Head of Payroll, HR North America

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee and ensure accurate and timely processing of payroll for all employees, including regular, overtime, and prevailing wage calculations.
• Manage payroll systems, including system configuration, updates, and troubleshooting.
• Develop and implement payroll policies and procedures to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. Oversee payroll tax compliance, including withholding, reporting, and remitting taxes accurately and on-time.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to address any payroll-related issues or inquiries.
• Manage relationships with external vendors, such as tax advisors or payroll service providers.
• Provide leadership and guidance to the payroll team, including training, coaching, mentoring, and performance evaluations.
• Stay current on changes in payroll laws and regulations that impact the organization and cascade these changes down to key stakeholders and employees as necessary.
• Coordinate internal and external audits related to payroll processes and payroll tax compliance.
• Participate in strategic planning activities related to compensation, benefits, financial forecasting, and budgeting.
• Expected travel in this position is approximately 10-15%, mainly in the US and Canada, but also international travel as needed.

Qualification & Requirements

Required Education/Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience overseeing the processing of high-volume multi-state and multi-unit payrolls for large exempt, non-exempt, union and non-union workforce.
• 5+ years of experience leading and managing teams.
• Experience transforming a payroll function to maximize automation, scalability, and cost effectiveness, building new capabilities and process optimization.
• Extensive experience in US and Canadian payroll management required.

Preferred Skills/Qualifications:

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation is a plus.
• Experience with handling the Expatriate payroll is a plus.
• Strong leadership and management skills, with the ability to inspire, motivate, and develop a diverse team of payroll professionals.
• A champion in the commitment for operational excellence (100% Responsibility / 0 Excuses) and continuous improvement in the execution of payroll programs, initiatives, projects and processes.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments.
• In-depth knowledge of payroll laws, regulations, tax codes, and compliance requirements at the federal, state, and local levels.
• Proficiency in payroll systems, software, and technology platforms, with experience implementing and optimizing payroll systems and processes. Experience in UKG and SAP SuccessFactors a plus.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to analyze complex payroll data, identify trends, and make data-driven recommendations.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate cross-functionally and communicate payroll-related information to employees, management, and stakeholders.
• Partner closely with various collaborators (Finance, Tax, Compensation & Benefits, HR Business Partners) to ensure payroll is processed securely as per defined procedures, guidelines, legal requirements and in compliance with local laws and regulations.
• Prior experience in project management and/or system implementation preferred.
• Expert in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP’s/pivots), Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint.

Benefits

• Medical, Rx, Dental, Disability, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts
• Retirement Savings Plans with Company Match/Contributions
• Education Assistance
• Bonus Plan Eligibility
• Parental Leave