Director of Payroll

About the Organization

We are a U.S.-headquartered global financial services and enterprise workforce management organization supporting complex payroll, financial operations, and workforce administration across a diverse international employee base. Our organization delivers financial infrastructure and enterprise services to Fortune 500 corporations operating across highly regulated industries, including financial services, technology, healthcare, and professional services.

Our workforce spans tens of thousands of employees across multiple jurisdictions, each governed by unique regulatory frameworks, tax structures, and compensation models. Managing payroll accuracy, compliance, reporting transparency, and financial control across a global enterprise requires a sophisticated operational infrastructure supported by advanced payroll technologies, enterprise resource planning platforms, and disciplined governance processes.

As organizations scale globally and workforce structures become increasingly complex, incorporating hybrid employment models, cross-border payroll requirements, equity-based compensation, and evolving tax regulations, payroll leadership plays a critical role in ensuring operational accuracy, financial integrity, and employee trust.

We are seeking an experienced and strategically minded Director of Payroll to lead the enterprise payroll organization, modernize payroll infrastructure, and ensure compliant, efficient, and scalable payroll operations across our global workforce.

This is not a transactional payroll administration role. This is a strategic leadership position responsible for governing enterprise payroll operations within a complex financial and regulatory environment.

Job Function

The Director of Payroll will oversee global payroll operations, payroll technology platforms, compliance frameworks, and financial reporting processes across a large multinational workforce.

This leader ensures payroll accuracy, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and integration between payroll systems, HR platforms, and enterprise financial infrastructure.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead global payroll operations supporting multi-state and international workforce payroll processing.

• Oversee payroll systems, automation technologies, and integration with HRIS and enterprise financial systems.

• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and international payroll regulations, tax laws, and labor requirements.

• Implement governance frameworks ensuring payroll accuracy, audit readiness, and internal financial controls.

• Manage complex compensation structures, including executive compensation, bonuses, commissions, and equity-related payments.

• Develop performance dashboards tracking payroll accuracy, processing efficiency, compliance adherence, and operational KPIs.

• Lead payroll system modernization initiatives, including automation, digital workflows, and analytics reporting.

• Oversee payroll-related financial reporting and coordination with corporate accounting and finance teams.

• Manage vendor relationships with payroll service providers, tax authorities, and regulatory partners.

• Support mergers and acquisitions by integrating payroll systems and workforce compensation structures.

• Guide payroll compliance during global workforce expansion and international hiring initiatives.

• Present payroll operations performance and compliance updates to executive leadership.

• Build and mentor a high-performing payroll operations and compliance team.

Strategic Support

• Advise CFO and executive leadership on payroll governance, risk mitigation, and operational efficiency initiatives.

• Support enterprise financial planning by aligning payroll operations with budgeting and workforce planning strategies.

• Strengthen enterprise compliance frameworks aligned with evolving payroll regulations and tax policies.

• Contribute to workforce strategy initiatives involving compensation structures and employee experience.

• Guide payroll integration initiatives related to corporate acquisitions or global expansion.

• Support digital finance transformation initiatives involving enterprise payroll analytics and automation.

Job Qualifications and Requirements

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in payroll management, financial operations, or workforce administration.

• Extensive experience managing complex payroll environments supporting large, multi-state or international workforces.

• Strong understanding of payroll tax regulations, labor laws, and compliance frameworks.

• Demonstrated experience implementing payroll systems and automation technologies.

• Experience managing payroll within large enterprise organizations or global corporations.

• Strong collaboration capability with Finance, HR, Legal, and Compliance teams.

• Proven ability to present payroll operations performance insights to executive leadership.

• Bachelor’s degree required in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field; professional certifications such as CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) strongly preferred.

Personal Capabilities and Qualifications

• Highly detail-oriented with strong financial and compliance discipline

• Strategic operational thinker capable of modernizing payroll infrastructure

• Executive presence with strong communication and stakeholder management skills

• Data-driven decision-maker focused on accuracy and operational efficiency

• Strong problem-solving capability in complex payroll environments

• Collaborative leadership style across finance, HR, and legal teams

• Resilient in fast-paced enterprise environments with high regulatory requirements

• Builder of accountable and high-performing operational teams

Working Conditions

• Fully Remote – United States

• Periodic travel to corporate offices and executive planning sessions (15–25%)

• High-accountability role tied to payroll accuracy, regulatory compliance, and financial reporting integrity

• Executive-level visibility with regular interaction with Finance and HR leadership

• Collaboration across distributed global workforce management teams

Compensation & Benefits

Total Executive Compensation Package: $245,000 – $338,000 USD

Compensation Includes:

• Competitive base salary within stated range

• Performance-based annual incentive aligned with operational accuracy and compliance metrics

• Long-term incentive eligibility depending on role scope

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage

• 401(k) with employer contribution

• Professional development and leadership training programs

• Executive home office and operational support

• Generous PTO and paid holidays

Why Join Us

• Lead payroll operations within a complex global financial services organization.

• Influence the modernization of enterprise payroll infrastructure and workforce financial systems.

• Partner directly with executive leadership to strengthen financial governance and operational efficiency.

• Competitive compensation aligned with measurable operational and financial impact.

• Opportunity to build a world-class payroll organization supporting a global workforce.