North America Payroll & Benefits Leader

Simon-Kucher; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company matching

Health benefits

Job summary

Simon-Kucher is seeking a Senior Manager, Payroll & Benefits to lead US/Canada payroll and benefits programs across multi-state environments with regional partners. The role requires coordinating with HR, Finance, Legal, and vendors, and traveling to or residing in multiple US cities with a minimum two days in the office weekly.

The position oversees open enrollment, compliance, global mobility, and total rewards initiatives, while driving analytics and cost controls in a fast-paced growth

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 7+ years of progressive experience managing payroll and benefits administration across a multi-state US environment and Canada.
• 2+ years of people leadership experience.
• Deep knowledge of payroll administration, including gross-to-net payroll processing, payroll taxation, payroll accounting, reconciliations, and internal controls.
• Strong understanding and practical application of federal, state, provincial, and local employment regulations, including FLSA, wage and hour laws, ERISA, FMLA, payroll tax requirements, and employee benefit regulations.
• Experience developing and implementing payroll and benefits policies, processes, controls, and compliance frameworks in a complex, growing organization.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders, manage competing priorities, and drive organizational change in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to align payroll, benefits, and total rewards with broader business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Payroll Leadership & Compliance: Lead payroll operations for US and Canada employees, ensuring timely, accurate payroll processing.
• Oversee payroll administration, reconciliations, audits, tax compliance, garnishments, and payroll-related reporting.
• Establish and maintain best-in-class payroll controls, governance processes, and operational procedures.
• Manage payroll vendors and support payroll tech enhancements and process improvements.
• Benefits & Total Rewards Administration: Lead administration of all US and Canada benefit programs, including health and welfare plans, retirement programs, and leave-related benefits.
• Partner with brokers and vendors to deliver competitive and cost-effective benefit offerings.
• Oversee annual open enrollment planning, communications, system updates, and employee education.
• Provide guidance to employees regarding benefit eligibility, enrollment, and program utilization.
• Provide guidance and support for LATAM benefits.
• Strategic Benefits & Total Rewards Leadership: Support development of NA benefits and total rewards strategies.
• Conduct market benchmarking and analysis to inform program design and competitiveness.
• Lead vendor selection processes, contract negotiations, and RFP activities.
• Develop recommendations related to wellness initiatives, leave programs, executive benefits, and employee value proposition improvements.
• Financial Management & Analytics: Manage payroll and benefits budgets, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Support headcount planning, labor cost analysis, accrual calculations, and executive reporting.
• Develop dashboards, metrics, and analytics to support decision-making.
• Global Mobility & International Support: Oversee cross-border payroll considerations and international assignment payroll impacts.
• Provide payroll and benefits oversight for LATAM operations in partnership with regional stakeholders.
• Team Leadership: Lead, coach, and develop the Senior Payroll & Benefits Coordinator.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, customer service, and operational excellence.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex payroll and benefits matters.

Skills

Payroll leadership

Benefits administration

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory compliance

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor's degree

CPP certification preferred

Job description

Simon-Kucher is seeking a Senior Manager, Payroll & Benefits to lead US/Canada payroll and benefits programs across multi-state environments with regional partners. The role requires coordinating with HR, Finance, Legal, and vendors, and traveling to or residing in multiple US cities with a minimum two days in the office weekly.

The position oversees open enrollment, compliance, global mobility, and total rewards initiatives, while driving analytics and cost controls in a fast-paced growth