Head of Payroll – Americas, EMEA

Canva

Lead Payroll operations across Americas & EMEA for a design company. Shape payroll strategy and transformations while developing a high-performing payroll team.

Posted 7/2/2026full-timeRemote • San Francisco • California • 🇪🇺 Anywhere in EuropeLead💰 $169,000 - $250,000 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

C++

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Join the team redefining how the world experiences design
Lead payroll operations across two of Canva’s fastest-growing regions
Influence global payroll strategy and support expansion into new markets
Drive payroll transformation initiatives, including automation, AI, and process innovation
Partner with leaders across Finance, People, Legal, Systems, and Equity to shape the future of payroll at Canva
Build scalable processes and controls that support Canva’s continued hyper-growth
Develop and mentor payroll talent while helping create a world-class global payroll function
Own end-to-end payroll processing across the Americas and EMEA regions, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timeliness
Serve as the go-to resource and subject matter expert for all payroll-related matters, including future payroll or Employer of Record (EOR) expansions
Stay up to date with payroll legislation, tax regulations, employment requirements, and compliance obligations across multiple jurisdictions
Ensure payroll processes remain compliant with local regulations and internal policies
Lead the resolution of complex payroll issues and escalations, delivering an exceptional employee experience
Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing payroll team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and operational excellence
Build strong relationships with stakeholders across Finance, People, Legal, Systems, Equity, and external partners
Act as a trusted advisor on payroll-related matters, providing guidance and recommendations to support business decisions
Partner with regional and global teams to communicate and implement payroll-related changes, policies, and procedures
Support payroll readiness activities for new country launches, entity setups, acquisitions, and workforce expansions across the Americas and EMEA
Partner with cross-functional teams to assess payroll, compliance, and operational impacts of expansion initiatives
Lead payroll-related projects, including system implementations, upgrades, integrations, and process redesign initiatives
Continuously evaluate and implement best practices to support a scalable and efficient payroll function
Champion the use of AI-powered tools, automation, and emerging technologies to improve payroll efficiency, accuracy, compliance monitoring, reporting, and employee support
Identify opportunities to streamline processes, reduce manual effort, and enhance operational scalability
Leverage payroll data and analytics to identify trends, provide insights, and support informed decision-making
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance payroll operations, controls, reporting capabilities, and employee experience
Establish and maintain robust payroll controls, governance frameworks, and audit-ready processes
Manage relationships with payroll providers, EOR partners, tax authorities, auditors, and external advisors
Compile, analyse, and present payroll data and reporting to management and key stakeholders
Develop and maintain payroll KPIs, SLAs, and operational metrics, ensuring high levels of accuracy and service delivery
Support internal and external audits and ensure timely resolution of findings and recommendations
Be part of a fun, agile, and supportive team that continuously learns, evolves, and helps each other succeed in a hyper-growth environment
Contribute to building a payroll function that is innovative, scalable, and employee-centric

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or a related field
CPP, GPMI, CIPP, or other payroll-related certification is highly regarded
8+ years of payroll experience managing complex, multi-country payroll operations across the Americas and EMEA
Experience leading and developing globally distributed payroll teams
Strong knowledge of payroll regulations, tax laws, and employment compliance requirements across multiple jurisdictions
Experience supporting global expansion initiatives, entity launches, acquisitions, or EOR transitions
Proven experience leading payroll transformation, automation, system implementations, or process improvement initiatives
Curiosity and enthusiasm for emerging technologies, including AI and automation tools, with a demonstrated ability to leverage technology to improve operational efficiency
Experience managing payroll vendors, global payroll providers, and external compliance partners
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret payroll data and provide meaningful business insights
Experience with payroll and HRIS platforms such as Workday, Paylocity, ADP GlobalView, ADP Celergo, or similar systems
Advanced proficiency in Excel and Google Sheets; experience with large datasets, reporting, and dashboard development is highly desirable
Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills
Strong attention to detail and commitment to delivering accurate, high-quality outcomes
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and constantly evolving environment
High levels of integrity, discretion, and professionalism when handling confidential employee information and sensitive payroll data

Benefits

Comp & perks

Equity packages - we want our success to be yours too
Health benefits plans to support you and your wellbeing
401(k) retirement plan with company contribution
Inclusive parental leave policy that supports all parents & carers
An annual Vibe & Thrive allowance to support your wellbeing, social connection, office setup & more
Flexible leave options that empower you to be a force for good, take time to recharge and supports you personally

ATS Keywords

✓ Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

Payroll ProcessingPayroll Data AnalysisProcess ImprovementSystem ImplementationsAutomation ToolsExcel ProficiencyGoogle Sheets ProficiencyHRIS PlatformsMulti-Country Payroll ManagementPayroll KPIs and SLAs

Soft Skills

Communication SkillsStakeholder ManagementProblem-Solving SkillsAttention to DetailCollaboration

Certifications

CPPGPMICIPP