Director, Global Payroll Operations

Adobe•San Jose, CA

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Global Payroll Operations to coordinate and expand our global payroll operations. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll delivery across all countries where we operate. The Director will coordinate payroll strategy, vendor management, compliance, systems optimization, and team leadership while working closely with Finance, HR, Legal and Tax. The ideal candidate brings deep global payroll expertise, strong operational rigor, and the ability to drive transformation in a fast-paced, growing organization.

Requirements

12+ years of progressive payroll experience, including significant global payroll leadership.
Experience managing payroll across multiple countries and regions (e.g., Americas, EMEA, APAC).
Solid understanding of worldwide payroll rules, tax regulations, and legal requirements.
Experience with large-scale HRIS and payroll systems (e.g., Workday, UKG, Dayforce, etc.).
Demonstrated experience managing audits and internal controls (SOX experience preferred).
Demonstrated capability to guide and grow international teams.
Strategic problem solver with strong operational execution
Outstanding attention to detail and risk management
Strong cross-functional collaboration skills
Change leadership and transformation approach
Excellent communication and executive presence

Nice To Haves

Experience in a high-growth or multinational public company environment.
Experience with worldwide payroll transformation projects.
Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field, or equivalent experience (MBA a plus).

Responsibilities

Global Payroll Planning & Direction Develop and implement a global payroll strategy aligned with business growth and geographic expansion.
Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing global payroll team.
Establish scalable processes and governance models to support multi-country payroll operations.
Serve as the executive point of contact for global payroll matters.
Payroll Operations & Compliance Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant payroll processing across all jurisdictions.
Maintain compliance with local labor laws, tax regulations, statutory reporting, and filing requirements.
Coordinate/support audits (internal and external) related to payroll and ensure remediation of findings.
Manage payroll-related SOX controls and risk mitigation frameworks.
Systems & Process Optimization Evaluate, implement, and optimize global payroll systems and integrations with HRIS and finance systems.
Lead payroll transformation projects, including automation and process standardization.
Drive continuous improvement to improve employee experience and operational efficiency.
Vendor & Collaborator Management Coordinate relationships with global payroll providers and regional vendors.
Partner closely with HR, Total Rewards, Finance, Accounting, Legal, and Tax teams.
Global Expansion & M&A Support Support new country expansions, entity setups, and workforce transitions.
Lead payroll integration efforts for mergers and acquisitions.