Payroll Manager

Moody; New York (NY); On-site; USD 95,000 - 137,000; Full time

Job summary

Moody's is seeking a Payroll Manager for the Americas to ensure accurate, compliant, and timely payroll processing for U.S. and Canadian populations. This role drives complex pay scenarios, audits, and regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

You will lead end-to-end cycles, manage tax registrations, and coordinate with ADP, CloudPay, and Workday to optimize processes while supporting internal/external audits and responsible AI adoption.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, HR, or related field.
• 5–8+ years of progressive payroll experience, including multi-state U.S. payroll; Canadian payroll experience preferred.
• Hands-on experience with CloudPay and ADP payroll platforms (EV6).
• Experience operating in a SOX-controlled or highly regulated environment.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end processing of semi-monthly payroll cycles for U.S. and Canadian employees.
• Process complex pay scenarios including retroactive adjustments and severance.
• Validate payroll inputs and outputs before finalization in ADP and CloudPay.
• Manage U.S. tax registrations for new work locations and ensure timely setup.
• Maintain and reconcile state unemployment, disability, and local taxes.
• Ensure accurate taxation and administration of benefits and deductions.
• Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies and audits as required.
• Identify opportunities for automation and lead improvements with audits.

Skills

Advanced Microsoft Excel

Payroll tax rules knowledge

Complex pay calculations

Attention to detail

Time management

Communication skills

Confidential data handling

AI concepts in workflows

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or related field

5–8+ years payroll experience

CloudPay and ADP EV6 experience

SOX/regulatory environment experience

Tools

Workday

ADP

CloudPay

Job description

At Moody's, we unite the brightest minds to turn today’s risks into tomorrow’s opportunities. We do this by striving to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome to be who they are—with the freedom to exchange ideas, think innovatively, and listen to each other and customers in meaningful ways. Moody’s is transforming how the world sees risk. As a global leader in ratings and integrated risk assessment, we’re advancing AI to move from insight to action—enabling intelligence that not only understands complexity but responds to it. We decode risk to unlock opportunity, helping our clients navigate uncertainty with clarity, speed, and confidence.

If you are excited about this opportunity but do not meet every single requirement, We are seeking candidates who model our values: invest in every relationship, lead with curiosity, champion diverse perspectives, turn inputs into actions, and uphold trust through integrity.

Skills and Competencies

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, pivot tables, and multi-currency reconciliation
• Strong knowledge of U.S. multi-state payroll tax rules, Canadian payroll and tax requirements, and Latin America payroll and tax requirements
• Demonstrated experience managing complex pay calculations including retroactive pay, severance, and garden leave, and payroll tax compliance
• High attention to detail and strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines independently in a fast-paced, individual contributor capacity
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to adapt tone across audiences and time zones
• Discretion in handling confidential compensation and personal data
• Experience with Workday, including time tracking configuration, administration, and integration with payroll processing
• Demonstrated proficiency in artificial intelligence concepts, with hands-on experience using AI tools to streamline workflows and enhance operational efficiency. Proven ability to implement AI-powered solutions to solve business challenges. Demonstrates a growing awareness of AI risk management and a commitment to responsible and ethical AI use.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, or related field, or equivalent experience
• 5–8+ years of progressive payroll experience, including multi-state U.S. payroll; Canadian payroll experience strongly preferred
• Hands-on experience with CloudPay and ADP payroll platforms, including EV6, required; experience with tax registration processes preferred
• Experience operating in a SOX-controlled or highly regulated environment preferred

Responsibilities

The Payroll Manager, Americas is responsible for the accurate, compliant, and timely delivery of payroll for Moody's employees across the Americas region.

• Own end-to-end processing of semi-monthly payroll cycles for U.S. and Canadian employee populations, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with company policy and statutory requirements
• Process complex pay scenarios including regular pay, retroactive adjustments, severance, garden leave, and other non-standard compensation events
• Validate payroll inputs and outputs — including earnings, deductions, taxes, and net pay — prior to finalization in ADP and CloudPay, including pre- and post-payroll audits
• Manage U.S. federal, state, and local tax registrations for new work locations, ensuring timely setup ahead of the first payroll run in each new jurisdiction
• Maintain and reconcile state unemployment insurance, state disability and paid family leave, and local tax accounts, including rate updates and wage base changes
• Ensure accurate taxation and administration of employee benefits, imputed income, equity compensation, and other taxable and non-taxable deductions
• Investigate and resolve payroll discrepancies, variances, and employee inquiries in a timely and professional manner, and perform regular audits and reconciliations of payroll data, tax filings, and general ledger interfaces
• Identify opportunities for process automation and efficiency and lead implementation of approved improvements, while supporting internal and external audits by providing documentation and analysis as required

About the Team

Our Global Payroll team is responsible for delivering accurate, compliant, and efficient payroll services to Moody's employees across multiple jurisdictions worldwide. The team partners closely with Human Resources, Finance, Tax, Legal, Benefits, and Technology functions to maintain strong governance, operational excellence, and regulatory compliance. By joining our team, you will contribute to strategic payroll initiatives, process transformation, and continuous improvement efforts that support a growing global workforce while embracing innovative technologies and responsible AI adoption.

For US-based roles only: the anticipated hiring base salary range for this position is$94,500.00-$137,100.00, depending on factors such as experience, education, level, skills, and location. This range is based on a full-time position. In addition to base salary, this role is eligible for incentive compensation. Moody’s also offers a competitive benefits package, including not but limited to medical, dental, vision, parental leave, paid time off, a 401(k) plan with employee and company contribution opportunities, life, disability, and accident insurance, a discounted employee stock purchase plan, and tuition reimbursement.

Moody’s is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender, age, religion or creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital or familial status,sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Moody’s also provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities or based on a sincerely held religious belief in accordance with applicable laws. If you need to inquire about a reasonable accommodation, or need assistance with completing the application process, please email [e-mail] . This contact information is for accommodation requests only, and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications

For San Francisco positions, qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

This position may be considered a promotional opportunity, pursuant to the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act.

Candidates for Moody's Corporation may be asked to disclose securities holdings pursuant to Moody’s Policy for Securities Trading and the requirements of the position. Employment is contingent upon compliance with the Policy, including remediation of positions in those holdings as necessary.