Senior Payroll Manager US & Canada

Solera•Westlake, OH

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Solera is seeking a highly experienced, results-driven Senior Payroll Manager to lead end-to-end payroll operations across the Americas, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, and South America/LATAM. The role oversees accurate, compliant, and timely payroll delivery in a complex multi-country, multi-entity environment while strengthening controls, improving vendor performance, standardizing processes, and supporting payroll transformation initiatives. The Senior Payroll Manager provides regional leadership and governance, develops payroll specialists and vendor partners, and advises Finance, HR, and executive stakeholders on payroll risks, compliance, and transformation. The role partners with HR, Finance, Legal, Tax, Treasury, IT, and external payroll providers to ensure payroll operations are compliant, efficient, and aligned with business needs. It also oversees payroll accounting activities and drives standardization, automation, centralization, and continuous improvement. The position is located in Solera’s Westlake, Texas office. Flexible hours may be needed during payroll cycles and critical periods, and extended hours may occasionally be required to meet payroll deadlines.

Requirements

At least 10 years of progressive payroll experience, including leadership of complex multi-country payroll operations.
At least 5 years of payroll leadership experience, including direct or matrixed management of payroll teams, vendors, and cross-functional stakeholders.
Experience overseeing payroll across the Americas, including U.S., Canada, Mexico, and/or LATAM payroll environments.
Strong knowledge of U.S. and Canadian payroll regulations and demonstrated ability to manage or oversee country-specific payroll compliance in additional jurisdictions.
Strong understanding of payroll accounting, including journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, variance analysis, and financial reporting impacts.
Experience working with third-party payroll providers such as ADP, including vendor governance, issue escalation, service-level management, and process improvement.
Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy and compliance.
Problem-solving skills, including the ability to analyze complex payroll issues and implement solutions.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across all organizational levels.
High integrity and ability to manage confidential information.
Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize and meet tight deadlines.
Continuous improvement mindset focused on automation, efficiency, and scalability.
Customer-service orientation focused on employee experience.
Experience leveraging AI and automation tools to improve payroll accuracy, reporting, issue resolution, and process efficiency while maintaining controls, compliance, and data privacy.
Ability to manage ambiguity and lead through transformation.
Strong control mindset focused on SOX, audit readiness, documentation, and risk mitigation.
Executive-level communication and escalation management skills.
Ability to develop scalable processes across multiple countries and legal entities.
Ability to work flexible hours during payroll cycles and critical periods; occasional extended hours may be required to support payroll deadlines.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading payroll transformation, centralization, automation, or shared services initiatives.
Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) or Fundamental Payroll Certification (FPC).
Experience supporting payroll transformations, system implementations, or centralization efforts.
Exposure to global payroll environments or shared services models.

Responsibilities

Lead payroll operations across the Americas, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, and South America/LATAM countries.
Develop and execute the regional payroll strategy, aligning it with organizational objectives, compliance requirements, and operational excellence goals.
Provide regional oversight of payroll accuracy, timeliness, compliance, controls, vendor performance, and service delivery.
Lead, develop, and mentor payroll specialists and vendor partners responsible for country-level payroll execution.
Establish consistent payroll governance, escalation protocols, documentation standards, and control expectations across the region.
Partner with HR, Finance, Legal, Tax, Treasury, IT, and external payroll providers to ensure payroll processes are compliant, efficient, and aligned with business needs.
Advise Finance, HR, and executive stakeholders on payroll-related risks, compliance matters, and transformation initiatives.
Oversee payroll accounting activities, including reconciliations, journal entry support, accrual review, variance analysis, and audit documentation.
Drive regional payroll process standardization, automation, centralization, and continuous improvement to reduce manual work, strengthen controls, and increase scalability.
Monitor payroll vendor performance, service levels, issue resolution, and contractual accountability across the region.
Support internal and external audits by ensuring payroll documentation, approvals, reconciliations, and control evidence are complete and accurate.
Serve as the regional escalation point for complex payroll issues, compliance risks, system challenges, and cross-functional process gaps.