Grainger

Director, Payroll

Grainger

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Hybrid

Location: Lake Forest • Illinois • United States

Visit company website

Explore more

✨ AI Apply
Apply

Salary

💰 $148,900 - $248,200 per year

Job Level

Lead

About the role

  • Set the payroll vision and multi-year strategy, aligning processes, technology, and vendors to business goals, with clear KPIs and dashboards to monitor accuracy, timeliness, experience, and control health.
  • Define and drive the payroll technology roadmap with HRIS (including SAP SuccessFactors ECP & PCC), ensuring scalable design, stable integrations, and robust reporting and analytics.
  • Oversee end-to-end U.S. and Canada payroll operations, including processing, accounting, benefits interfaces, off cycle runs, and all special events. (Year-end, bonus/equity, etc.)
  • Ensure regulatory compliance across federal, state/provincial, and local jurisdictions, proactively assessing and implementing legislative changes.
  • Lead vendor management and service-level performance, ensuring accuracy, compliance and continuous improvement across all partners.
  • Build and lead a high-performing, leader-of-leaders organization, driving accountability, coaching, collaboration, and succession planning.
  • Own payroll policy, controls, and audit readiness (SOX/SOC1), ensuring compliant design and effective operation across all internal and outsourced processes.
  • Serve as executive escalation point and SME for complex payroll issues, ensuring rapid resolution and preventive corrective action.
  • Oversee payroll tax governance, including KPIs, controls, exception-trend review, and opportunities for remediation, automation, and cross-border tax alignment (U.S./Canada, expat/inpat).
  • Embed continuous improvement and standardization, simplifying processes, advancing automation and AI use cases, and ensuring consistent SOPs, process maps, RACIs across Payroll Operations and Payroll Tax while partnering cross-functionally on enterprise initiatives and enhancing team member experience.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s Degree and 10+ years progressive payroll leadership experience with multi-country scope (U.S. and Canada), including direct ownership of payroll tax and vendor management required.
  • Demonstrated experience leading payroll in SAP SuccessFactors/Employee Central Payroll (ECP) and Payroll Control Center (PCC) (or equivalent enterprise platforms) and collaborating closely with HRIS on integrations/roadmaps.
  • Proven track record managing SOX/SOC1 controls, audits, and compliance programs.
  • Strong people-leadership capabilities (leader of leaders), change leadership, and cross-functional influence.
  • Six Sigma Certification and/or continuous improvement background preferred.
  • Experience with expatriate/inpatriate payroll and global taxation considerations.
Benefits
  • Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans with coverage starting on day one of employment and 6 free sessions each year with a licensed therapist to support your emotional wellbeing.
  • 18 paid time off (PTO) days annually for full-time employees (accrual prorated based on employment start date) and 6 company holidays per year.
  • 6% company contribution to a 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan each pay period, no employee contribution required.
  • Employee discounts, tuition reimbursement, student loan refinancing and free access to financial counseling, education, and tools.
  • Maternity support programs, nursing benefits, and up to 14 weeks paid leave for birth parents and up to 4 weeks paid leave for non-birth parents.
Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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

Hard Skills & Tools
payroll operationspayroll tax governanceregulatory compliancevendor managementreporting and analyticscontinuous improvementautomationaudit readinessprocess standardizationcross-border tax alignment
Soft Skills
people leadershipchange leadershipcross-functional influencecoachingcollaborationaccountabilitysuccession planningproblem resolutionstrategic alignmentperformance management
Certifications
Bachelor's DegreeSix Sigma Certification