Manager Payroll Operations (US & Canada)

Job description

Primary Function of Position

The Manager, Payroll Operations (U.S. & Canada) leads end-to-end payroll operations for more than 9,000 employees and manages a team of payroll professionals. The role is accountable for accurate and timely payroll processing, regulatory compliance, employee inquiry and case management and internal controls, vendor performance, and continuous improvement efforts across the organization. This is a hands-on people leadership role that balances operational execution with strategic direction.

The Manager, Payroll Operations provides escalation support for complex payroll matters, develops team capability, strengthens governance, and partners across Finance, Human Resources, Legal, Benefits, Equity Administration, IT, and Internal Audit. The successful candidate brings sound judgment, financial acumen, a strong control mindset, and the ability to translate data and emerging technology into practical improvements.

Roles & Responsibilities

Direct end-to-end payroll operations for U.S. and Canadian employees, including regular and off-cycle payrolls, new hires, terminations, leaves, retroactive pay, bonuses, commissions, equity-related earnings, deductions, garnishments, and year-end processing. Ensure payrolls are processed accurately, timely, and in accordance with approved calendars, documented procedures, service-level expectations, and applicable funding and approval requirements.

Partner with the Director, Payroll Services and Principal Payroll Tax Lead to support federal, state, provincial, and local payroll tax compliance, including accurate withholding, quarter- and year-end reconciliations, Forms W-2/W-2c and Canadian T4/RL-1 reporting, agency notices, amendments, and vendor issue resolution. Maintain compliance with applicable wage-and-hour, payroll tax, record-retention, privacy, escheatment, and final-pay requirements; partner with Legal, Tax, Human Resources, and external advisors on complex or emerging matters.

Own payroll reconciliations, variance analysis, funding validation, general-ledger interfaces, balance-sheet support, and coordination with Accounting and Treasury. Maintain a strong internal-control environment, including segregation of duties, access reviews, change controls, evidence retention, business continuity, and SOX control execution; serve as a primary contact for internal and external audits. Lead root-cause analysis for payroll errors and service issues; document corrective and preventive actions, monitor recurrence, and escalate material risks promptly.

Develop payroll metrics and dashboards covering accuracy, timeliness, case volumes, cycle performance, adjustments, control exceptions, vendor performance, and employee experience. Serve as the senior escalation point for sensitive employee and executive payroll inquiries; ensure cases are handled consistently, confidentially, and within established service levels. Lead payroll technology and process-improvement initiatives involving Workday, ADP Vantage, Canadian payroll platforms, time and attendance solutions, integrations, reporting, testing, and change management.

Establish and maintain current policies, standard operating procedures, process maps, control documentation, calendars, and training materials. Recruit, coach, develop, and retain a high-performing team; set clear goals, allocate work, provide timely feedback, manage performance, recognize contributions, and build effective backup coverage. Support the Director, Payroll Services in developing and executing the multi-year payroll strategy, operating model, technology roadmap, and investment priorities.

Identify and prioritize responsible AI and automation opportunities across payroll operations, such as payroll variance and anomaly detection, employee inquiry classification and routing, reconciliation support, knowledge search and management reporting. Protect confidential payroll and personal data by using only company-approved tools and data sets; prevent sensitive employee information from being entered into unapproved public AI platforms.

Qualifications

Required Skills and Experience

Minimum 10 years of progressive payroll experience, including at least 5 years leading payroll professionals in a large, complex, multi-state organization. Demonstrated responsibility for U.S. payroll operations and working knowledge of Canadian payroll requirements; experience supporting large employee populations and multiple legal entities or pay groups. Strong knowledge of payroll processing, payroll tax, wage-and-hour requirements, garnishments, accounting and reconciliation practices, internal controls, and year-end reporting.

Experience managing payroll systems, integrations, time and attendance platforms, vendors, audits, controls, and cross-functional projects. Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data, identify risk, and communicate clear recommendations. Strong people leadership, executive communication, stakeholder management, organization, and change-management capabilities. Ability to handle confidential information, competing priorities, and time-sensitive issues with sound judgment and discretion.

Demonstrated ability to think strategically, lead through change, build cross-functional partnerships, develop talent, drive operational excellence, and balance innovation with appropriate risk and control discipline Available for occasional travel (10-25%) to Sunnyvale, CA or other U.S. company locations may be required. This role requires working onsite in our Peachtree Corners, GA office Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday every week Required Education and Training Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Human Resources, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation; Payroll Compliance Professional (PCP) or Payroll Leadership Professional (PLP) designation is an asset for Canadian payroll responsibilities. Experience with Workday HCM and Workday Time and Attendance, ADP Vantage, ADP Workforce Now Canada, and enterprise time and attendance administration. Experience with SOX-compliant environments, payroll transformation, system implementations, robotic process automation, analytics, or governed enterprise AI solutions.

Experience supporting equity compensation, executive payroll, expatriate or mobility programs, acquisitions, or complex organizational changes. #WeAreIntuitive @LI-HYBRID