Global Payroll Manager

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Global Payroll Manager based in the United States. This is an exciting opportunity to lead and transform a global payroll function within a rapidly growing, technology-driven professional services organization. As Global Payroll Manager, you will oversee multi-country payroll operations across the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and additional jurisdictions, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and an exceptional employee experience. You will serve as a subject-matter expert in Workday Payroll, driving system optimization, automation, and scalable processes across a complex international environment. Working closely with Talent, Finance, Technology, external providers, and business leaders, you will strengthen governance and improve operational efficiency. You will also lead and develop a distributed team of payroll professionals, fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. This fully remote, full-time position offers the opportunity to shape the future of global payroll operations while contributing to a growing and evolving business.

Global payroll operations: Lead the accurate, timely, and confidential processing of payroll across multiple countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, in collaboration with internal stakeholders and external payroll providers. Payroll review and compliance: Oversee payroll delivered through professional employer organization (PEO) partners, reviewing and approving payroll runs, reconciliations, variance analyses, inputs, and reports while resolving discrepancies before finalization. Employee lifecycle administration: Ensure accurate payroll records and process employee-related changes, including new hires, compensation adjustments, bonuses, commissions, garnishments, benefit deductions, terminations, and other payroll transactions. Complex payroll calculations: Manage retroactive payments, special payments, overpayment corrections, manual payments, separation payments, and other adjustments in accordance with company policies and applicable local regulations. Year-end reporting and audits: Coordinate payroll-related year-end schedules, validate statutory returns prepared by vendors, support internal and external audits, and ensure accurate financial reporting in partnership with Finance. Timekeeping and employee support: Monitor time-entry compliance, oversee timesheet adjustments, respond to employment verification and unemployment claims, and provide expert guidance to employees and managers on payroll-related questions. Workday expertise and HR technology optimization: Serve as the primary payroll subject-matter expert for the HR technology ecosystem, overseeing Workday Payroll configuration, integrations, testing, reporting, troubleshooting, controls, and continuous improvement. Support relevant platforms and providers, including Rise, OSV, and other payroll solutions. Process automation and standardization: Identify and implement opportunities to streamline global payroll through automation, improved system functionality, standardized procedures, data-driven insights, and effective vendor management. Benefits administration: Validate payroll-related benefit configurations and deductions, process benefit changes, and support annual healthcare renewals and open enrollment activities. Global team leadership: Lead, mentor, and develop a geographically distributed payroll team, establishing clear responsibilities, performance expectations, and opportunities for professional growth. Governance and operational excellence: Develop global operating standards, service-level expectations, standard operating procedures, and performance metrics to ensure consistent, compliant, and employee-focused service delivery. Business growth and integration: Support payroll integration activities related to acquisitions, entry into new countries, and organizational expansion, ensuring scalable processes and a seamless employee experience. Requirements Professional experience: At least seven years of progressive payroll experience, including direct responsibility for complex, multi-country or multi-jurisdictional payroll operations. Advanced Workday expertise: Required hands-on experience with Workday Payroll across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, including configuration, testing, integrations, reporting, troubleshooting, and process optimization. Payroll systems knowledge: Experience with ADP and OSV is strongly preferred, along with familiarity with modern HR information systems, payroll integrations, and related technology platforms. International payroll and compliance: Strong understanding of employment regulations, payroll taxation, statutory requirements, and compensation practices across multiple jurisdictions, with the ability to translate regulatory changes into effective operational controls. People management: Demonstrated experience leading, coaching, and developing payroll professionals across different countries or time zones, with a focus on accountability, performance, and continuous learning. Payroll and benefits administration: Knowledge of employee benefit plans and their payroll implications, including deductions, healthcare renewals, open enrollment, and employee lifecycle changes. Analytical and numerical skills: Strong mathematical and analytical abilities, including the capacity to perform complex calculations, investigate discrepancies, identify root causes, and implement effective solutions. Reporting and technical proficiency: Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency with Microsoft Office, including the ability to generate, interpret, and analyze complex payroll and financial reports. Confidentiality and data protection: Demonstrated commitment to handling sensitive employee and compensation information securely and maintaining strict confidentiality and data privacy standards. Communication and service orientation: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, a strong customer-service mindset, and the ability to collaborate effectively with employees, senior leaders, Finance, Technology, and external vendors. Organization and ownership: Highly detail-oriented, self-motivated, and organized, with strong time-management skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment. Adaptability and continuous improvement: A proactive approach to process optimization, automation, system enhancements, and the development of scalable global payroll practices. Benefits Fully remote work: Work from anywhere in the United States, with working hours aligned to Central or Eastern Time. Full-time opportunity: Join a growing organization investing in its people, technology, and operational capabilities. Leadership and career development: Lead a global payroll team and help shape the future of international payroll operations and HR technology. Technology-driven environment: Work with modern HRIS platforms, advanced payroll functionality, integrations, and automation initiatives. Cross-functional collaboration: Partner with Talent, Finance, Technology, business leaders, and external providers across an international organization. Continuous improvement opportunities: Drive meaningful operational changes, improve employee experiences, and develop standardized global processes. Inclusive workplace: Work in an equal-opportunity environment that values diverse perspectives, professional collaboration, and employee contributions.