Global Payroll Lead (Manager)

Willow Search Partners; Connecticut; Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Willow Search Partners client seeks a Global Payroll Lead (Manager) to join the HR team. Hybrid: 3-4 days onsite in Fairfield County, CT. Hands-on role with US and international payroll.

Ideal candidate has 7–10+ years in U.S. and global payroll, strong ADP and Workday experience, and leads payroll across multiple countries, partnering with HR/Finance to ensure compliant, timely payroll operations.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years of progressive experience in U.S. and global payroll.
• Experience managing multi-state U.S. payroll.
• Experience across multiple international countries and jurisdictions.
• Experience with ADP and Workday; Workday Payroll a plus.
• Advanced Excel and data analysis skills.
• Strong communication, organization, and confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end U.S. and global payroll across multiple countries.
• Coordinate payroll inputs, processing, validation, and post-payroll activities.
• Manage payroll funding, accounting entries, and reporting with Finance.
• Handle U.S. payroll tax requirements and year-end reporting.
• Maintain payroll calendars and deadlines.
• Partner with HR and Finance on payroll initiatives.
• Support Workday time tracking and PTO reporting.
• Identify process improvements to streamline payroll.

Skills

Payroll leadership

Multi-state payroll

Global payroll

ADP

Workday

Excel

Data analysis

Attention to detail

Time management

Communication skills

Tools

ADP Payroll System

Workday Payroll

Job description

Our client, a global financial services firm, is seeking an experienced Global Payroll Lead (Manager) to join its Human Resources team.

Hybrid: 3-4 days onsite in Fairfield County, CT

Must have experience with ADP & Workday Payroll

About the Role:

This is a hands-on, highly autonomous role with direct responsibility for the day-to-day execution and oversight of U.S. and international payroll.

The ideal candidate will bring significant experience managing complex, multi-state and global payroll processes and will be comfortable operating with a high degree of independence. This individual will serve as a key payroll subject matter expert, partnering closely with HR, Finance, employees, payroll providers, and international resources to ensure accurate, timely, compliant, and efficient payroll operations.

This is an excellent opportunity for a payroll professional who enjoys end-to-end ownership, global payroll complexity, process improvement, and working in a sophisticated financial-services environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and execute end-to-end U.S. and global payroll processes across multiple countries, including payroll inputs, employee changes, processing, validation, review, approval, and post-payroll activities.
• Manage payroll activities across approximately 7+ countries, partnering with international payroll resources and local providers to ensure accurate and timely processing.
• Review payroll outputs for accuracy, investigate and resolve discrepancies, and complete payroll reconciliations.
• Coordinate payroll funding, accounting entries, reporting, and related activities in partnership with Finance.
• Manage U.S. federal, state, and local payroll tax requirements, including multi-state taxation, registrations, filings, notices, and year-end reporting.
• Maintain payroll calendars and ensure all processing deadlines, statutory requirements, year-end activities, tax filings, and audit requests are completed accurately and on time.
• Manage relationships with global payroll vendors and local providers, including data submissions, issue resolution, service delivery, and ongoing process improvements.
• Partner with international payroll resources to manage workflow, resolve issues, and maintain consistent payroll processes across jurisdictions.
• Develop and maintain payroll policies, procedures, process documentation, and internal controls to support accuracy, consistency, compliance, and audit readiness.
• Administer and support Workday time tracking, including monitoring PTO accuracy, developing reports and audits, and responding to employee questions.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for employee payroll and time-tracking inquiries, providing timely, professional, and solutions-oriented support.
• Support expansion into new U.S. states and/or countries, payroll implementations, vendor transitions, and other payroll-related projects.
• Identify opportunities to streamline, automate, and strengthen payroll processes, controls, reporting, and systems.
• Partner closely with HR and Finance on payroll-related initiatives, audits, reporting, and process improvements.
• Support broader HR Operations initiatives as needed.

What You’ll Bring

• 7–10+ years of progressive experience in U.S. and global payroll, including significant hands-on processing experience.
• Strong experience independently managing multi-state U.S. payroll and a thorough understanding of U.S. payroll taxation, deductions, compliance, and year-end reporting.
• Demonstrated experience managing payroll across multiple international countries and jurisdictions.
• Experience working with international payroll vendors and/or outsourced payroll resources.
• Strong experience with ADP and Workday required; Workday Payroll experience is a plus.
• Strong understanding of payroll reconciliations, funding, payroll accounting, reporting, and controls.
• Advanced Excel and data analysis skills with the ability to work confidently with large, detailed datasets.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively and independently in a fast-paced, high-demand environment.
• Strong judgment, professionalism, discretion, and commitment to confidentiality.
• Demonstrated ability to identify process gaps and implement practical improvements.