Senior Manager, Payroll (Tax)
General Function
The Senior Manager, Payroll Tax Operations leads the strategy, compliance, and execution of payroll tax operations across U.S. and Canada entities. This role ensures accurate, compliant, and efficient payroll tax processes in a complex, multi-jurisdictional environment. The leader drives operational excellence, risk management, and transformation while partnering across HR, Finance, IT, and Legal to support enterprise priorities.
Major Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end payroll tax operations, including filings, deposits, reconciliations, and reporting across jurisdictions
- Ensure compliance with U.S. federal, state, local, and Canadian tax regulations; monitor legislative changes and implement updates
- Lead and execute payroll tax compliance audits, reviewing processes, data integrity, filings, and reconciliations; partner with Audit and Finance to remediate findings and strengthen controls (including SOX)
- Serve as primary contact for audits, tax authorities, and agency inquiries; oversee notice resolution and root cause analysis and negotiations
- Partner with Finance on general ledger integration, account reconciliations, and financial reporting
- Lead year-end activities including W-2, W-2c, and T4 processing with accuracy and timeliness
- Oversee employee tax setup processes, including multi-state, remote workforce, and cross-border considerations
- Drive payroll tax system strategy and optimization (ADP GlobalView, SmartCompliance, SAP or equivalent)
- Lead system implementations, upgrades, and integrations
- Manage vendor relationships and performance to ensure delivery against SLAs
- Establish KPIs and reporting to monitor service delivery, compliance, and operational effectiveness
- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team; build capabilities and support succession planning
- Drive continuous improvement through process optimization, automation, and analytics
- Partner cross-functionally to support complex business needs, including M&A and organizational change
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, HR, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- 8–10+ years of progressive payroll tax experience, including leadership roles
- Mastery of U.S. federal, state, and local payroll tax laws (plus Canadian if applicable)
- Ability to interpret complex regulations (e.g., multi-state taxation, remote work, supplemental wages)
- Strong command of SOX controls, internal audit processes, and tax compliance frameworks
- Ability to identify risks, manage audits, resolve tax notices, and implement corrective actions
- Proven ability to lead high-performing teams and drive accountability
- Influences cross-functional partners (Finance, HR, Legal, IT) and advises senior leadership
- Translates technical tax issues into business decisions and strategy
- Expertise in enterprise payroll systems (ADP, SAP, Workday, etc.)
- Strong analytical capability to leverage data for insights, accuracy, and forecasting
- Proven ability to lead teams in complex, high-volume environments
- Strong communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills
PREFERRED
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP), Payroll Leadership Professional (PLP), or Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
- Experience with payroll transformation, M&A, or shared service
- Knowledge of data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau)
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, HR, or related field (or equivalent experience)
- 8–10+ years of progressive payroll tax experience, including leadership roles
- Mastery of U.S. federal, state, and local payroll tax laws (plus Canadian if applicable)
- Ability to interpret complex regulations (e.g., multi-state taxation, remote work, supplemental wages)
- Strong command of SOX controls, internal audit processes, and tax compliance frameworks
- Ability to identify risks, manage audits, resolve tax notices, and implement corrective actions
- Proven ability to lead high-performing teams and drive accountability
- Influences cross-functional partners (Finance, HR, Legal, IT) and advises senior leadership
- Translates technical tax issues into business decisions and strategy
- Expertise in enterprise payroll systems (ADP, SAP, Workday, etc.)
- Strong analytical capability to leverage data for insights, accuracy, and forecasting
- Proven ability to lead teams in complex, high-volume environments
- Strong communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills
Pay and Benefits
Your total rewards package includes a competitive salary, benefits, and opportunities for growth. Benefits may include health care, retirement savings, paid time off/vacation, and various employee discounts. Essential details about pay and benefits can be found in the "Total Rewards" section.
About the Company
We are a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of ophthalmic lenses, frames, and sunglasses. We offer our industry stakeholders in over 150 countries access to a global platform of high-quality vision care products such as the Essilor brand, with Varilux, Crizal, Eyezen, Stellest and Transitions, iconic brands that consumers love such as Ray-Ban, Oakley, Persol and Oliver Peoples, as well as a network that offers consumers high-quality vision care and best-in-class shopping experiences such as Sunglass Hut, LensCrafters, and Target Optical, and leading e-commerce platforms.
Equal Opportunity Employer
We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, social origin, social condition, being perceived as a victim of domestic violence, sexual aggression or stalking, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, ancestry, veteran or military status, marital status, pregnancy (including unlawful discrimination on the basis of a legally protected pregnancy or maternity leave), genetic information or any other characteristics protected by law. Native Americans in the US receive preference in accordance with Tribal Law.