Vice President, Payroll Services

The Vice President, Payroll will serve as the strategic business owner of Marriott’s payroll strategies, processes, and tools, and will leverage Marriott’s partnerships with AHS, UKG and other partner relationships as appropriate.   This position will partner closely with Finance, HR and iT as well as other cross discipline leadership to review existing platforms, align on the strategy and execution of the Payroll platform, including technology, policies and business support as appropriate.  As a member of Global Finance Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Governance team, she/he will also have responsibility for managing the relationship with and ensuring the delivery of accurate and effective services by the Finance BPO Service Provider(s) to Payroll groups.

The Vice President, Payroll Services will function as the Payroll and Labor Scheduling systems and subject matter expert and serve as the primary point of contact for Payroll policies and related business processes, training and other deliverables. She/he will serve as a point of contact for Service Providers concerning the day-to-day delivery of services and monitor and review the Service Providers’ performance of the services in accordance with the existing and future corporate level agreements between Marriott International and BPO Service Providers. 

The Vice President, Payroll Services collaborates with Finance, HR, iT and Legal, and the various Finance, HR and iT BPO Service Provider(s) to ensure that effective payroll, labor scheduling strategies are in place and executed in accordance with company requirements. The Vice President, Payroll Services must therefore be adept at managing and aligning competing priorities, tapping diverse sources of information, identifying appropriate solutions, anticipating challenges, and devising and executing approaches to deliver against current and future priorities.   

EXPECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

• Provides thought leadership in payroll to the organization. Unearths current and future needs and trends shaping business solutions to inform the evolution of innovative future payroll solutions for the enterprise.
• Oversees the development and ongoing enhancement of payroll and processes that comply with legal requirements and support the business objectives.
• Accountable for payroll and Atlas end to end processes; ensures that the Company has the right systems, processes and tools in the effective delivery of payroll and labor scheduling services; develops documentation to ensure process and role clarity; develops and maintains subject matter expert content and appropriate training for end users.
• Partners with MVP, Global Accounting Services, key business and cross-discipline leaders, and key external partners (AHS, UKG, and others as appropriate) to develop payroll, labor optimization and disbursement strategies and create operational plans. 
• Chairs and establishes a Global Payroll Governance Council and other forums as appropriate with subject matter experts from Finance, AHS, HR, iT and Legal to develop a broader understanding of the end to end payroll processes and deepen relationships across disciplines; Council will tackle problems, develop business solutions and align on the enhancement and optimization of existing processes on a go forward basis.
• Engages with the Executive US/Canada Payroll Council for policy change recommendations and investment approvals; partners with Co-Chairs to schedule meetings and set agenda.
• Partnering with the MVP, Global Accounting Services validates that the Service Provider(s) and the Company follow contract terms and conditions, commitments, and notifications.
• Provide advice and counsel to internal stakeholders regarding the scope and governance of services and the contract. Provide advice and counsel to the Service Provider(s) and support to internal stakeholders concerning questions and issues arising from the delivery of services.
• Monitors and improves the quality of the relationship between Marriott and Service Provider(s). Develops processes and organization capability to execute relationship management processes. Operationalizes and manages relationship management processes. Collaborates with key stakeholder groups to validate the effectiveness of relationship management processes.
• Establishes and maintains regular reporting and communication with key stakeholders regarding pertinent initiative activities and developments.
• Leads and/or participates in RFP processes for third-party providers to support global payroll, labor scheduling and optimization as appropriate; participates in/contributes to contract negotiation efforts with third-party providers, where applicable. 
• Establishes and maintains strong, collaborative relationships with corporate and continent Finance, HR, iT and Legal teams to understand the business and ensure timely exchange of information.  Provides ongoing advice and guidance to internal stakeholders concerning matters related to payroll and labor scheduling.
• Leads and manages a team of experts and provides direction and guidance to meet established goals.
• Manages budget for the department.
• Participates in benchmarking and mark-to-market activities to stay abreast of trends and bring best-practices to Marriott’s model. 
• Contributes to achievement of team objectives and outcomes.
• Champions excellence in business ethics and integrity, social responsibility, cross-cultural effectiveness, and associate engagement.
• Performs other duties as assigned to meet business needs.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Key Talents and Experience 

• Minimum 10 years broad financial management experience in a global organization with increasing management responsibility.
• Payroll knowledge is required, and labor scheduling and accounting experience preferred. 
• Strong business acumen and service orientation.
• Knowledge of generally accepted finance and accounting policies, principles and controls.
• Exhibits strong functional leadership and finance knowledge; able to leverage this strength to influence business team strategies and decisions. 
• Strategic thinker; processes information through a strategic lens and applies tenants of systems thinking/theory to issues/assignments. 
• Demonstrated ability to formulate creative solutions for complex business issues, mitigating risk and maximizing stakeholder satisfaction.
• Strong qualitative and quantitative analytical skills; ability to take large volumes of complex information and present it in a clear and concise manner appropriate for senior management decision-making; uses data and a cogent problem solving methodology in decision making and impact assessment.
• Able to orchestrate systemic change; initiates, supports and manages change within the organization, taking steps to remove barriers or to accelerate its pace.
• Operates with a collaborative mindset to ensure that key stakeholders are considered, eliminating the need for duplicate systems; builds strong relationships to leverage information and insights to anticipate and respond to project risks; communicates well with project and other leaders; openly shares and does not withhold information. 
• Skillful negotiator in tough situations; able to sell ideas persuasively; settles differences and wins concessions without damaging relationships; can be both direct and forceful while remaining diplomatic. 
• Strong leader of people; able to create a compelling vision, demonstrate flexibility in approach, and motivate others to achieve desired results; able to work in a matrix organization and make things happen without having to own all the resources; leverages shared resources to achieve results.
• Strong interpersonal skills; must be a successful “networker” and able to maintain effective relationships, both internally and externally with a broad group of stakeholders to foster trust and influence key decisions.
• Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing; listens to others and effectively comprehends information; creates an environment allowing timely information flows throughout the organization.
• Responsive; able to integrate and balance priorities, work activities and resources for the benefit of multiple key stakeholders.
• Results oriented; delivers results under difficult conditions and demonstrates balanced judgment under pressure; able to assess, plan and get “the right priorities” done, on time and budget, at high quality levels; able to work both independently and as part of a team. 
• Able to consistently make decisions in a timely manner sometimes with incomplete information and under tight deadlines and pressure; comfortable challenging organizational norms and accepted thinking to improve effectiveness.

Education and Professional Certification 

• Baccalaureate degree in Finance, Human Resources or related discipline required; MBA and/or CPA strongly preferred
• 15 years of professional experience, including significant management responsibilities.

Marriott International is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive, people-first culture. We are committed to non-discrimination on any protected basis, such as disability and veteran status, or any other basis covered under applicable law.