Regional Payroll Operations Lead - Americas

We believe in a world where growth thrives across borders and cultures. Our mission is to guide companies on their journey by providing services and technology that enables global talent management and delivers a human experience.

As an Employer-of-Record (EOR) provider, we offer the HR and compliance infrastructure essential for companies to expand internationally. We take care of the complex, behind-the-scenes work, allowing companies to focus on the strategies that drive their success. We are For People, By People. 

The future of work is borderless, and so are we. Our people are located around the globe — in the U.S., the UK, India, Colombia, China, and beyond. Diversity and belonging are not just values, they are who we are. 

We are also committed to making a positive impact. Through our Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) impact initiative, we are addressing our environmental footprint and promoting social responsibility. Our impact program is central to our vision and culture, focusing on employee wellness, diversity, charitable work, and ethical corporate governance.

If you are interested in working in a people-centric, global organization, apply below.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Regional Payroll Lead to support our clients. The role will oversee day-to-day Payroll operations across multiple countries within North and South America. This role owns regional service delivery performance, escalations, compliance, and continuous improvement, ensuring timely, accurate, and high-quality HR support for employees and managers. 

The successful candidate will blend deep Payroll expertise with strong people, customer service, and transformation skills. They will partner closely with internal teams (HR, Payroll, Shared Services, Legal, Finance) and external vendors to deliver consistent, compliant, and scalable service consistent, compliant, and scalable service delivery. 

This role is a hands-on, individual contributor who can proactively address complex issues while standardizing processes across diverse jurisdictions. 

Key Responsibilities

Regional Payroll Oversight & Execution Governance

• Assist in oversight of the end-to-end payroll operations across all assigned countries within region, ensuring adherence to payroll calendars, processing timelines, and defined SLAs  

• Validate that payroll inputs, calculations, and outputs are processed accurately by vendors and internal teams prior to finalization  

• Review and approve payroll reconciliations, including gross-to-net analysis, funding alignment, and variance explanations  

• Ensure all payroll cycles are supported by documented validation, approvals, and audit trails  

• Confirm payroll outputs align with employment agreements, client requirements, and statutory obligations  

 Payroll Compliance & Regulatory Ownership

• Drive compliance with regional directives, GDPR requirements, and country-specific payroll laws, including tax, social security, and labor regulations  

• Monitor and interpret regulatory changes (e.g., GDPR updates, local reforms, collective agreements) and ensure timely implementation into payroll processes  

• Validate that statutory filings, submissions, and year-end reporting are completed accurately and within required deadlines  

• Maintain and oversee country-specific compliance documentation, playbooks, and control frameworks  

• Ensure payroll processes meet audit and regulatory standards, including readiness for internal and external audits  

 Vendor & In-Country Partner (ICP) Accountability

• Own performance management of external payroll vendors and ICPs, including SLA adherence, accuracy, and compliance delivery  

• Review and validate vendor payroll outputs, statutory filings, and reporting prior to approval  

• Conduct regular performance reviews of vendors, including issue tracking, root cause trends, and corrective action plans  

• Lead vendor onboarding, transitions, and offboarding, ensuring continuity of payroll operations and compliance coverage  

• Act as the primary escalation point for vendor-related issues, ensuring timely resolution and accountability  

 Escalation Ownership & Complex Case Resolution

• Act as the final escalation point for complex payroll issues impacting employees, clients, or regulatory compliance  

• Lead resolution of issues involving tax authorities, social insurance bodies, and statutory disputes  

• Provide expert guidance on cross-border payroll scenarios, including posted workers, multi-country taxation, and expatriate considerations  

• Review and approve corrective actions, including off-cycle payments, adjustments, and statutory corrections  

• Ensure all escalations are documented with root cause, resolution, and preventive actions  

 Payroll Controls, Risk Management & Audit Readiness

• Establish and enforce payroll control frameworks, including validation checkpoints, reconciliation standards, and approval processes  

• Ensure execution of pre- and post-payroll controls, including data validation, variance thresholds, and compliance checks  

