The Vice President of Global Payroll Operations & Transformation will be the global process owner for payroll, responsible for the end-to-end delivery of payroll services for all our employees, with a primary focus on building and leading a world-class payroll operations center in Gurgaon.

This role requires a unique blend of deep operational expertise, proven transformation leadership, and a relentless focus on governance and compliance. The successful candidate will ensure seamless payroll execution for our India entity while designing and implementing a scalable global payroll model for all other international locations.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Operations Management:

- Serve as the single point of accountability for the accurate and timely delivery of payroll for all employees, starting with India and expanding globally.

- Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing payroll operations team based in Gurgaon.

- Define and implement the target operating model for global payroll, establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and service level agreements (SLAs).

- Drive a culture of continuous improvement, leveraging technology and best practices to enhance service quality and efficiency.

2. Payroll Transition & Transformation:

- Lead the strategic transition of global payroll processes from a decentralized or outsourced model to the newly established Gurgaon center of excellence.

- Develop and execute a multi-year transformation roadmap, including technology evaluation, process re-engineering, and vendor consolidation/management.

- Champion the implementation of a global payroll platform (e.g., SAP, Workday, CloudPay, ADP Celergo) or optimize the current multi-vendor landscape.

- Manage the change management process, ensuring smooth transitions with minimal disruption to employee experience.

3. Governance, Risk & Compliance:

- Establish and enforce a robust global payroll governance framework, including policies, procedures, and controls.

- Ensure 100% compliance with all statutory regulations for India payroll (PF, PT, ESIC, LWF, TDS, etc.) and oversee compliance for all other countries through a network of in-country partners (ICPs) or vendors.

- Own the relationship with internal and external auditors for payroll. Manage all payroll audits and ensure timely remediation of findings.

- Mitigate payroll-related risks by implementing strong controls and a proactive risk assessment process.

4. Stakeholder Management & Vendor Management:

- Act as the key strategic partner to HR, Finance, Tax, and Legal teams to ensure seamless integration and data flow between systems.

- Manage relationships with global payroll vendors, holding them accountable for performance, accuracy, and cost.

- Serve as the ultimate escalation point for complex payroll issues and provide clear, concise communication to senior leadership on payroll performance, risks, and initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience (Must-Haves):

- 15+ years of progressive experience in payroll management, with a significant portion in a leadership role (Director / VP / Head of Payroll).

- Proven Expertise in India Payroll: Must have in-depth, hands-on knowledge of India payroll legislation, statutory compliances (PF, PT, ESIC, TDS), and reporting.

- Proven Expertise in Global Payroll: Must have extensive experience managing multi-country payroll operations (EMEA, APAC, Americas) in a complex, multinational organization.

- Transformation & Transition Acumen: A demonstrable track record of leading large-scale payroll transformation, centralization, or ERP/payroll system implementation projects.

- Governance & Compliance Focus: Deep understanding of risk management, internal controls, and payroll compliance frameworks on a global scale.

Desired Skills & Competencies:

- Strategic Thinker: Ability to develop a long-term vision and translate it into an executable strategy.

- Exceptional Leader: Proven ability to build, inspire, and develop high-performing teams in a center of excellence model.

- Process Excellence: Strong background in process improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma).

- Technology Savvy: Experience with major HCM (Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM) and payroll platforms.

- Superb Communication: Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence at the executive level.

- Analytical & Data-Driven: Uses data and metrics to drive decisions, measure performance, and identify opportunities.

What We Offer:

- A high-impact, high-visibility leadership role at the center of a critical global transformation.

- The opportunity to build a function from the ground up and shape the future of payroll at [Your Company Name].

- A competitive compensation and benefits package commensurate with a senior leadership position.

- A dynamic and collaborative work environment with opportunities for professional growth.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates who meet the above criteria are requested to apply with their updated resume and a cover letter highlighting their specific experience in leading India payroll, global payroll transformations, and governance.