Senior Vice President, Global Payroll & Payroll Systems Business Owner

Edelman; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Edelman is seeking a Senior Vice President, Global Payroll & Payroll Systems to lead the evolution of our global payroll operations, technology, and service delivery across a complex organization. You will shape a scalable payroll model, drive a multi-phase Workday implementation, and partner with Finance, People, and IT to enhance employee experience and controls.

As a strategic, collaborative leader, you will navigate matrixed environments, manage executive stakeholders, and build

Qualifications

• 15+ years in payroll or finance ops leadership, with global team experience.
• Experience across multiple jurisdictions with payroll operations, compliance, and controls.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, HR, IS, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Oversee payroll delivery in US, Canada, UK, and Ireland.
• Define and evolve the payroll operating model and service delivery.
• Lead Workday implementation, from requirements to adoption.
• Modernize processes with automation and data integrity.
• Ensure governance, reconciliations, reporting, and controls.
• Build and develop high-performing payroll teams.
• Collaborate with Finance, People, IT, Legal, Tax, Treasury, and regions.
• Foster inclusive culture and continuous learning.

Skills

Global payroll leadership

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder management

Change management

Process optimization

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Finance/Accounting/HR/IS

Tools

Workday

ADP

Job description

We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging. Consistent with this approach, we hire the best qualified candidates for all positions.

Edelman is looking for a Senior Vice President, Global Payroll & Payroll Systems to lead the evolution of our global payroll operations, technology, and service delivery strategy. This is an opportunity for an experienced payroll leader to shape how we deliver accurate, compliant, and efficient payroll services across a complex, global organization.

As part of our Financial Shared Services (FSS) team, you'll play a central role in modernizing our payroll operations, building scalable processes, and helping drive our multi-phase global Workday implementation. You'll partner with senior leaders across Finance, People, and IT to strengthen our payroll capabilities, improve the employee experience, and create a foundation for continued global growth.

At Edelman, our culture is grounded in three promises: boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum. We value diverse perspectives, collaboration, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

If you're energized by leading transformation, developing teams, and solving complex global challenges, we'd love to hear from you.

Who You Are

You're a strategic, collaborative leader who brings deep expertise in global payroll operations and a passion for building better ways of working. You understand the importance of getting the fundamentals right while identifying opportunities to simplify processes, strengthen controls, and leverage technology.

You're comfortable navigating complex, matrixed organizations, influencing senior stakeholders, and leading teams through change. You balance big-picture thinking with operational accountability and know how to bring people together to deliver meaningful, sustainable results.

What You'll Do

• Lead global payroll operations: Oversee payroll delivery across the US, Canada, UK, and Ireland, ensuring accurate, timely, compliant, and efficient services while establishing a scalable approach for additional markets.
• Shape our global payroll strategy: Define and evolve our payroll operating model, service delivery approach, and global Center of Excellence, balancing consistent standards with local regulatory requirements.
• Drive Workday transformation: Serve as the senior payroll business owner for Edelman's multi-phase Workday implementation, guiding business requirements, process design, readiness, adoption, and ongoing optimization.
• Modernize processes and technology: Champion automation, self-service, data integrity, and continuous improvement while shaping the long-term payroll technology strategy, including Workday and ADP.
• Strengthen compliance and controls: Establish effective payroll governance, reconciliations, reporting, and audit-ready controls while proactively managing operational risk and business continuity.
• Build and develop high-performing teams: Lead, coach, and develop payroll professionals, fostering accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and operational excellence.
• Partner across the business: Collaborate with Finance, People, IT, Legal, Tax, Treasury, and regional stakeholders to align payroll capabilities with business priorities and regulatory requirements.
• Champion an inclusive culture: Embrace diverse perspectives, demonstrate respectful conduct, and promote conscious inclusion and continuous learning across teams and partnerships.

Basic Qualifications

• A minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in payroll and/or finance operations leadership, including experience leading global teams in complex, matrixed organizations.
• Experience overseeing payroll operations, compliance, controls, and service delivery across multiple jurisdictions.
• Experience managing major payroll provider relationships, including ADP.
• A bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Information Systems, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading payroll operations at a VP level or equivalent, with a track record of developing global teams and driving organizational transformation.
• Strong working knowledge of payroll tax, statutory requirements, and regulatory compliance across the US, Canada, UK, and Ireland.
• Experience designing global payroll operating models, establishing Centers of Excellence, and driving process standardization and continuous improvement.
• Familiarity with Workday HCM implementations, payroll integrations, and enterprise payroll technology strategy.
• Expertise in payroll data governance, operational risk, internal controls, reporting, analytics, and global data privacy.
• Ability to influence executive stakeholders, manage cross-functional initiatives, and translate business priorities into measurable operational outcomes.
• Strong financial acumen, strategic judgment, communication, and people leadership skills. Advanced degrees and relevant professional certifications, such as CPP, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or Workday, are a plus.

$180,000 - $240,000 annually

An employee’s pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors including, but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, travel requirements, revenue-based metrics, any contractual agreements, and business or organizational needs. The range listed is just one component of DJEH’s total compensation package for employees. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, a Paid Time Off policy, and region-specific benefits.

DJEH offers a wide range of benefits: medical and dental insurance, vision, 401K, life insurance, disability insurance, paid time off, travel assistance and wellness programing.

DJEH is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and believes in diversity, equity, and inclusion. We seek applications from all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, religion, physical or mental disability, military and veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. If you require a reasonable accommodation in any part of the employment process, please let us know.