Head of Payroll, North America

Head of Payroll, North America

About Siemens

At Siemens, we transform the everyday through technology that improves how people live, work, and move. Global Business Services delivers world class business operations that enable Siemens businesses to focus on innovation, growth, and customer success.

As part of Siemens ONE Tech strategy, we are harmonizing processes, data, and digital platforms across the enterprise to strengthen quality, efficiency, and employee experience. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of payroll delivery across North America and drive meaningful transformation at scale.

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In this role you will work remotely from a home office.

The Opportunity

Siemens is seeking an experienced and transformational leader to serve as Head of North America Payroll. The primary focus of this role is to set the strategic direction for North America payroll, lead and develop people, foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, and drive strong performance across the organization.

Leading a hybrid delivery model that includes an outsourced payroll provider and offshore and nearshore delivery teams, this leader will build team capability, strengthen engagement, and create the conditions for a high performing workforce focused on quality, efficiency, service excellence, and employee experience.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Direction and Transformation

• Conduct a comprehensive assessment of organizational structure, processes, service delivery, technology, controls, and employee engagement.
• Develop and execute a multiyear transformation roadmap aligned to Global Business Services and ONE Tech objectives.
• Partner with regional and global stakeholders to align payroll strategy with broader Hire to Retire and People and Organization priorities.
• Drive simplification, standardization, automation, and productivity improvements to achieve annual operational efficiency targets.
• Provide strategic direction, remove barriers, strengthen governance, and develop team capability to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence for a large, complex employee population.
• Build compelling business cases supported by cost, risk, and return on investment analyses to secure funding for strategic initiatives.

Leadership and Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a diverse team of payroll managers, analysts, and specialists, while clarifying ownership between strategic leadership, vendor management, and operational delivery responsibilities.
• Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, collaboration, inclusion, customer centricity, and continuous improvement.
• Recognize and reward strong performance while proactively addressing performance concerns.
• Build organizational capability through succession planning, leadership development, skills enhancement, and development plans.
• Lead change management efforts that support the adoption of new processes, technologies, and service models.
• Promote employee engagement, trust, and team effectiveness across the payroll organization and global delivery locations.

Vendor and Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary leadership contact for payroll vendors, service partners, internal stakeholders, and business leaders across North America.
• Establish a vendor governance framework for third party payroll providers and delivery partners, including roles, decision rights, escalation paths, service expectations, and accountability routines.
• Negotiate and manage service agreements, performance metrics, and governance frameworks.
• Drive accountability through structured operational reviews, quarterly business reviews, and annual strategic planning sessions.
• Implement data driven performance management using key operational and customer experience metrics.
• Communicate payroll performance, risks, and strategic initiatives to executive stakeholders, while advising the business on ways to reduce cost, simplify complexity, and increase value.
• Translate stakeholder feedback and payroll service insights into prioritized improvements that strengthen employee experience, compliance, efficiency, and business confidence.

Technology, Analytics, and Continuous Improvement

• Ensure the team uses Workday, ServiceNow, and other enabling technologies to improve payroll operations, service quality, and employee experience.
• Guide the team in identifying, prioritizing, and implementing automation, robotic process automation, systems integration, and advanced analytics opportunities.
• Drive a culture of data driven decisions and innovation that advances payroll modernization and digital transformation objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Human Resources, or similar from an accredited university.
• 12 or more years of progressive payroll leadership experience.
• 5+ years leading large scale, complex payroll operations across the United States and Canada.
• Demonstrated success managing outsourced payroll providers and global delivery models.
• Knowledge of payroll legislation, taxation, labor regulations, and compliance requirements across the United States and Canada.
• Experience leading operational transformation, process improvement, and organizational change initiatives.
• Proven track record of budget ownership and delivery of measurable productivity improvements.
• Proficiency in English both written and verbal
• Legally authorized to work in the United States without corporate sponsorship now or in the future.
• Ability to travel up to 25 percent.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional, Canadian Payroll Manager, or Payroll Compliance Practitioner certification.
• MBA, CPA, or equivalent advanced degree.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and organizational restructuring.
• Experience within a global shared services environment.
• Experience with Workday Human Capital Management and enterprise case management platforms.
• Exceptional stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills Background in manufacturing, engineering, industrial, or technology organizations.
• Bilingual proficiency in French Canadian or Spanish.

Our Commitment to Equity and Inclusion in our Diverse Global Workforce

We value your unique identity and perspective. We are fully committed to providing equitable opportunities and building a workplace that reflects the diversity of society, while ensuring that we attract the best talent based on qualifications, skills, and experiences. Come bring your authentic self and create a better tomorrow with us.

Ready to transform payroll excellence across North America?

Join Siemens Global Business Services and help reimagine the future of payroll through innovation, operational excellence, and an exceptional employee experience.

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