Global Payroll Director

Position Summary

The Director Global Payroll will oversee international payroll processes, ensuring accuracy and the timely delivery of payroll services to over 4,000 employees worldwide. This position is responsible for efficiently managing global payroll operations across multiple countries and utilizing multiple payroll platforms and for aligning systems, processes, and tools across all regions. This leader will undertake all global payroll transformation projects to improve accuracy and enable scalability, provide insights to various stakeholders, manage risks, and ensure adherence to local statutory requirements. This position will have both solid line and dotted line direct reports located in APAC, EMEA and the US.

Main Responsibilities

Architect the Company's global payroll strategy and operating model and partner with HR and Finance Leads worldwide to ensure appropriate interdependencies are functioning correctly.

Develop and implement global payroll policies and procedures. Provide country and regional expertise on regulatory, industry and best practices approach to payroll. Stay abreast of relevant local regulatory and policies changes and communicate key changes across teams.

Manage and supervise the entire payroll process, including preparation, processing, and reconciliation of the Company's global and multi-state payroll, ensuring accurate and timely processing of payroll for the global workforce.

Collaborate with Finance, HR, Legal, and other departments to ensure seamless payroll operations and resolve any payroll-related issues. Assist in specialized processing requiring more detailed knowledge of payroll procedures. Researches and resolves payroll discrepancies.

Responsible for the timely preparation and calculation of any off-cycle processing in all regions, i.e., termination pay, special bonuses, transition allowances, etc.

Oversee the year-end payroll process, including the issuance of country tax forms and filings. Responsible for reconciling all year-end forms and filings for all regions to ensure accurate entry of all compensation transactions (i.e., gifts, prizes, education assistance, equity, etc.).

Process equity transactions as they relate to payroll, ensuring accurate reporting and statutory filings.

Ensure the successful onboarding of new company entities/office locations to the payroll platforms and processes.

Participate in month-end close processes by preparing payroll accruals, reconciliations, and related journal entries to ensure all information is captured accurately. Responsible for oversight and auditing of payroll funding for net pay, taxes & social insurances, benefit and pension scheme deductions, and 3rd party processing fees.

Main point of contact for all expatriate and inpatriate transactions and international assignment payroll cross reporting. Responsible for expatriate shadow payroll processing for in-country tax payments/requirements and expatriate shadow payroll data maintenance required for year-end tax equalization. Prepare and distribute annual income letters for foreign national employees.

Lead the development, implementation, and maintenance of global payroll operations including configuring and maintaining a global payroll system. Drive decision making around platform/technology tools and lead the implementation of payroll-related software and tools to enhance efficiency and accuracy.

Critically review and analyze payroll procedures and implement changes leading to best-practice operations. Establish processes for payroll processing and time tracking that optimize accuracy and scalability. Identify and recommend updates to payroll processing software, systems, and procedures.

Main Responsibilities Cont.

Own the global payroll vendor relationships, including selection, negotiation, consolidation, and management in partnership with other key internal stakeholders.

Manage the company’s payroll vendors to ensure all payroll submission deadlines are met and to ensure accurate and timely payroll submissions.

Track payroll vendor’s performance (i.e., open tickets, KPIs, SLAs) Work closely with the payroll vendors and service providers to ensure that SLAs are met.

Support the organization's internal compliance requirements through adherence to key controls and timely completion of reporting. Anticipate, develop, and improve internal audit capabilities to ensure all compliance requirements are met.

Ensure payroll processes are administered in compliance with internal company policies, as well as applicable country, federal and state regulations or legislation, including applicable wage and hour regulations. Stay up to date with local tax laws, labor regulations, and statutory requirements in all countries of operation. Ensure payroll is compliant with respective laws and regulations and update payroll policies, procedures, and guidelines.

Perform audits of global payroll data ensuring accuracy of all components of payroll including earnings, deductions, taxes, and social insurance. Conduct investigation and analysis of payroll issues to determine root cause, identify gaps in already existing solutions and support the development of new measures to prevent a recurrence.

