Director – Payroll Operations

Role Overview:

The Director – Payroll Operations is a senior leadership position responsible for overseeing and ensuring seamless, accurate payroll delivery across multiple geographies. This role involves driving operational excellence, compliance, and managing global teams. The Director will also collaborate closely with internal and external stakeholders, championing effective governance, continuous improvement, and supporting organizational growth initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Payroll Operations & Timely Delivery

• Oversee end-to-end payroll processing for clients across three regions, ensuring accurate and timely salary disbursements in line with agreed-upon SLAs and calendars.

• Ensure the prompt upload and distribution of payslips via the company platform.

• Monitor day-to-day payroll operations, rapidly resolving issues and implementing process improvements as needed.

2. Post-Payroll Activities & Compliance

• Drive timely submission of statutory contributions for clients whose salary payments and compliance are managed by the company.

• Oversee due/paid reconciliations for all statutory remittances, maintaining high standards of audit readiness and accuracy.

• Ensure year-end processes, including upload of tax forms, are completed accurately and within established deadlines.

3. Governance & Stakeholder Management

• Lead regular regional governance meetings with Payroll Heads, and participate in senior leadership forums, providing operational updates and strategic recommendations.

• Maintain a central repository of country-specific payroll and compliance guides, fostering knowledge sharing and consistency across regions.

• Proactively identify product gaps or enhancement opportunities, collaborating with product and technology teams to resolve issues and deliver innovative solutions.

4. Commercial & Pre-Sales Support

• Support Sales and Implementation teams with timely and accurate RFP responses related to payroll services.

• Participate in prospect and client calls, addressing payroll-specific questions and articulating the company’s value proposition and service capabilities.

5. Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing global payroll operations team, setting clear goals and fostering professional growth.

• Drive a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Proven experience (20+ years) in leading payroll operations for multiple geographies, ideally in a high-growth, technology-driven environment.

• Strong knowledge of global payroll practices, statutory compliance, and legislative frameworks.

• Demonstrated ability to manage large teams and complex projects.

• Excellent stakeholder management, influencing, and communication skills.

• Experience supporting sales and client engagement processes a strong advantage.

Personal Attributes:

• Strategic thinker with strong operational focus.

• Highly organized and detail oriented.

• Proactive problem-solver; able to drive change and innovation.

• Collaborative leader with a passion for building strong teams.

Reports To: VP – Payroll Operations