Global Payroll Director

Payroll Delivery

Own end-to-end payroll processing across 41 countries, covering approximately 3,500 employees.

Manage a multi-platform environment spanning ADP GlobalView, ADP Streamline, Deel, and standalone country solutions.

Maintain accuracy, timeliness, and audit readiness across all pay cycles.

Develop and enforce payroll controls, reconciliation processes, and exception-handling procedures.

Compliance

Ensure statutory compliance across all operating jurisdictions: tax withholding, social contributions, mandatory benefits, and local labor law.

Maintain GDPR-compliant data handling across all payroll platforms and vendor integrations.

Lead the function's response to regulatory inquiries, audits, and country-specific legislative changes.

Partner with Legal and local advisors to stay ahead of regulatory change, not behind it.

Transformation and Process Improvement

Lead the ongoing transformation of the global payroll function.

Identify and implement process improvements that reduce error rates, cycle time, and manual effort.

Evaluate and implement AI and automation tools within the payroll function; build the business case and manage adoption.

Set and communicate a forward-looking operating model for the function.

Vendor Management

Own the performance and contractual obligations of all payroll vendors, including ADP and Deel.

Develop SLA oversight, escalation protocols, and performance review cadences for all payroll vendors.

Lead contract renewals and renegotiations in partnership with Finance and Legal.

Evaluate the vendor landscape on an ongoing basis and make recommendations where change is warranted.

Financial Integrity

Partner with Finance to ensure accurate GL mapping, reconciliation, and period-end close processes.

Provide payroll cost reporting that meets the standards of a financial control environment.

Ensure multi-currency payroll is handled with appropriate exchange rate discipline and documentation.

Team Leadership

Lead, develop, and hold accountable the global payroll team across all regions.

Build team capability in line with the function's transformation agenda, including AI literacy.

Manage performance proactively: development plans, corrective action, and succession thinking.

Partner with Talent Acquisition to hire into gaps and build a bench for the future.

Skills and Experience

• 10 or more years of payroll experience, with at least 5 years in a leadership role managing multi-country payroll.
• Experience managing payroll across multiple countries spanning more than one region.
• Demonstrated track record of leading a meaningful operational transformation in payroll or a comparable function.
• Hands-on experience implementing or adopting AI or automation tools in an operational payroll environment.
• General awareness is not sufficient.
• Working knowledge of GDPR and multi-jurisdictional statutory payroll compliance (tax, social contributions, mandatory benefits).
• Proven ability to manage enterprise payroll vendor relationships, including SLA oversight and contract negotiation.
• Direct people management experience, including performance management and team development.