Payroll Manager US & Canada

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a payroll team responsible for bi-weekly payroll for 2,000+ employees across the U.S. and Canada.
• Ensure accurate and timely payroll processing, including earnings, deductions, taxes, and off-cycle payments.
• Oversee payroll-related activities managed by third-party providers (e.g., ADP) to ensure data integrity, compliance, and service quality.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, provincial, and local payroll laws, tax regulations, and reporting requirements.
• Review and approve payroll reconciliations, including general ledger postings, accruals, and variance analysis.
• Investigate and resolve complex payroll issues, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions.
• Maintain and optimize payroll systems (Workday, ADP), including tax table updates, configurations, and integrations.
• Drive payroll process improvements, automation, and standardization initiatives to enhance efficiency and controls.
• Develop and deliver payroll reporting (bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, and year-end) for management and audit purposes.
• Partner cross-functionally with HR, Finance, IT, and external vendors to support business priorities and system enhancements.
• Support audits (internal and external) by ensuring documentation, controls, and compliance requirements are met.
• Contribute to the evolution of a more centralized, scalable payroll operating model.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including multi-state U.S. payroll; Canadian payroll experience required.
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing payroll teams.
• Strong experience with Workday Payroll and ADP solutions (Workforce Now and/or Celergo preferred).
• Deep knowledge of U.S. and Canadian payroll regulations, tax compliance, and filings.
• Solid understanding of payroll accounting, including journal entries, reconciliations, and financial reporting impacts.
• Experience in a high-volume, multi-entity, or decentralized environment.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy and compliance.
• Proven problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze complex payroll issues and implement solutions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills; able to influence across all levels of the organization.
• High level of integrity and ability to manage confidential information.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and meet tight deadlines.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on automation, efficiency, and scalability.
• Customer-service orientation with a focus on employee experience.
• Experience leveraging AI and automation tools to improve payroll accuracy, reporting, issue resolution, and process efficiency while maintaining strong controls, compliance, and data privacy.
• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) preferred.
• Experience supporting payroll transformations, system implementations, or centralization efforts.
• Exposure to global payroll environments or shared services models.