Payroll & Benefits Manager

For over 90 years, Topcon’s vision has been to solve societal challenges around the globe. In healthcare, we are developing innovations that improve patients’ health and quality of life. We empower eye care providers with advanced imaging, diagnostic solutions, and intelligent data technology. Our robotic devices deliver simplicity without compromise, by capturing clear images with the push of a button. By joining Topcon Healthcare, you become part of a growing, diverse, global team. With office locations throughout North America, whether you are on-site, remote, or hybrid, our culture empowers you to contribute to company and personal success each day.

About the role

This is a hands-on individual contributor role responsible for end-to-end payroll operations, benefits administration, and payroll and benefits configuration within Workday across the United States, Canada, and Australia. The role ensures employees are paid accurately and on time, benefits programs are administered effectively, and regulatory requirements are met across all regions. This role is the primary point of accountability for payroll and benefits operations, responsible for maintaining data integrity, resolving complex issues, and driving process improvements that increase accuracy, efficiency, and compliance. The role requires deep technical expertise, strong judgment, and the ability to independently identify root causes and implement sustainable solutions across multiple countries.

Partnering closely with Human Resources, Finance, external payroll providers, and benefits brokers, this role ensures payroll and benefits programs operate effectively and supports business and employee needs. This opportunity is ideal for someone who thrives in a highly accountable environment, enjoys solving complex operational challenges, and takes ownership of critical processes from strategy through execution.

Responsibilities

• Own the accuracy, compliance, and operational integrity of payroll and benefits administration across the United States, Canada, and Australia, ensuring employees are paid accurately, benefits are administered effectively, and all regulatory obligations are met.
• Navigate complex multi-country payroll requirements across the United States, Canada, and Australia, ensuring accurate execution, regulatory compliance, and a consistent employee experience across all regions.
• Lead the resolution of complex payroll, benefits, and Workday-related issues by identifying root causes, implementing sustainable solutions, and ensuring accurate, compliant outcomes.
• Drive payroll and benefits operational excellence by establishing effective controls, managing critical timelines, and continuously improving processes to ensure accurate, compliant, and timely outcomes.
• Own the configuration, integrity, and continuous optimization of Workday payroll and benefits administration, ensuring accurate, compliant, and scalable support for employees.
• Configure, maintain, and optimize payroll and benefits administration within Workday, including earnings, deductions, eligibility rules, tax settings, integrations, and related processes.
• Lead the investigation and resolution of complex payroll, benefits, and Workday system issues by identifying root causes, correcting data integrity concerns, and implementing sustainable solutions.
• Drive continuous improvement across payroll and benefits operations by simplifying processes, increasing automation, strengthening controls, and enhancing the employee experience.
• Lead the evaluation, testing, and implementation of payroll and benefits system enhancements, ensuring Workday supports evolving business needs, regulatory requirements, and operational best practices.
• Own benefits administration within Workday, ensuring accurate configuration, eligibility rules, enrollments, deductions, and data integrity.
• Troubleshoot complex benefits issues and resolve root causes within Workday and related processes.
• Partner with HR Business Partners on employee and manager escalations and coordinate with the benefits broker on complex cases.
• Ensure benefit elections, deductions, and payroll impacts are processed accurately and timely.
• Support annual enrollment activities, benefit plan changes, testing, and system updates.
• Ensure compliance with payroll, tax, and employment-related regulations across the United States, Canada, and Australia by monitoring legislative changes, assessing business impact, and implementing required updates.
• Lead all payroll-related compliance activities, including tax filings, audits, reporting, garnishments, and regulatory requirements, ensuring accurate execution and adherence to applicable laws.
• Monitor and evaluate changes in payroll, tax, benefits, and employment regulations, translating regulatory requirements into actionable updates to systems, processes, controls, and employee programs.
• Establish and maintain documentation, controls, and governance practices that support audit readiness, regulatory compliance, and operational excellence.
• Lead the identification and resolution of process, system, and operational inefficiencies by addressing root causes, strengthening controls, and implementing scalable solutions.
• Develop and implement standardized payroll and benefits processes, controls, and best practices to improve consistency, reduce risk, and support a scalable employee experience.
• Design, implement, and continuously enhance payroll and benefits controls that mitigate risk, improve data integrity, and prevent recurring issues.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex payroll, benefits, and Workday-related issues, ensuring timely resolution and a positive employee experience.
• Manage relationships with external payroll providers, benefits brokers, tax partners, and other vendors to ensure reliable service delivery, compliance, and operational effectiveness.
• Partner with HR leadership and HR Business Partners to ensure payroll and benefits administration accurately reflect policies, programs, employee changes, and business needs.
• Support compensation, benefits, equity, and employee lifecycle processes that impact payroll, benefits administration, reporting, and compliance.
• Provide clear reporting and insights on payroll and benefits accuracy, trends, risk areas, and opportunities for process improvement.

Requirements

• Deep ownership experience managing payroll across the United States, Canada, and Australia, including complex regulatory and operational requirements.
• Hands-on experience with multi-country payroll operations and understanding of cross-border payroll, tax, and compliance considerations.
• Experience configuring and managing Workday payroll and benefits administration, not just processing transactions within it.
• Experience managing payroll audits, tax filings, reporting, benefits-related compliance activities, and regulatory requirements with confidence and accuracy.
• Ability to operate effectively in environments where payroll and benefits processes, controls, and systems need to be strengthened or scaled.
• Ability to make sound decisions in complex or ambiguous payroll and benefits situations.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively across HR, Finance, external payroll providers, benefits brokers, and other partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in regulated or highly compliant environments.
• Experience supporting payroll benefits administration in Workday, including configuration and troubleshooting.
• Direct experience with Australia payroll.

Pay

Expected Base Pay Range: $70,000 to $90,000 annualized. In addition to base pay, compensation for this position includes eligibility for a 5% annual bonus.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability insurance.
• Tax-saving spending accounts and a 401(k) plan with employer match.
• Tuition reimbursement and other perks.
• Paid company holidays, paid personal time off, and paid sick time that meets or exceeds state/local requirements.