Payroll Manager – Global Payroll Operations

Job Description

Manager, North America Payroll | Workday

The Tone:
This is a full-time hybrid role at Workday, with primary location in Atlanta, GA, and additional US locations considered under the flexible work policy. Workday is a Fortune 500 company and a leading AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, shaping the future of work. This role is crucial for ensuring accurate, on-time payroll operations and exceptional service to employees across North America, directly impacting employee satisfaction, business compliance, and growth.

The TL;DR
• Role: Full Time
• Location: Hybrid, Atlanta, GA; additional US locations
• Pay: $104700–$186000 yearly
• Team: Global Payroll team, leading a decentralized regional team of Payroll Analysts based in Atlanta, Salt Lake City, and India.
• Mission: Lead North America payroll operations, manage in-house processing for US/Canada, and coordinate third-party processing for Mexico/Costa Rica, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
• Tech Stack: Workday Payroll product, automation tools, Excel, Microsoft Office tools

What You’ll Actually Do
• Team Leadership: Mentor direct reports by being a role model and develop a shared vision across your decentralized global team.
• Payroll Operations: Oversee overall global payroll operations, managing in-house processing for the US and Canada using the Workday Payroll product, while coordinating with third-party providers for Mexico and Costa Rica.
• Compliance and Filings: Stay up-to-date with labor laws and tax regulations across the US, Canada, Mexico, and Costa Rica, ensuring full compliance and overseeing payroll regulatory filings, tax reconciliations, and interactions with statutory entities.
• Process Improvement and Collaboration: Partner with Workday teams, HR, and Finance to design and implement cross-functional process improvements, uptake new system functionality, and resolve payroll-related inquiries.
• Financial Controls and Audits: Own SOX controls for global payroll functions, conduct internal audits, and ensure proper accounting for payroll expenses and tax liabilities.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Manager level; Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or HR, or equivalent relevant work experience in payroll operations, compliance, and team leadership.
• Experience: 8+ years of increasing experience in a high-growth or public company, including at least 2+ years in a team lead or manager function; 5+ years processing in-house payroll on an ERP; proven experience directly managing a decentralized or global team.
• Skills: Strong knowledge of payroll principles, tax regulations, and labor laws across the US and Canada, with working knowledge of managed payroll models in Mexico and Costa Rica; strong analytic and critical thinking skills; excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills; proficient knowledge of accounting, HCM, and payroll systems.
• Bonus: Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC) designation; hands-on experience with the Workday Payroll product; prior experience managing payroll for multiple countries and overseeing third-party vendors.