North America Payroll Lead

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in North America.

📋 Description

• Oversee comprehensive payroll operations throughout North America, which includes the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and select EOR-supported populations.

• Guarantee precise, prompt, and compliant payroll processing across more than 30 U.S. states and various Canadian provinces.

• Act as the primary payroll authority for Workday Payroll, facilitating processing, configuration, testing, audits, reporting, integrations, releases, system modifications, data validation, and process enhancement.

• Manage internal payroll workflows, third-party service providers, and Workday implementation/support partners.

• Supervise vendor performance, SLA management, project deliverables, issue resolution, and ongoing improvement initiatives.

• Collaborate with HR, Finance, Legal, Benefits, Compensation, and external partners as the North America payroll subject matter expert.

• Assist with payroll inputs and employee lifecycle events, such as hires, terminations, transfers, leaves, bonuses, equity-related payments, benefit deductions, and adjustments.

• Oversee payroll implications of equity transactions, executive compensation, retention bonuses, relocation benefits, taxable fringe benefits, and intricate compensation programs.

• Partner with Finance on payroll accounting, reconciliations, accruals, variance analysis, funding, reporting, controls, and financial closure activities.

• Direct year-end payroll tasks, tax statements, annual reporting, statutory obligations, audits, and employee inquiries.

• Create and maintain payroll policies, SOPs, process documentation, governance frameworks, controls, and audit-ready processes.

• Facilitate international expansion efforts, including state/province registrations, entity establishment, and EOR payroll arrangements.

• Establish and monitor payroll KPIs, service levels, audit findings, compliance metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives.

⛳️ Requirements

• Minimum of 7 years of progressive payroll experience, including independent management of multi-state, multi-jurisdiction payroll operations for geographically diverse workforces, with familiarity with Canada and/or Mexico payroll.

• Required hands-on experience with Workday Payroll, encompassing payroll processing, testing, reporting, production support, data validation, and issue resolution.

• In-depth knowledge of U.S. federal, state, and local payroll legislation, including payroll tax, wage and hour regulations, garnishments, wage attachments, leaves of absence, benefit deductions, multi-state taxation, and year-end processes.

• Comprehensive understanding of payroll accounting, payroll funding, general ledger interfaces, accruals, reconciliations, variance analysis, controls, and financial closing processes.

• Experience in supporting both internal and external payroll audits, including SOX, statutory, tax, regulatory compliance, and control assessments.

• Proven track record in managing payroll vendors and outsourced payroll services, including SLA management, service evaluations, issue escalation, and contract governance.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, stakeholder management, and communication abilities.

• Capacity to work independently in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with a keen focus on accuracy, confidentiality, and operational execution.

• Workday Payroll certification or advanced experience with Workday Payroll is preferred.

• Preferred experience with OneSource Virtual managed payroll services.

• Prior experience supporting payroll operations during M&A, carve-out, stand-up, or broader business transformation initiatives is preferred.

• Familiarity with global payroll governance, shared services, or payroll center-of-excellence models is a plus.

• Certified Payroll Professional, PCP Canada, or equivalent payroll certification is preferred.

• Experience in payroll operations within high-growth technology or SaaS environments is preferred.

• Knowledge of EOR models and international workforce compliance is preferred.

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive benefits, compensation, and long-term impact.

• Flexible work arrangements.

• Discretionary Time Off (DTO).

• Global paid parental leave.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).