US Payroll Director

Innovation is the heart of Brunswick. See how your contributionswill help transform vision into reality:

Position Overview:

The Payroll Director will oversee US payroll and time & attendance operations, ensuring accurate and efficient payroll services for US employees. This role is pivotal in modernizing payroll processes to standardize, streamline, consolidate, and automate operations. The Payroll Director will collaborate with various departments to ensure secure and compliant payroll processing, manage vendor relationships, and lead payroll transformation initiatives.

At Brunswick, we have passion for our work and a distinct ability to deliver.  

EssentialFunctions:

• Lead US payroll and time & attendance operations to provide accurate and efficient payroll services to our US employees, playing a key role in payroll modernization to standardize, streamline, consolidate and automate our payroll processes

• Partner closely with various collaborators (finance, tax, compensation and benefits, HR, legal, IT, security office, the business) to ensure payroll is processed securely as per defined procedures, guidelines, legal requirements and in compliance with local laws and regulations

• Lead vendor relationships for services /outsourcing, holding vendors accountable for results.

• Measure and supervise the effectiveness of payroll services.

• Lead, coach, and inspire the teams. Ensure that the teams are engaged in their work and supported in their professional development.

• Ensure accuracy of financial information; compliance with Company policies and procedures including SOX and other internal control requirements

• Lead payroll transformation activities to consolidate payroll systems, harmonize payroll processes and enhance automation

• Keep up to date on tax and labor laws compliance requirements and ensure compliance across the function including working closely with the security team to drive confidence that data is secured in transit and at rest

• Operate with an approach of continuous performance improvement to streamline and automate 

• Run operational aspects of the payroll function including vendor management, service level agreements, vendor contracts, etc.

• Stakeholder management across levels both internal and third-party vendors

• Applying subject matter expertise in evaluating business requirements against solutions being implemented

• Providing technical subject matter expertise by engaging with the key client stakeholders to understand business requirements, identify setup requirements and manage the successful implementation of vendor systems and services.

• Overseeing the development, testing, and implementation of technical solutions, determining whether technical solutions meet defined requirements.

Project Responsibilities:

• Drive projects for payroll-related matters as both a SME and a project manager

• Update and evolve payroll project plans, tracking standard methodologies and lessons learned with a focus on continuous improvement

• Act as business partner and key point of contact with the business unit leadership and in other functions such as HR, tax, finance & legal to ensure critical activities are executed timely and successfully.

• Providing expert payroll advice and able to influence, negotiate or challenge decisions and pathways of the projects with senior leaders and executives.

• Work closely with external vendors and consultants involved in project activity

Diversity of thought and experiencesis fundamental when imagining the unimaginable. Certain skillsets/experiences are necessary; however, others can be developed along the way.

Required Qualifications:

• Proven record of managing/supporting complex payroll projects/ transformation programs with experience of working alongside both Payroll and IT professionals

• Experience in international/expat payrolls and equity compensation

• Understanding of payroll and related social security and tax withholding compliance obligations

• Proven experience in leading payroll projects, with ability to plan & manage payroll ‘user acceptance testing (UAT)’, ‘integration acceptance testing’ and ‘payroll parallel testing.’

• Excellent communication skills (with fluency in English).

• Ability to work under pressure in a matrix environment with conflicting demands

• Extremely hands-on with the confidence to manage stakeholders and multi-disciplinary onsite and virtual teams

• Ability to independently resolve complex problems where analysis requires the in-depth evaluation of numerous factors

• Ability and willingness to “roll-up sleeves” and delve deep into the processes

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise extreme discretion

• Knowledge of payroll platforms (such as Workday) would be an added advantage

• Able to develop effective working relationships with various and diverse partners

• Ability to meet tight deadlines, being resourceful and a problem solver

• Strong organizational and time management skills

• Able to work independently with minimal supervision

• Strong presentation skills including the ability to successfully represent data and ideas

• Effective communication skills expressed through conversation, instruction, written memos, written work instructions, and flow charts

• Ability to gain credibility with local management, Influence others and make recommendations for change.

• Proven track record of consistently meeting goals and objectives

• Ability to work onsite in the Corp Office 3 days a week.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, or related field with a minimum of ten (10) years hands-on payroll experience

• Experience being a great partner with 3rd party vendors and agreeing on contracts with global vendors.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to combine attention to detail with big picture perspective

• Ability to influence and collaborate at all levels of the organization including senior executives; able to comfortably speak to business line managers and establish a communication cadence

• Ability to provide focus and drive in identifying and resolving issues that span organizations and partnerships, creating a shared vision for results

• Must be proficient with MS Office software (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Access, Outlook)

Why Brunswick: