Senior Payroll Manager North America

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

As a North America Payroll Manager, you will lead payroll operations across IDEXX's U.S. and Canadian employee populations support other regions as needed. This role is responsible for owning a complex, multi-country payroll function — managing accurate and timely processing, driving financial reconciliation and compliance, and shaping the strategy and frameworks that keep payroll operations efficient as the organization grows.

You will play a key role in partnering with Regional Payroll Managers, HR, Finance, and business leaders across the region, leveraging strong leadership and specialist payroll expertise to lead and develop a team responsible for day-to-day payroll delivery.

Why This Role Matters

This role is critical to ensuring IDEXX's North America workforce is paid accurately, on time, and in full compliance with U.S. and Canadian regulations. By driving payroll strategy and operational excellence, you directly impact employee trust, regulatory standing, and the efficiency of a payroll function that supports the business as it grows.

In This Role

• You will lead, coach, and develop your payroll team, setting clear performance objectives and holding the team accountable for results while focusing on continuous learning.
• You will own the processing and financial reconciliation of a complex, multi-country payroll, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant delivery of all regular and regulatory payments.
• You will act as a trusted business partner to internal clients, managing relationships and coordinating internal and external resources to support HR and business strategy.
• You will provide solid, specialist payroll advice to HR partners and senior managers across the business.
• You will lead selection and management of external payroll consultants or vendors, ensuring objectives are met and outcomes are monitored.
• You will 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.
• You will champion continuous improvement initiatives, applying process automation and emerging technologies like AI to enhance payroll operations.
• You will 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.
• You will manage payroll-related costs, including budgets, variance analysis, and supplier payments, to ensure value for money.
• You will actively participate in regional and global projects.

What You Need To Succeed

• 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

What You Can Expect From Us

• A salary targeting $150,000 with annually, with some flexibility depending on years and depth of experience.
• Annual cash bonus opportunity
• Performance-based merit increases
• Day-one health, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with 5% company match
• Generous paid time off
• Additional benefits including Pet insurance, Mental health resources, Paid volunteer time, Employee stock purchase program, Donation matching programs

Why IDEXX?

We’re proud of the work we do because it matters. Every role at IDEXX contributes to improving the health and wellbeing of pets, people, and livestock. With over 10,000 employees worldwide and customers in more than 175 countries, we are a global leader driven by innovation and purpose.

We offer competitive compensation, strong benefits, and the opportunity to lead impactful, enterprise-wide initiatives while growing your career in a collaborative and mission-driven environment.

Let’s Pursue What Matters—together.

If you’re thinking about relocating for this role, here are a few things to know about living in Maine (often called “Vacationland”). The Westbrook, ME area provides great access to active downtown areas and the outdoors, with the coast and numerous mountains and hiking trails nearby. You’ll also find a number of large companies like ours in the area, creating a vibrant work culture.

You can learn more on the Portland tourism website: https://www.visitportland.com/visit/resources/moving-to-maine/

IDEXX values a diverse workforce and workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

IDEXX is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against based on any protected characteristic under applicable law.