Director, Regional Payroll & Compliance

The Director, Regional Payroll & Compliance provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and governance of payroll across all U.S. and Canada operations. Will partner Finance, HR, Legal, and external providers to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll execution while driving continuous improvement, technology optimization, and a long-term payroll strategy aligned to business objectives.

Scope & Organization

• Regional responsibility across U.S. and Canada payroll operations
• Supports 20,000 employees across multiple business units
• Oversees $2B payroll and 730K+ Pay slips annually
• Leads a team of 35 employees with 3 direct reports

Payroll Operations, Technology & Process Optimization

• Oversee Workforce Management (WFM) and time & attendance strategies, ensuring alignment with operational and labor optimization goals
• Lead end-to-end payroll operations and service delivery, ensuring a high-quality employee experience through defined service levels and responsive support models
• Drive continuous process improvement, automation, and standardization initiatives to enhance efficiency, scalability, and risk mitigation
• Oversee payroll systems and integrations, ensuring data integrity and alignment with business processes
• Own payroll function financials including budgeting, forecasting, cost management, and performance reporting in partnership with Finance. Ensures accurate payroll reporting and reconciliations
• Manage vendor relationships and SLAs to ensure high-quality, cost-effective service delivery
• Lead development and governance of payroll documentation, policies, and training to support operational consistency

Compliance & Audit

• Own enterprise accountability for payroll compliance, including wage and hour compliance, ensuring adherence to all applicable regulations and mitigating organizational risk
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, provincial, and local payroll and tax regulations across U.S. and Canada
• Monitor regulatory changes and implement necessary updates to processes and systems
• Lead internal and external payroll audits, including tax, wage, and Department of Labor reviews
• Establish and maintain robust internal controls and compliance frameworks (including ICRF alignment) to ensure accuracy, audit readiness, and risk mitigation

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Develop and execute a regional payroll strategy aligned with business priorities and transformation initiatives
• Lead payroll integration for mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, ensuring seamless transition, compliance, and operational continuity
• Establish governance frameworks to ensure consistency while accommodating local requirements
• Partner cross-functionally to optimize payroll processes, systems, and compliance outcomes
• Develop and deliver training and guidance to HR, Finance, and business teams on payroll compliance, policies, and best practices
• Lead enterprise transformation initiatives, system implementations, and change management programs to modernize payroll operations and drive adoption
• Serve as escalation point for critical payroll, compliance, and operational issues, ensuring timely resolution and risk mitigation

People Leadership

• Build, develop, and lead a high-performing payroll team, with strong focus on engagement and capability development
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and service excellence
• Drive succession planning, workforce planning, and organizational effectiveness