Informa

Head of Global Payroll

Informa$130K — $170K *
Finance & Insurance
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience in payroll management, with at least 3 years in a global leadership role.
  • Proven ability to manage geographically dispersed teams effectively.
  • In-depth knowledge of payroll systems and processes, including global payroll platforms like ADP or Workday.
  • Demonstrated success in driving operational efficiencies and process improvements.
  • Strong analytical skills for data interpretation and decision-making.
  • Excellent communication skills for cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

  • Oversee payroll operations for US, EMEA, and APAC regions to ensure timely processing.
  • Lead and develop a globally distributed payroll team.
  • Coordinate with in-country payroll providers and third-party administrators.
  • Review and approve payroll outputs before processing to ensure accuracy.
  • Resolve payroll-related queries and issues from employees and stakeholders.
  • Implement process improvements and efficiencies within the payroll function.
  • Prepare and analyze payroll reports for management and other stakeholders.

Benefits

  • Welcoming culture with in-person and online social events promoting a collaborative work environment.
  • Opportunity to volunteer with a philanthropic organization up to four days per year.
  • Access to bespoke training, learning opportunities, and internal job movement support.
  • Open Vacation policy plus national holidays and flexible remote work for up to four weeks annually.
  • Comprehensive benefits package including 401k match and health insurance.
  • Strong wellbeing support, including mental health resources and a wellness app.
  • Global recognition programs for outstanding work and contributions.
Full Job Description
Job Description

This role is based in our Newton, MA office.

Job Overview

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Global Payroll Manager to lead and manage the global payroll function following a recent business merger. This role will oversee payroll operations for entities across the US, EMEA, and APAC regions, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency in payroll processing.

The Global Payroll Manager will lead a geographically dispersed team, ensuring the right skills and resources are in place, driving process improvements, and implementing new systems and ways of working to enhance payroll operations. The role will also involve resolving escalated payroll queries, ensuring compliance with local regulations, and collaborating closely with Finance and HR teams to align payroll processes with broader organizational goals.

Reporting to the Director of Global Shared Services & Transformation, this is a critical leadership role that offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on the organization's payroll operations during a period of transformation and growth.

Key Responsibilities

Global Payroll Management:
  • Oversee payroll operations for entities across US, EMEA, and APAC regions, ensuring timely and accurate payroll processing.
  • Manage a team of payroll professionals based in the US and overseas, ensuring the right skills, resources, and locations are aligned with business needs.
  • Coordinate with in-country payroll providers, vendors, and third-party administrators
  • Review and approve payroll outputs, reports, and payment files before processing
  • Manage payroll-related queries and resolve escalated issues from employees and stakeholders
  • Ensure proper integration between HRIS, time tracking, and payroll systems
  • Cross-collaborate with HR teams to ensure on time and accurate payroll processing

Team Leadership:
  • Provide leadership, coaching, and development opportunities to the global payroll team, fostering a culture of high performance and continuous improvement.
  • Monitor team performance and ensure alignment with organizational goals and objectives.
  • Provide training and guidance to HR and finance teams on payroll matters
  • Build and maintain strong cross-functional partnerships

Compliance and Regulatory Management:
  • Ensure compliance with local payroll regulations, tax laws, and reporting requirements across all regions.
  • Stay updated on changes in payroll legislation and implement necessary adjustments to processes and systems
  • Manage statutory reporting requirements including tax filings, social security, and pension contributions
  • Coordinate payroll audits and respond to regulatory inquiries
  • Maintain compliance with data privacy regulations (GDPR, etc.) for payroll data
  • Ensure adherence to internal controls and SOX requirements for payroll processes

Process Improvement:
  • Develop and implement global payroll policies, procedures, and best practices
  • Identify and implement process improvements and efficiencies within the payroll function to streamline operations and reduce costs.
  • Drive standardization of payroll processes across regions, ensuring consistency and compliance with company policies.
  • Lead payroll system implementations, upgrades, and optimization projects
  • Collaborate with IT and other stakeholders to ensure successful system integration and adoption.

Reporting and Analysis:
  • Prepare and analyze payroll reports for management, finance, and HR stakeholders
  • Monitor payroll metrics including accuracy rates, timeliness, and cost efficiency
  • Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes
  • Provide payroll data for budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning
  • Conduct payroll reconciliations and variance analysis


Qualifications

Leadership and Management:
  • Proven experience managing a global payroll function, including leading geographically dispersed teams.
  • Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop high-performing teams.

Technical Expertise:
  • In-depth knowledge of payroll systems, processes, and best practices.
  • Experience with global payroll systems (e.g., ADP, Workday, SAP, or similar) and payroll automation tools.
  • Familiarity with multi-currency payroll processing and regional compliance requirements.

Process Improvement:
  • Demonstrated ability to identify and implement process improvements and drive operational efficiencies.
  • Experience with system implementation and digital transformation initiatives.

Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills:
  • Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
  • Proactive approach to resolving escalated issues and managing complex situations.

Communication and Collaboration:
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively interact with internal and external stakeholders across regions.
  • Strong collaboration skills to work effectively with cross-functional teams and senior leadership.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
  • 7+ years of experience in payroll management, with at least 3 years in a global leadership role.
  • Experience in a shared services environment is highly desirable.
  • Knowledge of regulatory requirements and compliance standards across US, EMEA, and APAC regions.
  • Project management experience, particularly in system implementation or process transformation


Additional Information

We believe that great things happen when people connect face-to-face. That's why we work in-person with each other, or with customers and partners, three days a week or more. When you're not spending time together in one of our offices or other workplaces - like at an Informa event - you get the flexibility and support to work from home or remotely.

Our benefits include:
  • Great community: a welcoming culture with in-person and online social events, our fantastic Walk the World charity day and active colleague groups and networks promoting a positive, supportive, and collaborative work environment
  • Broader impact: take up to four days per year to volunteer with a philanthropic organization
  • Career opportunity: the opportunity to develop your career with bespoke training and learning, mentoring platforms and on-demand access to thousands of courses on LinkedIn Learning. When it's time for the next step, we encourage and support internal job moves
  • Time out: Open Vacation, plus 10 national holidays, and the chance to work from (almost!) anywhere for up to four weeks a year
  • Competitive benefits, including a 401k match, health, vision and dental insurance, parental leave and an ESPP offering company shares at a minimum 15% discount
  • Strong wellbeing support through EAP assistance, mental health first aiders, free access to a wellness app and more
  • Recognition for great work, with global awards and kudos programs
  • As an international company, the chance to collaborate with teams around the world

The salary range for this role is $130,000- $170,000 based on experience.

This posting will automatically expire on 08/26/2026

About Informa

Informa is a publishing and events company that provides information and services to businesses and professionals. The company's products include books, journals, and online databases. Informa also organizes conferences and exhibitions in various industries, including healthcare, finance, and technology. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in London, England. Informa has offices in more than 30 countries.
Learn more about Informa
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