Provides documentation for payroll, 401k, and benefit audits; assists in preparing annual 401k 5500 non-discrimination testing. Work closely with internal audit to complete timely quarterly and annual compliance SOX reviews.

Implement robust data security measures to protect sensitive payroll information and maintain the highest level of confidentiality in handling payroll data.

Manage and maintain payroll compliance and records. Partner with Accounting and Finance team on payroll related reporting and reconciliation.

Generate accurate and timely payroll reports for management and other stakeholders as required. Analyze payroll data to identify trends, potential issues, and areas for improvement.

Effectively build, lead, and manage the payroll team. Monitor regional payroll processing in Europe, Asia Pacific and North America to ensure payroll is accurate, timely and complies with government regulations. Oversee the daily workflow of the department. Ensure skills and capabilities meet work demand.

Drive a performance-based culture that engages employees to achieve excellence. Create an environment oriented to trust, open communication, creative thinking, and cohesive team effort.

Provide prompt, professional, and efficient customer service to employees who have questions regarding their pay, deductions, and other payroll-related questions. Create an excellent employee experience through the development of self-service resources, proactive communications and by managing payroll and equity-related inquiries across multiple channels. Explain and interpret complex payroll information and answer questions from employees that can't be resolved by employee support teams.

Build and maintain relationships with internal partners and external stakeholders to foster trust, commitment, accountability, and results.

Represent Jet Aviation as one company internally and externally with industry groups, regulatory bodies, and the General Dynamics network.

Minimum Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources or a related field is required.

At least 5 years of relevant payroll work experience in a global or multi-national environment, including management of both in-house and outsourced payroll processing.

In-depth knowledge and understanding of payroll regulations, compliance procedures and labor and tax laws in multiple countries, including best practices regarding taxable fringe benefits, allowances, and filing procedures. Understanding of multi-jurisdiction, stock transactions and deferrals.

Strong understanding of payroll mobility and tax issues globally. Experience working with expatriate and/or foreign national payroll.

Experience in the development and implementation of applications/systems and processes. Proven track record of leading and managing global payroll projects for process improvement.

Ability to prepare, analyze, and interpret payroll data. Ability to lead and present financial analytical information in virtual and face-to-face presentations to varied audiences.

Advanced knowledge of payroll software and systems, such as (Workday, ADP, Sage, Xero, QuickBooks, Rippling, Blue Marble/PayEscape, Ceridian Dayforce, CloudPay, Excelity). Awareness of platforms’ capabilities and experience implementing and optimizing payroll systems.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (i.e., Excel, Word, PowerPoint), with advanced use of formulas and functions in Excel. Knowledge of expense reporting tool (Concur) and accounting software (NetSuite?). Knowledge of and/or experience using SAP and/or Success Factors enterprise HRIS / HCM.

Strong communication skills, including the ability to listen to the needs of others and comprehend complex matters, articulate issues in a clear and concise manner, and present effectively in both oral and written presentations to all levels in the organization.

Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with utmost professionalism.

Good skills and experience in Project management, change management and budget management would be an asset

Desired Characteristics

Experience with time, attendance and leave management strongly preferred.

Background and/or understanding of accounting principles strongly preferred.

Ability to adapt to changing requirements and work under pressure. Versatile enough to anticipate potential challenges and find solutions to expected and unexpected problems under strict deadlines. Sense of urgency around the global payroll process and comfort supporting multiple time zones.

Ability to identify and resolve technical, operational, and organizational issues. Ability to dissect problems and facilitate solution design.

Demonstrated ability to work in a highly collaborative manner while maintaining flexibility and a team orientation, and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with department staff, supervisory personnel, associates, and vendors.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across multiple departments, countries, and cultures. Business proficiency in English. Bilingual language skills are a plus.

Preferably a member of a recognized Payroll Professional body with CPP, CIPP, CPM, PCP, FPC, and/or IPASS designation.

Has a pleasant, friendly, and helpful manner to deliver the best experience to customers and colleagues.

Quality driven with a passion for excellence to represent Jet Aviation as a Brand Ambassador.

Demonstration of and commitment to Jet Aviation values (Trust, Honesty, Alignment, Transparency).

Physical Demands

Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.

Work Environment