NA Payroll Leader: Strategy, Compliance & Growth

IDEXX; Westbrook (ME); On-site; USD 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual cash bonus

Merit-based raises

Health, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Generous paid time off

Pet insurance

Mental health resources

Employee stock purchase program

Donation matching programs

Job summary

IDEXX in Westbrook, ME is seeking a North America Payroll Manager to lead payroll across U.S. and Canada, partner with HR and Finance, and steer a multi-country payroll function.

You will build a high-performing team, drive accuracy and compliance, implement automation and AI, manage budgets, and align payroll strategy with broader HR goals. This role offers a competitive package and the chance to influence enterprise-wide payroll operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 10+ years of payroll and/or finance experience, including experience advising others in a specialist area.
• 6+ years of managerial experience managing resources and developing talent to deliver on organizational objectives.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-country or multi-state payroll processing and reconciliation in both in-house and outsourced models.
• Strong financial acumen, with the ability to interpret financial data and communicate implications clearly to stakeholders at all levels.
• Working knowledge of payroll-related regulatory and compliance requirements across U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions.
• Experience handling complex payroll reporting, including quarterly and annual filings.
• Skills in budgeting and cost control, financial analysis, and financial systems/process management.
• Experience with enterprise payroll or HRIS platforms (e.g., Workday, ADP, or similar).
• Experience partnering with Finance, Legal, or Compliance teams on regulatory or audit matters.
• Project management experience delivering payroll systems or process improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop payroll team with clear performance objectives.
• Own processing and financial reconciliation of a complex, multi-country payroll, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant delivery of all regular and regulatory payments.
• Act as a trusted business partner to internal clients, managing relationships and coordinating internal and external resources to support HR and business strategy.
• Provide solid, specialist payroll advice to HR partners and senior managers across the business.
• Lead selection and management of external payroll consultants or vendors, ensuring objectives are met and outcomes are monitored.
• Lead the development and implementation of strategy for the North America payroll function, anticipating issues and opportunities and ensuring alignment with the broader HR strategy.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives, applying process automation and emerging technologies like AI to enhance payroll operations.
• Build, review, and implement payroll policies, guidelines, and compliance programs to keep the company aligned with regulations and sound practices, liaising with regulatory bodies as needed.
• Manage payroll-related costs, including budgets, variance analysis, and supplier payments, to ensure value for money.
• Actively participate in regional and global projects.

Skills

Team leadership

Multi-country payroll

Financial reconciliation

Stakeholder management

Regulatory compliance

Project management

Process automation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Workday

ADP

Job description

IDEXX in Westbrook, ME is seeking a North America Payroll Manager to lead payroll across U.S. and Canada, partner with HR and Finance, and steer a multi-country payroll function.

You will build a high-performing team, drive accuracy and compliance, implement automation and AI, manage budgets, and align payroll strategy with broader HR goals. This role offers a competitive package and the chance to influence enterprise-wide payroll operations.