Head of Payroll

State Street

. Lead people management and foster an environment where employees do their best work .

Posted 9/28/2026full-timeQuincy • Massachusetts • United StatesLead💰 $110,000 - $188,750 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

Use this summary to align your resume positioning with the role.

Demonstrates extensive experience in managing payroll operations across the United States and Canada, with a strong focus on compliance, risk management, and process transformation. Proven ability to lead high-performing teams and drive technology implementations to enhance payroll efficiency and accuracy.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Payroll Operations ManagementPayroll Risk And Control FrameworkUS And Canadian Payroll ComplianceProcess Redesign And AutomationWorkday Experience

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Payroll DeliveryTax And Statutory ObligationsReconciliationsAudit SupportPayroll TransformationVendor GovernanceYear-End ActivitiesPayroll Testing And ImplementationProcess StandardizationChange Management

Soft Skills

LeadershipAnalytical SkillsOrganizational SkillsCommunication SkillsTime Management

Tools & Technologies

Workday

Industry Keywords

Payroll OperationsEmployee PaymentsCompliance GapsControl DeficienciesThird-Party Payroll ProvidersBusiness-Continuity PlansGovernance ForumsStakeholder AlignmentComplex Payroll IssuesGlobal Transformation

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead people management and foster an environment where employees do their best work
Oversee end-to-end payroll delivery for the United States and Canada, including payroll results, reconciliations, funding, employee payments, tax and statutory obligations, year-end activities, and complex exceptions
Design, implement, document, and sustain the payroll risk and control framework
Lead remediation of control deficiencies, audit findings, compliance gaps, payroll errors, and recurring process failures
Define and execute the North America payroll transformation roadmap
Establish and report service, accuracy, compliance, control, productivity, and transformation outcomes
Represent North America on global transformation, governance, merger and acquisition, vendor-transition, system-implementation, and policy initiatives
Monitor US and Canadian payroll, tax, employment, and regulatory developments and implement required changes
Manage third-party payroll and tax providers
Drive technology requirements and lead payroll testing, implementation, integration, and stabilization activities
Maintain process ownership, standard operating procedures, control narratives, payroll calendars, business-continuity plans, cross-training, and governance forums
Resolve complex payroll issues and build partnerships with HR, Finance, Tax, Legal, Technology, Risk, Internal Audit, employees, and third-party providers

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree
10-15 years of relevant payroll experience
Significant leadership responsibility for complex United States and Canadian payroll operations
Ability to lead and build high-performing teams and cultures within the region and across a global organization
Experience designing, implementing, and managing a highly effective payroll risk and control environment, including audit support and sustainable remediation
Success transforming payroll operations through process redesign, standardization, automation, technology implementation, vendor change, or operating-model improvement
Strong knowledge of US and Canadian payroll operations, payroll tax, statutory reporting, year-end requirements, employee payments, reconciliations, and vendor governance
Experience leading complex projects and change initiatives while maintaining payroll continuity, compliance, and stakeholder alignment
Strong leadership, analytical, organizational, communication, change-management, time-management, and prioritization skills
Track record of building effective relationships with senior leaders, internal stakeholders, control partners, and third-party providers
Workday experience preferred

Benefits

Comp & perks

Retirement savings plan (401K) with company match
Basic life insurance
Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Long-term disability insurance
Optional additional insurance coverages
Paid vacation
Paid sick leave
Short-term disability
Paid family care responsibilities leave
Employee Assistance Program
Incentive compensation, including eligibility for annual performance-based awards
Eligibility for certain tax-advantaged savings plans
Inclusive development opportunities
Flexible work-life support
Paid volunteer days
Employee networks