Global Payroll Operations Manager
Hawkins HR Consulting • Louisville, KY • Full Time
Posted on Wed, Jun 3, 2026
The ideal candidate will be an influential leader with deep expertise in payroll operations, payroll systems, vendor management, and team development. This individual will play a critical role in driving payroll excellence, ensuring compliance, optimizing processes, and building a high-performing payroll organization capable of supporting future growth.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and implement a strategic vision for global payroll operations that aligns with organizational growth objectives.
- Lead payroll operations for a large, multi-country employee population, with primary responsibility for U.S. and Canadian payroll processes.
- Manage, mentor, and develop a team of five direct reports while building organizational capability and payroll expertise.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on accuracy, compliance, efficiency, automation, and scalability.
- Establish strong partnerships with Finance, Human Resources, Legal, Tax, and business leadership teams.
- Influence stakeholders at all organizational levels to drive payroll-related initiatives and process improvements.
- Manage relationships with payroll vendors and service providers, ensuring performance expectations and service level agreements are met.
- Oversee payroll compliance with federal, state, provincial, and local regulations.
- Evaluate and optimize payroll systems, processes, and controls to support a growing global workforce.
- Partner with HRIS and IT teams to support payroll technology enhancements, integrations, and system implementations.
- Ensure timely and accurate payroll processing while maintaining strong internal controls and audit readiness.
- Provide leadership and guidance during organizational changes, acquisitions, integrations, and workforce expansions.
Required
- Bachelor's Degree required.
- Minimum of 10+ years of progressive payroll leadership experience supporting large, complex organizations.
- Extensive experience managing U.S. payroll operations; Canadian payroll experience strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated success leading payroll teams and developing talent.
- Strong knowledge of payroll compliance, taxation, reporting, and regulatory requirements.
- Experience working with major U.S. payroll software platforms and service providers.
- Proven ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all levels of an organization.
- Strong vendor management and relationship-building skills.
- Excellent analytical, communication, and leadership capabilities.
- Master's Degree.
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation.
- Experience supporting global payroll operations beyond the U.S. and Canada.
- Experience with HRIS and payroll system integrations, implementations, and optimization projects.
- Competitive base salary of $205,000 - $215,000.
- Opportunity to shape and execute the future vision of payroll operations within a rapidly growing global organization.
- High visibility role with significant influence across the enterprise.
- Collaborative leadership team and strong organizational support.
- Hybrid work schedule with one remote workday per week.
- Relocation assistance available for qualified candidates.