Senior Director - Global Payroll and Time

Lilly • Indianapolis, IN

11d • $154,500 - $226,600 • Onsite

About The Position

Eli Lilly and Company is seeking a Senior Director, Payroll, Time Tracking & Absence (PATT) to lead one of the most operationally critical functions within our global HR Technology & Operations organization. This role owns end-to-end payroll for the US and is the process owner for global time management and absence. Additionally, the role will be a key influencer of shaping payroll strategies globally. Lilly PATT primarily operates within Workday as our core HCM platform.
This is a leadership role that will work at the intersection of people, technology, and financial integrity — partnering closely with Finance, Legal, Global Mobility, and our broader HR leadership team to transform, streamline and automate PATT capabilities. The Senior Director will implement an AI-forward payroll capability, drive Workday PATT product excellence, govern third-party vendor relationships and ensure full SOX compliance for all payroll cycles.
The ideal candidate brings Workday PATT expertise, a track record of transforming business operations at scale, and the leadership presence to continuously elevate team performance.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, or a related field; advanced degree (MBA, MSHR) preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in global payroll operations, including proven ability to transform and scale.
• Demonstrated Workday Payroll expertise, with strong working knowledge of Time Tracking and Absence modules; Workday certification preferred.
• Fluency in SOX compliance, GAAP payroll accounting, and multi-jurisdictional employment tax and labour law.
• Proven experience managing large-scale payroll vendor relationships (e.g., ADP, third-party country payroll providers).
• Track record of leading payroll transformation initiatives — including system implementations, process automation, and AI-enabled improvements.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills — able to operate with credibility across Finance, Legal, HR, and executive leadership.
• Experience in a large global public company (Fortune 500 equivalent), ideally in life sciences, technology, or a similarly regulated industry.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation.
• Experience with equity and stock-based compensation payroll across multiple tax jurisdictions.
• Prior experience with Workday Orchestrate, RPA tooling?, or AI-driven payroll automation.
• Familiarity with KPMG, EQ (Equatex), ADP Workforce Now, and Experian as payroll ecosystem partners.
• Experience leading payroll through M&A integrations, entity expansions, or significant organisational transformation.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end payroll operations for Lilly US ensuring payroll is processed accurately, compliantly, and on time.
• Oversee equity-related payroll events including the management of KPMG (our mobile taxation processor), award processing, and special, limited scope payments.
• Lead payroll readiness and execution for new country and acquired company launches. Manage entity changes including regulatory setup, vendor selection, and integration into Lilly's global payroll framework.
• Serve as the senior escalation point for complex cross-border, multi-jurisdictional, and executive-level payroll matters.
• Maintain and continuously improve payroll governance, controls, and audit readiness — including full SOX compliance payroll accounting practices.
• Own the strategic product roadmap for Workday Payroll, Time Tracking, and Absence — including feature adoption, configuration governance, release planning, and enhancements.
• Lead the marketplace in the use of HR technology, agentic AI, and the digital employee experience to aggressively streamline operations while maintaining or improving accuracy.
• Own and simplify the PATT technology portfolio — reducing vendor complexity, retiring legacy tools, and enabling best practices across regions.
• Partner to optimise integrations between Workday and downstream payroll, finance, benefits, equity administration, and reporting systems.
• Develop and drive strategic vendor relationships example PWC — set clear SLAs, conduct performance reviews, and hold partners accountable to quality standards.
• Consult on outsourced payroll service agreements, ensuring cost-effectiveness and service excellence for all Lilly markets.
• Partner with Procurement and Legal on contract renewals, escalation frameworks, and vendor risk management.
• Ensure compliance with employment tax regulations, labour laws, and data privacy requirements in the US — maintaining active awareness of regulatory changes.
• Lead payroll's contribution to year-end financial close and external reporting, including MD&A readiness, 401(k) audit support, and payroll-driven disclosures.
• Oversee payroll for stock compensation that incorporates multi-jurisdictional tax requirements.
• Maintain robust internal controls and coordinate with Internal Audit and external auditors on SOX testing and payroll-related control assessments.
• Lead, develop, and inspire a team of PATT professionals in the US — cultivating a culture of ownership, continuous improvement, and psychological safety.
• Model the leadership philosophy of HRTO — removing barriers, granting permission, and enabling the team to perform at their highest level.
• Partner closely with Finance, Legal, Compensation, Benefits, Global Mobility, and HR Business Partners to ensure payroll supports Lilly's broader people and business agenda.
• Represent PATT in enterprise-level programmes including M&A activity, system implementations, and compensation policy changes.
• Prepare and present executive-level reporting on payroll operations, compliance posture, risk indicators, and strategic initiatives to HRTO and CFO-area leadership.

Benefits

• company bonus (depending, in part, on company and individual performance)
• company-sponsored 401(k)
• pension
• vacation benefits
• medical, dental, vision and prescription drug benefits
• flexible benefits (e.g., healthcare and/or dependent day care flexible spending accounts)
• life insurance and death benefits
• certain time off and leave of absence benefits
• well-being benefits (e.g., employee assistance program, fitness benefits, and employee clubs and activities)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior