Regional Senior Payroll Manager, Americas (AMER)

Overview

This role involves managing end-to-end payroll operations across the Americas region, currently covering the United States and Canada, with potential expansion to additional markets within the Americas. The position requires serving as the technical expert on payroll regulatory compliance, tax requirements, and statutory reporting. The successful candidate will establish scalable payroll infrastructure, standardized processes, and performance frameworks to support current operations and future growth.

This is a hands-on leadership role suited for a payroll professional experienced in fast-paced, high-growth environments. The role requires deep expertise in Americas payroll regulations, payroll and HR system configuration, reporting customization, and a strong focus on automation and process optimization.

The position involves collaboration across multiple time zones, including close partnership with a payroll team based in India, to ensure seamless global payroll operations. Remote work is open to candidates located on the U.S. West Coast and Arizona.

Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end payroll operations, compliance, and transformation for the Americas region (currently U.S. and Canada) with potential geographic expansion
• Serve as the technical expert on payroll statutory requirements, tax compliance, and regulatory reporting including Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), federal, state/provincial, and local regulations
• Design, implement, and maintain payroll processes, controls, and organizational infrastructure to support current and future operations
• Lead payroll system configuration, integration, and reporting customization initiatives across payroll and HR platforms such as ADP, SAP, BambooHR, or similar
• Drive automation and optimization initiatives to improve efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of payroll operations
• Establish and maintain quality oversight frameworks with measurable metrics and KPIs for payroll accuracy, timeliness, and compliance
• Implement continuous improvement methodologies and track performance metrics to enhance operational excellence
• Manage business process design and documentation to ensure standardization and scalability across regions
• Lead system and vendor evaluations, implementations, and supplier management activities within the Americas region
• Collaborate effectively across time zones with the India-based payroll team, providing guidance, training, and operational oversight
• Partner with HR, Finance, IT, and external vendors to ensure smooth payroll execution and issue resolution
• Maintain payroll process compliance documentation, audit controls, and SOX compliance requirements
• Conduct root cause analysis on payroll discrepancies and implement corrective and preventative actions
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and employee experience excellence

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Human Resources, or related field
• 8+ years of progressive payroll experience, including 5+ years in leadership or management roles
• Deep technical expertise in U.S. payroll regulations, tax compliance, and statutory reporting
• Experience working in fast-paced, ambiguous, high-growth environments with evolving infrastructure and processes
• Hands-on experience with payroll and HR system configuration, workflow design, integration development, and custom reporting
• Proven success leading automation and optimization initiatives (e.g., RPA, RDA, AI/ML, Microsoft Power Automate, API integrations)
• Experience establishing quality oversight frameworks with quantifiable metrics such as accuracy rates, SLA compliance, error reduction, and cycle-time improvements
• Strong business process management skills including process mapping, standardization, and continuous improvement
• Experience leading system implementations, vendor evaluations, and supplier management projects
• Ability to work across multiple time zones and collaborate with geographically distributed teams
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills managing complex data, compliance requirements, and multi-system integrations
• Proficiency with payroll, finance, and HR systems such as ADP, SAP, BambooHR, or other enterprise HRIS platforms
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills with ability to influence at all organizational levels

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional payroll certifications such as Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or equivalent
• Advanced degree (Master's in Business, Accounting, Finance, or related field)
• Lean Six Sigma or equivalent process improvement certification
• Knowledge of payroll governance, audit, and control frameworks (SOX, COSO, ISO, or similar)
• Experience with Canadian and South American payroll regulations
• Advanced Excel and data analysis skills; experience with business intelligence tools like Tableau or Power BI
• Project management certification (PMP, Agile, etc.) or demonstrated project management experience
• Experience designing and implementing shared service or center of excellence (COE) operating models
• Familiarity with change management principles and leading organizational transformation initiatives
• Experience with HR transformation, digital workplace initiatives, and employee self-service technologies

Key Competencies

• Technical expertise in payroll regulations, system architecture, and compliance
• Change leadership in ambiguous, high-growth environments
• Data-driven quality and metrics orientation
• Business process excellence and scalable workflow design
• Global collaboration across cultures and time zones
• Strategic thinking balancing tactical execution and future-state vision
• Innovation mindset focused on automation and process improvements
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills

Compensation & Benefits

Total compensation includes base salary, annual company-based performance bonus, and equity. Employees are eligible to earn up to 200% of their target bonus based on company performance. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, a retirement savings plan, gender-neutral parental leave, and unlimited paid time off. Compensation offered will depend on geographic location, experience, skills, and qualifications.

Location

Remote work is available for candidates located on the U.S. West Coast and Arizona.