Payroll Manager, U.S. & Canada

ModernaTX • Cambridge, MA

20d • $109,200 - $174,600 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Role Moderna is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Payroll Manager to lead and strategically manage payroll operations for our U.S. and Canada entities. This role oversees all aspects of U.S. (multi-entity, multi-state) and Canadian (multi-entity) payroll operations, including coordination of related equity transactions. The Payroll Manager will serve as a trusted payroll expert, driving operational excellence, compliance, and continuous improvement across all payroll activities. They will lead a team responsible for end-to-end payroll operations across multiple entities and jurisdictions, ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant payroll delivery. The ideal candidate will bring advanced proficiency in Workday Payroll and ADP SmartCompliance, and a proven track record of delivering accurate and compliant results. Success in this role requires strong attention to detail, integrity in managing sensitive data, and a commitment to process optimization, compliance, and data accuracy. As a key partner to HR, Finance, Digital, Legal, and external vendors, this individual will champion payroll accuracy, innovation, and collaboration in support of Moderna’s fast paced and evolving business. This role will also lead high-impact initiatives to enhance system automation, strengthen internal controls, and scale payroll operations in alignment with Moderna’s mission to deliver on the promise of mRNA science.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including payroll management for U.S. and Canada in a complex, multi-entity, fast-paced organization.
• Strong knowledge of payroll regulations, wage and hour laws, and tax compliance across U.S. federal, state, and local, as well as Canadian federal and provincial jurisdictions.
• Hands-on experience with Workday Payroll and integrated HR, benefits, and financial systems.
• Experience managing vendor relationships, including payroll providers and tax partners.
• Proficiency in ADP SmartCompliance for wage and tax compliance administration.
• Demonstrated ability to manage quarterly and year-end payroll activities, including reconciliations, filings, and audits.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proven ability to handle confidential information with integrity and discretion.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with experience partnering cross-functionally across HR, Finance, Digital, and Legal.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) preferred.
• 7+ years of payroll leadership experience, with responsibility for multi-entity, multi-jurisdictional operations across the U.S. and Canada.
• Advanced Workday Payroll expertise, including configuration, integration, and report development.
• Experience managing equity and incentive payrolls, including taxation and reporting.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analytics tools.
• Proven ability to develop payroll strategies and implement process improvements that enhance accuracy, efficiency, and scalability.
• Experience with SOX compliance, internal controls, and audit readiness.
• Background supporting international assignments and global mobility programs.
• Demonstrated leadership in team development and mentoring, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Passion for Moderna’s mission, thriving in a high-growth, innovative, and fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end payroll operations for U.S. (multi-entity, multi-state) and Canadian (multi-entity, multi-province) payrolls, ensuring timely, accurate processing, compliance with all laws and internal policies, and precise reporting.
• Utilize ADP SmartCompliance expertise to manage wage and tax compliance and administration across the U.S. and Canada.
• Oversee quarterly and year-end payroll activities, including reconciliations, tax filings, and audit support (e.g., W-2s, T4s, RL-1s, ROEs), ensuring accuracy and compliance across jurisdictions.
• Serve as the payroll subject matter expert, advising HR, Finance, Digital, and Legal partners on best practices, systems, and compliance.
• Develop and execute payroll strategies that align with Moderna’s business goals, supporting scalability, compliance, and operational efficiency across North America.
• Provide payroll insights and analytics to HR and Finance leadership to inform decision-making, forecasting, and budgeting.
• Partner cross-functionally with HR, Finance, Digital to align payroll processes, support audits, and ensure seamless employee pay experience.
• Collaborate with Total Rewards and Global Mobility teams on equity processing, expatriate shadow payroll, cross-border reporting, and payroll-impacting events such as transfers, relocations, and repatriation.
• Manage and mentor the payroll team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Champion process improvement initiatives, leveraging employee feedback and audit insights to enhance the payroll experience and strengthen controls.
• Ensure compliance by monitoring and interpreting U.S. federal, state, and local, as well as Canadian federal and provincial, tax and labor regulations; proactively advise on changes to mitigate risk.
• Oversee withholding tax compliance and risk management for U.S. and Canadian entities in collaboration with Legal and Finance.
• Manage payroll for equity and bonus transactions, ensuring accurate taxation and reporting in partnership with Total Rewards.
• Lead vendor management, including payroll providers and tax partners, ensuring service quality and adherence to SLAs.
• Partner with Digital to optimize Workday Payroll configurations and integrations with timekeeping, benefits, and finance systems.
• Identify and implement automation opportunities to improve payroll accuracy, efficiency, and scalability.
• Maintain SOX compliance and internal controls, ensuring proper documentation and audit readiness.
• Deliver exceptional employee support, escalate and resolve payroll inquiries promptly and accurately while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.
• Collaborate with Employee Experience and HR Communications to keep payroll policies, FAQs, and resources current and accessible.
• Work closely with Global Payroll counterparts to share best practices, enhance data governance, and drive global consistency.

Benefits

• Best-in-class healthcare coverage, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs
• A holistic approach to well-being, with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support
• Family planning benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown
• Savings and investment opportunities to help you plan for the future
• Location-specific perks and extras

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees