North America Payroll Lead

Cielo Talent

North America Payroll Lead managing U.S., Canadian, and Mexican payroll operations for Velotic’s industrial software business. Overseeing Workday Payroll, compliance, vendors, audits, and financial close.

Posted 8/21/2026full-timeRemote • Boston • Massachusetts • 🏈 Anywhere in North AmericaSenior💰 $80,000 - $100,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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

Demonstrates extensive experience in managing multi-state payroll operations, ensuring compliance with U.S. and Canadian payroll regulations, and optimizing payroll processes through Workday Payroll expertise. Capable of leading payroll audits, vendor management, and financial reconciliations while maintaining high standards of accuracy and confidentiality.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Workday Payroll ExperienceMulti-State Payroll ManagementPayroll Compliance KnowledgePayroll Accounting ExpertiseCertified Payroll Professional

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Payroll ProcessingData ValidationPayroll Tax ComplianceAccruals ManagementVariance AnalysisPayroll AuditsSLA ManagementFinancial Close ProcessesProcess OptimizationPayroll Reporting

Soft Skills

Analytical SkillsProblem-SolvingStakeholder ManagementCommunication SkillsAttention to Detail

Tools & Technologies

Workday PayrollOneSource Virtual

Certifications & Qualifications

Workday Payroll CertificationCertified Payroll ProfessionalPCP Canada

Industry Keywords

Payroll OperationsEOR ModelsGlobal Payroll GovernanceSaaS EnvironmentsHigh-Growth Technology

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead end-to-end payroll operations across North America, including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and limited EOR-supported populations
Ensure accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing across 30+ U.S. states and multiple Canadian provinces
Serve as the primary payroll lead for Workday Payroll, supporting processing, configuration, testing, audits, reporting, integrations, releases, system changes, data validation, and process optimization
Manage internal payroll processes, third-party providers, and Workday implementation/support partners
Oversee vendor performance, SLA management, project deliverables, issue resolution, and continuous improvement
Partner with HR, Finance, Legal, Benefits, Compensation, and external vendors as the North America payroll subject matter expert
Support payroll inputs and employee lifecycle events, including hires, terminations, transfers, leaves, bonuses, equity-related payments, benefit deductions, and adjustments
Oversee payroll impacts of equity transactions, executive compensation, retention bonuses, relocation benefits, taxable fringe benefits, and complex compensation programs
Partner with Finance on payroll accounting, reconciliations, accruals, variance analysis, funding, reporting, controls, and financial close activities
Manage year-end payroll activities, tax statements, annual reporting, statutory obligations, audits, and employee inquiries
Develop and maintain payroll policies, SOPs, process documentation, governance frameworks, controls, and audit-ready processes
Support international expansion, including state/province registrations, entity setup, and EOR payroll arrangements
Establish and track payroll KPIs, service levels, audit findings, compliance metrics, and continuous improvement initiatives

Requirements

What you’ll need

7+ years of progressive payroll experience, including independent ownership of multi-state, multi-jurisdiction payroll operations for geographically dispersed workforces, with exposure to Canada and/or Mexico payroll
Hands-on Workday Payroll experience required, including payroll processing, testing, reporting, production support, data validation, and issue resolution
Strong knowledge of U.S. federal, state, and local payroll requirements, including payroll tax, wage and hour considerations, garnishments, wage attachments, leaves of absence, benefit deductions, multi-state taxation, and year-end processes
Strong understanding of payroll accounting, payroll funding, general ledger interfaces, accruals, reconciliations, variance review, controls, and financial close processes
Experience supporting internal and external payroll audits, including SOX, statutory, tax, regulatory compliance, and control reviews
Experience managing payroll vendors and outsourced payroll providers, including SLA management, service reviews, issue escalation, and contract governance
Strong analytical, problem-solving, stakeholder management, and communication skills
Ability to operate independently in a fast-paced, evolving environment with strong attention to accuracy, confidentiality, and operational follow-through
Workday Payroll certification or advanced Workday Payroll experience preferred
Experience working with OneSource Virtual managed payroll services preferred
Experience supporting payroll operations during M&A, carve-out, stand-up, or broader business transformation initiatives preferred
Exposure to global payroll governance, shared services, or payroll center-of-excellence models preferred
Certified Payroll Professional, PCP Canada, or equivalent payroll certification preferred
Experience supporting payroll operations in high-growth technology or SaaS environments preferred
Familiarity with EOR models and international workforce compliance preferred

Benefits

Comp & perks

Competitive benefits, compensation and long-term impact
Flexible work arrangements
Discretionary Time Off (DTO)
Global paid parental leave
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)