Technical Lead - Payroll Systems

PURPOSE

The Payroll Systems Technical Lead is the primary technical subject matter expert for Sony Pictures Entertainment's payroll technology ecosystem. The role provides hands-on technical leadership across payroll systems administration, configuration, production support, enhancements, change management, and optimization.

This is a highly visible Lead role: you will solve complex payroll technology problems today while helping shape how the environment evolves over time. You will have the opportunity to influence solutions, simplify processes, strengthen integrations, and deliver meaningful improvements in partnership with Payroll Operations, HRIS, Finance, IT, senior leaders, and technology vendors.

This role sits at the intersection of payroll, HR technology, finance, and enterprise IT. You will have a real opportunity to modernize and simplify the payroll technology environment, improve reliability and data flows, and help define the roadmap for future enhancements. The work is challenging, highly collaborative, and directly connected to one of the organization's most important operational processes: paying employees accurately and on time.

ROLE SCOPE & OWNERSHIP

What You’ll Own

• Own the technical health and performance of the payroll technology environment, including system configuration, administration, production support, integrations, data validation, testing, and vendor escalations. Translate payroll requirements into scalable system solutions and drive complex issues from diagnosis through resolution.

What You’ll Lead Through Partnership

• Lead cross-functional technology delivery with Payroll Operations, HRIS, Finance, IT, integration teams, and vendors across system enhancements, interfaces, releases, implementations, cutover, stabilization, and longer-term modernization initiatives.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Configure, administer, and optimize payroll technology platforms, including Infor WFM and UKG Payroll, to support accurate and reliable payroll processing.
• Translate payroll and business requirements into system configurations, technical requirements, and scalable solution options.
• Lead troubleshooting, root cause analysis, and permanent resolution of complex payroll system and production issues.
• Own payroll-side integration requirements and data validation, partnering with technical teams and vendors on interfaces, file transfers, mappings, and system dependencies.
• Validate critical inbound and outbound data flows across employee, compensation, organizational, payroll, and financial posting data.
• Lead payroll technology testing, releases, deployment, and production readiness, including UAT, cutover, go-live, and stabilization.
• Drive cross-functional resolution of critical issues and defects across Payroll Operations, HRIS, Finance, IT, and technology vendors.
• Maintain technical documentation, configuration records, SOPs, and change controls to support a stable and well-governed environment.
• Serve as the primary technical contact for payroll technology vendors and drive support cases and escalations through resolution.
• Identify and deliver opportunities to simplify processes, strengthen controls, automate activities, and improve payroll technology performance.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Information Technology, Business Administration, Human Resources, Finance, Accounting, or a related field, or equivalent education and relevant experience.

• 7+ years of progressive experience in payroll systems, HRIS, payroll technology, or related enterprise systems.

• Hands-on experience configuring, administering, or supporting enterprise payroll or workforce management platforms.

• Strong understanding of end-to-end payroll processing, payroll data flows, integrations, and U.S. and/or Canadian payroll requirements.

• Demonstrated ability to translate business requirements into system configurations, technical requirements, and solution designs.

• Experience supporting payroll production environments, troubleshooting complex issues, and performing root cause analysis.

• Experience with system integrations, data validation, testing, releases, and change management.

• Strong ability to lead through influence and work effectively across Payroll Operations, HRIS, Finance, IT, and external vendors.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Hands-on experience with Infor WFM and/or UKG Payroll; experience with both platforms is highly desirable.

• Experience supporting U.S. and Canadian payroll or another complex, multi-entity payroll environment.

• Experience with Workday Core HCM, Workday Compensation, SAP Finance, or comparable HR and financial integrations.

• Experience supporting payroll technology implementations, migrations, cutovers, go-lives, and stabilization.

• Experience applying AI-enabled tools, scripting, copilots, or workflow automation to improve payroll technology operations, reporting, documentation, or issue resolution.

The anticipated base salary for this position is $142,400 - $178,000. This role may also qualify for annual incentive and/or comprehensive benefits. The actual base salary offered will depend on a variety of factors, including without limitation, the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and if applicable, the location of the position.

Sony Pictures Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.

SPE will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with applicable law.

Sony Pictures does not allow audio recording, video recording or use of AI note-taking tools during interviews. Please be aware these tools may be enabled as a default and can be difficult to disable once the interview has started, so we recommend you check your device and disable these tools prior to the start of your interview. If recording or the use of the tools occurs during the interview and cannot be promptly turned off or disabled, the interviewer may end the interview.

To request an accommodation for purposes of participating in the hiring process, you may contact us at [email protected].