Payroll, GPX and T&E DS Director

Jobtailor; Massachusetts; On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor seeks a senior Global Payroll leader to set strategy and drive end-to-end payroll operations across multiple countries. You will oversee governance, controls, and vendor relationships while guiding platform choices and process improvements.

You will lead cross-functional teams, ensure regulatory compliance, and deliver executive dashboards on payroll risks and progress. Strong business acumen and ability to travel are required.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive payroll, finance, HR, or shared services leadership experience.
• Experience leading multi-country operations.
• Governance leadership across Payroll and Compliance/Controls.
• Ability to lead through influence in a matrixed environment.
• Strong executive presence and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong knowledge of payroll and Time & Attendance practices.
• Operational acumen, service delivery, and vendor management experience.
• Experience driving standardization, process re-engineering, automation, analytics, and ERP/financial systems enablement.
• Strong understanding of internal controls, audit requirements, and operational risk management.
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, HR, Business, or related field.
• CPP required.
• Payroll certification ideal.
• MBA and/or CPA/CA/CIMA preferred or equivalent.
• English proficiency required.
• Ability to travel globally/regionally up to 15% as needed.

Responsibilities

• Set global strategy, roadmap, and governance for Payroll, Time & Attendance, and Expense Reporting.
• Own end-to-end delivery for multi-country payroll runs, statutory reporting, year-end processes, and reconciliations.
• Ensure compliance with local payroll, tax, social security, and statutory reporting requirements.
• Implement payroll controls, SOX/internal controls, audit readiness, and vendor oversight.
• Lead payroll technology strategy, platform selection, rollouts, integrations, and data integrity efforts.
• Manage outsourcing partners, local providers, banks, and tax authorities; negotiate SLAs and commercial terms.
• Drive process standardization, automation, robotics, and continuous improvement.
• Lead and coach regional managers and centralized teams; define operating model and staffing plan.
• Partner with Finance, Tax, Legal, and HRBP on M&A, market entries, payroll harmonization, and policy changes.
• Deliver executive reporting and dashboards on payroll metrics, risks, and program status.
• Own business continuity planning and incident response for payroll failures or security events.
• Serve as executive escalation point for complex payroll issues, regulatory inquiries, and sensitive employee matters.
• Build and retain a high-performing global payroll organization across multiple time zones.
• Manage team budgets, performance, compliance, workforce planning, and succession plans.
• Create a purpose-driven environment aligned with the Credo and Leadership Imperatives.

Skills

Global payroll strategy

Compliance and controls

Process standardization

Vendor management

Payroll certification

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance/related field

MBA (preferred)

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

• Set global strategy, roadmap, and governance for Payroll, Time & Attendance, and Expense Reporting
• Own end-to-end delivery for multi-country payroll runs, statutory reporting, year-end processes, and reconciliations
• Ensure compliance with local payroll, tax, social security, and statutory reporting requirements
• Implement payroll controls, SOX/internal controls, audit readiness, and vendor oversight
• Lead payroll technology strategy, platform selection, rollouts, integrations, and data integrity efforts
• Manage outsourcing partners, local providers, banks, and tax authorities; negotiate SLAs and commercial terms
• Drive process standardization, automation, robotics, and continuous improvement
• Lead and coach regional managers and centralized teams; define operating model and staffing plan
• Partner with Finance, Tax, Legal, and HRBP on M&A, market entries, payroll harmonization, and policy changes
• Deliver executive reporting and dashboards on payroll metrics, risks, and program status
• Own business continuity planning and incident response for payroll failures or security events
• Serve as executive escalation point for complex payroll issues, regulatory inquiries, and sensitive employee matters
• Build and retain a high-performing global payroll organization across multiple time zones
• Manage team budgets, performance, compliance, workforce planning, and succession plans
• Create a purpose-driven environment aligned with the Credo and Leadership Imperatives

Requirements

• 15+ years of progressive payroll, finance, HR, or shared services leadership experience
• Experience leading multi-country operations
• Demonstrated governance leadership across Payroll and Compliance/Controls
• Ability to lead through influence in a matrixed environment
• Strong executive presence and stakeholder management skills
• Strong knowledge of payroll and Time & Attendance practices
• Operational acumen, service delivery, and vendor management experience
• Experience driving standardization, process re-engineering, automation, analytics, and ERP/financial systems enablement
• Strong understanding of internal controls, audit requirements, and operational risk management
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, Finance, HR, Business, or related field required
• CPP required
• Payroll certification ideal
• MBA and/or CPA/CA/CIMA preferred or equivalent
• English proficiency required
• Ability to travel globally/regionally up to 15% as needed

Core Competencies

Demonstrates extensive expertise in global payroll strategy, compliance, and operational leadership, with a strong focus on process standardization, automation, and vendor management. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive continuous improvement in payroll operations across multiple countries.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Global Payroll Strategy
• Compliance And Controls
• Process Standardization
• Vendor Management
• Payroll Certification

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Payroll Management
• Time & Attendance Practices
• Statutory Reporting
• Operational Risk Management
• Data Integrity
• Process Re-engineering
• Analytics
• ERP Systems Enablement
• Audit Requirements
• Governance Leadership

Soft Skills

• Stakeholder Management
• Executive Presence
• Influence In Matrixed Environment
• Coaching And Leadership
• Communication

Certifications & Qualifications

• CPP
• Payroll Certification
• MBA
• CPA
• CA
• CIMA

Industry Keywords

• Payroll Compliance
• Tax Regulations
• Social Security
• Service Delivery
• Continuous Improvement
• Business Continuity Planning
• Incident Response
• Multi-Country Operations
• SLA Negotiation
• Workforce Planning