ZEISS Group · 12 hours ago
Head of Payroll, North America
White Plains, NY
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
$190K/yr - $200K/yr
10+ years expZEISS Group is a global company with over 179 years of experience, specializing in cutting-edge technologies across various sectors. The Head of Payroll is responsible for leading payroll operations for over 3,500 colleagues in North America, ensuring compliance, accuracy, and efficiency while developing a high-performing team.
HardwareManufacturingPhotography
Hiring Manager
Debra Season-Rybolt
Responsibilities
Further develop and execute a long-term payroll strategy for North America, ensuring scalability, efficiency, and alignment with organizational objectives
Drive transformation initiatives to streamline processes, improve internal controls, and ensure best-in-class service delivery
Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on payroll-related risks, performance, and compliance posture
Drive harmonization and automation of payroll processes across key areas, including 401(k) reconciliation, Workday earning code definition incl. mapping to GL, and other critical workflows
Lead and manage payroll-related projects, including system upgrades, integrations/migrations, vendor transitions, and process improvement initiatives
Partner with HR, Finance and HR Digital Solutions teams to align payroll operations with broader organizational strategies and to optimize end-to-end processes
Oversee the accurate processing of multi-state U.S. and Canadian payroll, special payments, garnishments, tax withholdings, and benefit deductions
Ensure compliance with federal, state, provincial, and local payroll tax laws and regulations, including multi-state payroll tax registrations and updates
Ensure absolute accuracy, timeliness, and compliance in payroll operations
Maintain a hands-on approach and operational depth to ensure continuity and quality across all touchpoints
Oversee payroll-related implications for expats and mobile employees
Monitor regulatory changes and ensure proactive compliance
Manage relationships with external payroll vendors, ensuring performance against SLAs, cost efficiency, and compliance standards
Establish and monitor payroll KPIs, providing regular reporting and insight to Finance and HR leadership
Ensure payroll processes follow robust internal controls and support all internal and external audits, including payroll reconciliations, workers compensation and documentation of key procedures
Understand complex and integrated system/technology landscape (e.g., Workday) downstream systems, integrations and reporting
Manage year-end payroll activities, including tax reporting (e.g., W-2, T4) and reconciliation processes
Develop, coach, and inspire a team of payroll professionals to deliver with excellence, integrity, and purpose
Cultivate a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Identify and build future leadership within the team; foster cross-functional learning and upskilling
Establish clear performance metrics, SLAs, and KPIs for the payroll team to ensure high-quality service delivery
Build strong, trusting relationships with Finance, HR (including HR Digital Solutions), Legal and onsite leadership
Represent payroll in M&A due diligence, onboarding, and integration efforts
Collaborate with HR Digital Solutions teams to maintain and optimize Workday Time & Payroll systems
Act as the internal and external face of payroll, ensuring transparency and proactive communication
Implement and maintain robust governance framework and controls to ensure compliance with organizational policies, payroll tax laws, and regulatory requirements
Develop and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions for payroll processes
Conduct regular internal audits of payroll transactions, garnishments, tax withholdings, and absence processing to ensure accuracy and compliance
Collaborate with external vendors (e.g., ADP, OSV) and state agencies to resolve tax-related issues and maintain employer compliance
Act as the Functional Lead in Workday Payroll improvement projects, ensuring optimal utilization of the platform and integration with other HRIS systems
Evaluate and recommend third-party vendors to support payroll operations, year-end readiness, and special projects
Identify opportunities for process automation and digitalization and implement best practices to enhance efficiency and accuracy
Develop analytics and reporting tools to monitor payroll performance and support decision-making
Coordinate with the Global Mobility team to manage payroll for inbound and outbound expatriates, ensuring compliance with relocation gross-ups, taxation, and year-end reporting
Partner with outsourced vendors (e.g., KPMG ) to address expatriate tax matters and ensure accurate reporting on W-2s and other tax forms
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field
Minimum of 10 years of progressive payroll experience, including U.S. and Canadian payroll, in a multi-entity, multi-state, matrixed, global organization
5+ years in a leadership role managing decentralized teams of 5 or more direct reports
Extensive multi-state and local payroll tax knowledge, including registration and compliance
Workday: Advanced working knowledge of Workday US Payroll, Workday Canada Payroll (highly desirable) and Time Tracking is required
Strong project management skills, including the ability to manage project plans, dependencies, critical path activities, and milestones
Proficient use of a computer, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote), and other related applications or software
Deep knowledge of payroll laws, systems, tax regulations, and compliance requirements across the U.S. and Canada
Ability to interpret payroll data, support audits, and partner closely with Finance to ensure proper accounting and reporting
A developer of people who can inspire, guide, and empower teams while holding high standards
Skilled at leading through ambiguity, managing transitions, and gaining buy-in across diverse stakeholder groups
Demonstrated ability to remain focused, accurate, and composed in high-stakes environments
Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on root cause analysis and corrective action
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across functions and levels
High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy and compliance
A strong ability to analyze and optimize end-to-end processes to enhance operational efficiency, drive ongoing improvement and organizational success
Preferred
CPP (Certified Payroll Professional) certification
Proven experience implementing and managing Workday payroll and time solutions
Experience transforming payroll and benefits functions to maximize automation, scalability, and cost-effectiveness
Experience with other payroll platforms and vendors (e.g., ADPWFN, OSV)
Familiarity with global mobility and expatriate taxation matters
Benefits
Medical
Vision
Dental
401k Matching
Employee Assistance Programs
Vacation and sick pay
The list goes on!
Company
ZEISS Group
Zeiss is a manufacturer of optical systems, industrial measurements, and medical devices.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Jörg Marzel
Global CISO
Norbert Gergely
Head of Data Architecture and Lifecycle
Recent News
2025-12-18
2025-12-18
2025-12-11
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