Global Payroll Director

Waste Management, Inc. (WM)•Houston, TX

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Payroll is a finance leader responsible for the governance, accuracy, and strategic execution of payroll operations supporting 60,000+ employees across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. This workforce is predominantly hourly, with a meaningful union-represented population, requiring expertise in complex pay rules and multi-jurisdictional compliance. Operating within a Finance-led Shared Services model, this role ensures payroll integrity through strong internal controls, regulatory discipline, and continuous process optimization. At the same time, the Director serves as a strategic business partner, balancing compliance requirements with operational realities and delivering solutions that support the business while protecting the enterprise. This leader must combine disciplined financial governance, advanced technical expertise, and the ability to navigate complex business realities.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, or related field
10+ years of progressive experience leading payroll and payroll tax functions
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP)
Deep knowledge of global payroll operations, controls, and compliance principles.
Strong understanding of payroll tax, accounting, and financial reporting impacts.
Advanced experience with Oracle HCM and ADP Smart Compliance.
Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Strategic mindset with the ability to translate complex payroll concepts into executive-level insights.

Responsibilities

Define and execute a forward-looking global payroll strategy aligned to organizational growth, workforce expansion, and enterprise transformation initiatives.
Serve as the executive payroll authority for Finance, HR, Tax, Legal, and Internal Audit, providing risk assessments and strategic guidance.
Design and maintain a robust payroll governance framework, including controls, segregation of duties, audit readiness, and regulatory compliance oversight.
Anticipate and assess the payroll impact of acquisitions, divestitures, new market entries, regulatory changes, and organizational redesign.
Lead payroll transformation initiatives including operating model redesign, system implementations, automation strategies, and vendor optimization.
Lead end-to-end payroll operations for 60,000+ employees across the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico.
Maintain accountability for payroll tax compliance and vendor governance through ADP SmartCompliance.
Drive process standardization and operational efficiency within the Shared Services framework.
Implement scalable solutions to reduce manual intervention and improve payroll accuracy.
Utilize data and analytics to improve transparency, performance measurement, and service delivery.
Lead payroll integration strategy for acquisitions, ensuring seamless transition of employees into the enterprise payroll framework while maintaining compliance and operational continuity.
Provide oversight and risk management for complex payroll transactions, including executive compensation programs, equity and other sensitive pay activities.
Cultivate an engaged, performance-driven team environment that balances operational excellence, compliance discipline, and strong cross-functional partnership.
Lead through change and transformation while maintaining operational stability.
Identify regulatory and operational risks across jurisdictions and proactively implement mitigation strategies
Ensure alignment between Payroll, Finance, and Human Resources to support accurate reporting, compliance, and a transparent pay experience.
Establish and enforce a strong internal control framework aligned with Finance standards.
Provide executive ownership of global payroll system and integrations, including Oracle HCM and third-party payroll platforms.
Partner with HR to ensure payroll system configuration, data integrity, security, and scalability.
Lead system enhancements, automation initiatives, and technology modernization efforts.
Leverage payroll data and analytics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities to improve operational performance and employee experience.