Director of Payroll

Airbus Aircraft; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Incentive compensation

ESOP

Generous PTO & parental leave

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Airbus Commercial Aircraft is seeking a Director of Payroll in Herndon, VA to lead the payroll function for Airbus Americas and affiliates. You will guide a payroll team, partner with HR and finance leaders, and drive standardized, world-class payroll solutions.

The role emphasizes leadership, compliance, and process improvement in a dynamic, international environment. A Bachelor’s with extensive experience is required; a Master’s is preferred. Travel and relocation may be necessary.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Finance, Business Administration or related field.
• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Tax Law or International Law preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead payroll team direction, development and maintenance.
• Coach and mentor payroll staff and build bench strength.
• Define payroll strategy for integrations and acquisitions.
• Ensure compliance with labor laws and internal controls.
• Oversee data security and payroll KPI achievement.
• Collaborate with stakeholders on HRIS/payroll improvements.

Skills

Payroll leadership

HR/Finance experience

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/Finance/Business

Master's degree preferred

Tools

HRIS/Payroll systems

Job description

Airbus Commercial Aircraft is looking for a Director of Payroll to join our Human Resources team based in Herndon, VA.

As Director of Payroll , you are a vital member of the Payroll and broader HR team. Together with your team and key stakeholders, you will re-define, standardize and operationalize payroll solutions for Airbus Americas and affiliates, ensuring we deliver a world-class pay experience. Reporting into the Head of HR & Work Place Shared Services, you will lead, and be supported by, a team of engaged and enthusiastic payroll professionals. The ideal candidate will thrive in a collaborative, high-energy environment focused on employee development and lifelong learning. Together we can Make It Fly.

Meet the Team:

Working in our Human Resources department, it’s our mission to help support Airbus’ greatest assets: our team members. Our team works cross-departmentally as well as with our global counterparts to ensure we are making a positive impact on all aspects of our employee experience.

The Washington, D.C. metro area is home to multiple Airbus offices: In our nation’s capital you will find the Airbus Experience Center, a collection of interactive, multimedia exhibitions highlighting the extensive role the company plays in the aviation, aerospace and defense industries in the U.S. and around the world. The D.C. area is also home to our regional corporate headquarters – located adjacent to Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) - it makes flying in a breeze!

How We Care for You:

• Financial Rewards: Competitive base salary, incentive compensation which may include profit sharing schemes, retirement savings plan and the ability to participate in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”)
• Work/Life Balance: Paid time off including personal time, holidays and a generous paid parental leave program.
• Health & Welfare: Comprehensive insurance coverage including medical (traditional and high-deductible health plans), prescription, dental, vision, life, disability, Employee Assistance Plan (“EAP”) and other supplemental benefit coverages.
• Individual Development: Upskilling and development opportunities through our global Leadership University, including unlimited access to 10,000+ e-learning courses focusing on ways to develop your employability, certifications, career path as well as the opportunity to participate in accelerated development programmes and both national and international mobility.

Primary Responsibilities

Leadership: 30%

• Overall responsibility for the payroll team direction, development, performance and maintenance within the organization
• Coach, mentor and provide leadership to payroll team members in order to optimize operational excellence and create a deeper bench of experienced talent
• Create and implement training for organization-wide staff on use of the existing and new systems
• Maintain payroll staff by recruiting, selecting, orienting and training
• Foster relationships with senior internal stakeholders by establishing and maintaining exceptional business relationships

Project Management: 25%

• Responsible for coordinating and managing the integration of acquisitions for payroll purposes
• Create and maintain project plans, risk logs, and other reporting to keep team and leadership informed
• Diagnose issues and payroll design needs; make recommendations to improve efficiency and effectiveness within HRIS and payroll systems for upcoming integrations
• Partner with team members to develop procedures for new and unique business needs
• Collaborate with broader internal and external project stakeholders to manage full life-cycle implementation of the payroll, time off, and time and attendance systems in support of business initiatives
• Define and manage strategy for the payroll operations function (e.g., payroll, timekeeping, payroll tax, and payroll accounting/GL integration)
• Partner closely with internal and external partners on strategic opportunities and enabling technologies
• Critically review and analyze current practices and organizational effectiveness to identify improvement opportunities leading to best-practice
• Provide effective negotiation, collaboration and change management while working with internal and external stakeholders

Compliance: 20%

• Establish and maintain policies, procedures and internal controls that ensure accuracy, labor law adherence and 100% regulatory compliance
• Provide audit and oversight to the teams’ activities and processes, ensuring that pertinent internal and external compliance and government interaction standards are met
• Ensure service standards are met and in line with service level agreements on all Payroll KPI’s
• Ensure data security and integrity

Other duties as assigned: 5%

Your Boarding Pass:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Finance, Business Administration or related field
• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Tax Law or International Law preferred

Experience

• 10+ years of payroll experience with increasing responsibility
• 15+ years of progressive HR and/or finance experience
• 5+ years of leadership experience
• Payroll tax experience preferred
• Payroll implementation experience preferred
• Experience working in a multi-functional international environment preferred

Preferred Licensure/Certifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)
• PHR, SPHR or SHRM certifications

Travel Required

• 10% domestic
• Authorized to Work in the US

Physical Requirements

• Onsite: 100%
• Vision: Daily able to see and read computer screens and other electronic equipment with screens, able to read documents, reports and engineering drawings.
• Hearing: Daily able to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone and to hear sounds on the production floor including safety warnings or alarms.
• Speaking: Daily able to speak in conversations and meetings, deliver information and participate in communications.
• Equipment Operation (personal computer, telephone, copies, fax machine, and related office equipment and using electronic identification card to enter building floors and internal doors): Daily able to operate most office and personal electronic equipment and some tools including production tools such as hydraulic lifts.
• Carrying: Several times a week able to carry documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs.
• Lifting: Several times a week able to lift documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs.
• Pushing / Pulling: Several times a week able to push and pull small office furniture and some equipment and tools.
• Sitting: Daily able to sit for long periods of time in meetings, working on the computer.
• Squatting / Kneeling: Several times a month able to squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items stored on low shelving.
• Standing: Daily able to stand for discussions in offices or on the production floor.
• Travel: Rarely able to travel independently and at short notice.
• Walking (include routine walking such as to a shared printer to retrieve documents): Daily able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces.
• Appropriate hearing/eye protection may also be required when visiting the shop floor

Salary range:

Salary range based on the required profile: $165,000.00 - 200,000.00/year. Actual minimum and maximum may vary based on geographic differential. Individual pay is based on skills, experience, and other relevant factors. This position offers the following benefits: Medical insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, Prescription insurance, Employee Assistance Program, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Basic & Voluntary Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, Short and Long-term Disability insurance, 401(k), Paid time off including paid holidays, Tuition Assistance, Bonus(es) subject to performance criteria. These are our current benefit offerings for the current plan year and are subject to change without notice..

A full job description will be provided to candidates who progress to the interview stage or any candidate upon request.