• Identify and mitigate payroll risks, including compliance exposure, calculation errors, and vendor performance gaps  

• Maintain complete audit documentation, including payroll reports, approvals, reconciliations, and statutory records  

• Ensure a zero-defect / zero-penalty mindset, proactively addressing risks before payroll finalization  

 Team Leadership & Accountability

• Mentor, coach, and develop a team of Payroll Specialists, ensuring clarity of roles, workload distribution, and performance expectations  

• Review team output for accuracy, completeness, and compliance adherence  

• Set and monitor individual and team performance against SLAs, KPIs, and quality standards  

• Provide guidance on complex payroll scenarios, statutory interpretation, and escalation handling  

• Ensure team adherence to documented processes, controls, and service delivery standards  

 Cross-Functional Coordination & Dependency Management

• Partner with HR, Benefits, Finance, Legal, and Customer Success to ensure accurate payroll inputs and compliance alignment  

• Coordinate with Finance on funding, FX requirements, GL mapping, and payroll accounting alignment  

• Collaborate with Benefits teams on statutory and supplemental programs (e.g., pensions, health schemes)  

• Ensure data integrity across HRIS, payroll systems, and vendor platforms  

• Drive resolution of upstream issues impacting payroll by enforcing accountability across functions  

 Process Improvement, Automation & Performance Management

• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance payroll accuracy, efficiency, and scalability  

• Drive standardization of payroll processes and controls across countries and vendors  

• Monitor payroll performance using KPIs and SLAs, including accuracy, timeliness, and compliance metrics  

• Maintain incident tracking and reporting, ensuring trends are analyzed and addressed  

• Identify opportunities for automation and system optimization, reducing manual intervention and risk  

Qualifications

Required 

• 7+ years of experience in multi-country payroll operations within North and South America 

• Demonstrated experience managing end-to-end payroll across multiple jurisdictions  

• Deep knowledge of regulations, GDPR, and country-specific statutory frameworks  

• Experience managing external payroll vendors and in-country partners  

• Proven ability to own escalations, compliance, and payroll governance  

• Strong experience with payroll systems, HRIS platforms, and data validation/reconciliation processes  

• Ability to interpret complex regulatory requirements and apply them operationally  

• Strong analytical, leadership, and stakeholder management skills  

Preferred 

• Experience within an EOR (Employer of Record) or global employment model  

• Exposure to cross-border payroll scenarios and expatriate populations  

• Proficiency in multiple payroll systems or platforms  

• Fluency in English; additional applicable language(s) strongly preferred  

This position description may not describe all duties, responsibilities, and skills associated with this position. It is intended to portray the major aspects of the job. Other duties or skills may be required.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to work with a purpose — simplifying global expansion across borders and cultures
• A diverse and inclusive environment
• Country-specific benefits
• Flexible PTO
• Your birthday off and a day for you to volunteer and give back to the organization of your choice
• Generous Parental Leave Program
• Growth and development opportunities with access to a top learning content provider
• The opportunity to challenge yourself in a high-performing organization and leave each day knowing you have made an impact.

Atlas Technology Solutions, Inc. (Atlas HXM) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Prohibits Discrimination and Harassment of Any Kind: Atlas HXM is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at Atlas HXM are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, HIV status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, past or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. Atlas HXM will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics. Atlas HXM encourages applicants of all ages.

Atlas HXM will provide accommodation on request throughout the recruitment, selection and assessment process for applicants with disabilities.

Hiring decisions are based upon Atlas HXM’s operating needs, and applicant merit including, but not limited to, qualifications, experience, ability, availability, and location.

This role will be subject to a background check under local law after an employment offer has been made. Employment may be subject to results. In addition, references may be requested at the final stage of the process.

Atlas HXM will only email candidates from an “@atlashxm.com” email address. Candidates should ignore communications purporting to be from Atlas HXM that originate from any other email address. Atlas HXM will never ask candidates or employees to purchase gift cards or otherwise make payments in connection with applying for a job with Atlas HXM.