Payroll Manager

We are seeking an experienced Payroll Manager to oversee payroll operations across North America. This role is responsible for ensuring the accurate, timely, compliant, and efficient delivery of payroll services across multiple U.S. and/or Canadian entities.
The Payroll Manager will lead the payroll function, manage relationships with external payroll providers, and act as the key point of accountability for payroll governance, compliance, controls, reporting, and continuous improvement. The role will partner closely with HR, Finance, HRIS, and senior leadership to ensure payroll operations support business requirements and meet the highest standards of accuracy and compliance.
This is a payroll management and oversight role. The successful candidate will not be expected to perform day-to-day payroll processing personally but will be accountable for the overall payroll operation, vendor performance, controls, and service delivery.
Key ResponsibilitiesPayroll Operations & GovernanceOversee end-to-end payroll operations across multiple U.S. and/or Canadian entities.Provide operational oversight of payroll activities performed by internal teams and/or external payroll providers.Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll delivery.Establish and maintain payroll processes, controls, approval procedures, and governance standards.Monitor payroll accuracy, service levels, and issue resolution.Act as the escalation point for complex payroll matters.
Payroll Vendor ManagementOwn relationships with external payroll providers and ensure delivery against agreed service levels and contractual requirements.Monitor vendor performance and drive corrective actions and continuous improvement.Coordinate with payroll vendors on tax filings, regulatory requirements, year-end activities, system changes, and payroll-related issues.Support vendor selection, implementation, contract reviews, and ongoing performance management.
Compliance, Controls & Risk ManagementEnsure payroll operations comply with applicable U.S. federal, state, and local regulations and, where applicable, Canadian federal and provincial requirements.Oversee payroll audits, reconciliations, controls, and compliance activities.Ensure appropriate controls are in place to mitigate payroll, tax, financial, and data privacy risks.Oversee year-end payroll activities and reporting, including W-2s, T4s, and related filings.Partner with Finance, HR, and external advisors on payroll compliance matters.
Team LeadershipLead, coach, and develop the payroll team, fostering a culture of accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement.Define responsibilities, performance expectations, and service standards.Provide guidance and escalation support for complex payroll cases.Build strong collaboration between Payroll, HR, Finance, HRIS, and other stakeholders.
Systems & Process ImprovementPartner with HRIS and Finance on payroll system integrations, upgrades, implementations, and process changes.Identify opportunities to improve payroll efficiency, automation, controls, and service quality.Lead or support payroll transformation and process improvement initiatives.Ensure alignment between HRIS, payroll, Finance, and related systems.
Reporting & Stakeholder ManagementPrepare and present payroll metrics, KPIs, trends, risks, and operational updates to senior leadership.Provide visibility into payroll performance, compliance, vendor SLAs, issues, and improvement initiatives.Build effective relationships with HR, Finance, HRIS, Legal, external vendors, and other business stakeholders.Contribute to strategic payroll planning and broader HR and Finance initiatives.
RequirementsBachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or a related field.6–8+ years of progressive payroll experience, including 2–3+ years in a management, supervisory, or payroll leadership role.Strong experience overseeing U.S. payroll operations across multiple entities, locations, or jurisdictions.Experience managing third-party payroll providers/vendors and holding them accountable for service delivery and compliance.Strong knowledge of U.S. federal, state, and local payroll regulations; Canadian payroll knowledge is highly desirable.Experience overseeing payroll controls, audits, reconciliations, tax compliance, and year-end reporting.Experience with enterprise-scale payroll and HRIS platforms such as ADP, Workday, Ceridian Dayforce, or similar systems.Strong understanding of payroll integrations and the relationship between Payroll, HRIS, HR, and Finance.Demonstrated experience leading, developing, and managing payroll teams.Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and process improvement skills.Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.Fluent English with the ability to communicate effectively with employees, vendors, and senior stakeholders.Ability to operate effectively in a complex, multi-entity, international business environment.
Preferred QualificationsPayroll certification such as Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC), Certified Payroll Professional (CPP), or equivalent.Experience supporting both U.S. and Canadian payroll.Experience in a large, decentralized, or multinational organization.Experience with payroll transformation, outsourcing, vendor transitions, or system implementations.Experience developing payroll KPIs, SLAs, dashboards, and management reporting.
Key Success FactorsThe successful candidate will be a payroll leader and subject-matter expert rather than a hands-on payroll processor. They should be comfortable managing through vendors and internal teams, challenging payroll providers when necessary, identifying operational and compliance risks, and partnering with HR and Finance leadership to continuously improve the payroll function.
Core competencies: Payroll Governance | Vendor Management | U.S. Payroll Compliance | Team Leadership | Controls & Risk Management | HRIS & Payroll Systems | Process Improvement | Stakeholder Management | Analytics & Reporting