Global Payroll Manager

Insight Global is seeking a Global Payroll Manager for a market‑leading organisation operating payroll across 22 countries through a single Workday platform. In this role, you will act as the primary payroll and Workday SME, with approximately 75% of the workload focused on U.S. payroll. You will manage all internal payroll oversight while coordinating with outsourced payroll vendors. You will validate payroll data for accuracy, review exceptions, audit inputs and outputs, and ensure strict compliance with federal, state, local, and international regulations. A major component of this role involves using Workday to troubleshoot variances, correct configuration issues, and reconfigure processes where needed across Payroll, Benefits, Absence, and HRIS.

You will oversee payroll controls, year‑end processing (including W‑2/W‑2C), 401(k) funding and audits, workers’ compensation, and multi‑country governance. Additionally, you will partner closely with HR, Benefits, Finance, Tax/Compliance, and external vendors (OSV, TMF) to ensure data integrity and flawless hand‑offs.

Reporting and analytics will be central—designing and maintaining Workday PRISM dashboards and reports for payroll validation, compliance, and executive visibility. You will also support Workday reconfiguration projects, identifying areas to fix, coordinating testing, and ensuring operational readiness.

Please note, this is a fully remote contract-to-hire position and would require you to work within EST timezone.

Must Haves

• Strong U.S. payroll administration/management experience, including federal, state, local, and multi‑jurisdictional tax compliance (40+ jurisdictions; e.g., San Francisco local tax).
• Strong hands‑on Workday expertise, including:
• Workday Payroll (U.S.) - pay components, earnings/deductions, tax configuration
• Workday Benefits & Absence/LOA - HSA, FSA, IRS‑regulated benefits, benefit deduction codes, leave‑related salary continuation, and understanding how benefit and absence events feed payroll.
• Workday HRIS/HCM - staffing actions, compensation changes, position management, and upstream data’s impact on payroll.
• Workday Tools: Report Writer/PRISM (audit & reconciliation), EIBs (mass loads), calculated fields, business processes (workflow routing), and Workday security.
• Ability to identify and resolve configuration defects and work with third‑party Workday partners for complex updates.
• Experience working with outsourced payroll providers (e.g., OSV for U.S., TMF for international), including SLA management, vendor file validation, and escalation handling.
• 401(k) audit and funding experience
• Demonstrated ability to own and manage the payroll calendar, meet vendor timelines, and act as the payroll SME internally.

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• Foundational level of International/global payroll experience (e.g., UK, Poland, France, Philippines).
• Exceptional problem solver, highly detail‑oriented, demonstrates operational and culturally aware and able to work effectively across HR, Finance, Benefits, Tax, IT, and international teams.
• EST timezone

Plusses

• CPP or FPC certification.
• Experience supporting workers’ compensation audits and multi‑country statutory reporting.
• Prior experience leading Workday optimisation projects or collaborating with Workday implementation partners.