Senior Payroll Specialist - North America

Rockwell Automation is a global technology leader focused on helping the world’s manufacturers be more productive, sustainable, and agile. With more than 28,000 employees, we know we have something special. Our people are energized problem solvers who take pride in how their work changes the world for the better.

About the role

As a Senior Payroll Specialist, you will process weekly and biweekly payroll for exempt and nonexempt employees in an outsourced payroll model, with primary focus on Canadian payroll. The team supports approximately 12,000 employees across North America, including the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada. In addition to payroll responsibilities, you will support the AI Transformation Program for HR and the Office of General Counsel (OGC) by contributing to modernization efforts, assisting with AI and automation projects, and improving adoption of new tools and processes. You will report to the Team Lead North America Payroll.

Responsibilities

• Execute the end-to-end payroll process for US, Puerto Rico, and Canada; ensuring payroll is delivered accurately, on time, and in compliance with applicable requirements.
• Collect, validate, consolidate, and submit payroll inputs to the external payroll vendor, ensuring data is complete, accurate, and supported.
• Reconcile vendor payroll outputs; identify discrepancies, resolve issues, and confirm readiness for final payroll approval.
• Be an escalation point for complex payroll questions from employees, managers, HR, Finance, and other internal stakeholders.
• Prepare, review, verify payroll documentation, declarations, reconciliations, statutory reports, and internal reporting requirements.
• Maintain payroll controls, process documentation, and audit evidence to support internal controls, compliance reviews, and audits.
• Monitor payroll deadlines, labor law requirements, tax and social security obligations, and statutory changes that may affect payroll operations.
• Maintain data integrity across payroll, HR, time, and finance systems.
• Identify and support process improvements to enhance payroll processing.
• Analyze payroll issues, causes, and trends; recommend improvements to reduce errors, strengthen controls, and improve the employee experience.
• Support payroll-related projects, system changes, testing, process transitions, standardization, and automation projects.
• Provide guidance and knowledge sharing to less experienced colleagues while modeling quality, accountability, and collaboration.
• Support the Team Lead and Manager with operational coordination, issue resolution, workload prioritization, and regional process governance.
• Contribute to AI and automation projects within the AI Transformation Program for HR and the Office of General Counsel (OGC).

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree.
• Legal authorization to work in the U.S. (Rockwell Automation will not sponsor individuals for employment visas for this job opening).

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field (preferred).
• 6+ years of experience in a multinational, shared service, or outsourced payroll environment.
• Knowledge of Canadian payroll processes, statutory compliance, payroll controls, reconciliations, and audit support.
• Experience working with external payroll vendors and managing payroll outputs, escalations, and service quality.
• Canadian Payroll Association PCP certification or American Payroll Association FPC, CPP (preferred).
• Experience with Workday Payroll and Time (preferred).
• Advanced English required; additional language skills preferred based on country or regional scope.
• Comfortable supporting process improvements, projects, and automation projects.
• Experience using AI-enabled productivity tools and automation technologies to improve payroll processes.
• Ability to independently navigate a global matrix organization and strengthen collaboration across HR, Finance, Payroll Tax, Legal, vendors, and regional teams.
• Experience with continuous improvement methodologies.

Benefits

• Health Insurance including Medical, Dental, and Vision.
• 401k.
• Paid Time off.
• Parental and Caregiver Leave.
• Flexible Work Schedule where you will work with your manager to enjoy a work schedule that can be flexible with your personal life.

Schedule

Employees are expected to work at a Rockwell location at least Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays unless they have a business obligation out of the office.