonably expect to pay is $180,600.00-$246,000.00. Individual pay decisions depend on various factors, such as primary work location, complexity and responsibility of role, job duties/requirements, and relevant experience and skills. In addition, this position offers an annual bonus with a target of 35% of the earned base salary and eligibility to participate in our equity based long term incentive program. Benefits offered include a retirement savings plan (with company match), paid vacation, holiday and personal days, paid caregiver/parental and medical leave, and health benefits to include medical, prescription drug, dental and vision coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.