Global Payroll Manager
About the role
The Global Payroll Manager will oversee US payroll, including bi-weekly processing, compliance, controls, and coordination with the People team and external providers. Over time, the role will expand to support global payroll processes and infrastructure.
Responsibilities
Own the end-to-end US payroll process, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
Manage bi-weekly payroll cycles, including inputs, changes, approvals, funding, checks, and post-payroll reviews.
Closely work with the People team to ensure complete, accurate, and properly authorized payroll data.
Review and approve payroll changes such as new starters, leavers, salary changes, bonuses, benefits deductions, tax adjustments, and other variable pay items.
Manage payroll compliance requirements, including tax filings, year-end reporting, W-2s, and other statutory obligations.
Partner with benefits providers to ensure correct processing of employee deductions and employer contributions.
Support payroll treatment of relocation, mobility, equity, taxable benefits, and other employee-related payments.
Act as the main point of contact for US payroll queries, resolving issues quickly and professionally.
Payroll Controls, Governance, and Compliance
Build and maintain a strong payroll control environment, including clear approval flows, segregation of duties, and audit-ready documentation.
Ensure People and Finance responsibilities are clearly separated, with People owning HR master data and Finance owning payroll processing, review, and release controls.
Prepare payroll reconciliations, including payroll to GL, payroll funding, tax liabilities, benefits deductions, and employer costs.
Support month-end close by ensuring payroll journals, accruals, and reconciliations are accurate and submitted on time.
Maintain clear audit trails for payroll changes, approvals, and payments.
Identify payroll risks and implement practical controls to reduce errors, delays, and compliance exposure.
Global Payroll Process Improvement
Develop a global payroll operating model across the UK, US, Singapore, and future jurisdictions.
Standardize payroll calendars, input templates, approval workflows, reconciliations, and reporting across countries.
Partner with local payroll providers to improve accuracy, timeliness, and consistency of payroll delivery.
Build scalable processes that can support significant headcount growth across multiple locations.
Document payroll policies, procedures, and controls to ensure the process is repeatable, transparent, and resilient.
Support future payroll system, HRIS, and finance system improvements, ensuring payroll data flows are accurate and controlled.
Create global payroll reporting for Finance, People, and leadership teams.
Cross-functional Partnership
Work closely with People, Finance, Legal, Tax, and external advisors to ensure payroll is accurate, compliant, and aligned with business needs.
Support employee mobility and international expansion from a payroll perspective.
Provide clear guidance to employees and internal stakeholders on payroll timelines, processes, and requirements.
Bring a continuous improvement mindset to payroll and help build a payroll function that can scale with the company.
Requirements
Strong experience managing US payroll, ideally in a multi-state environment.
Good understanding of US payroll tax, benefits deductions, statutory reporting, and year-end payroll requirements.
Experience working with external payroll providers and HRIS/payroll systems.
Strong understanding of payroll controls, reconciliations, and audit requirements.
Ability to work closely with People, Finance, Legal, and external advisors.
Excellent attention to detail and ability to manage deadlines in a recurring payroll cycle.
Strong communication skills and ability to explain payroll matters clearly to non-payroll stakeholders.
Comfortable working in a fast-growing, scaling company where processes are still being built and improved.
High level of discretion and professionalism when handling confidential employee information.
Nice to Have
Experience supporting payroll across multiple countries.
Experience in a technology, engineering, SaaS, or high-growth start-up environment.
Experience with employee mobility, relocation, expatriate payroll, or cross-border payroll matters.
Experience supporting payroll accounting, payroll journals, and month-end close.
Experience improving payroll systems, workflows, or automation.
CPP or similar payroll qualification.