VP-Payroll

At Moody's, we unite the brightest minds to turn today’s risks into tomorrow’s opportunities. We do this by striving to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome to be who they are—with the freedom to exchange ideas, think innovatively, and listen to each other and customers in meaningful ways. Moody’s is transforming how the world sees risk. As a global leader in ratings and integrated risk assessment, we’re advancing AI to move from insight to action—enabling intelligence that not only understands complexity but responds to it. We decode risk to unlock opportunity, helping our clients navigate uncertainty with clarity, speed, and confidence.

If you are excited about this opportunity but do not meet every single requirement, please apply! You still may be a great fit for this role or other open roles. We are seeking candidates who model our values: invest in every relationship, lead with curiosity, champion diverse perspectives, turn inputs into actions, and uphold trust through integrity. 

Skills and Competencies

• Significant experience in global or multi-country payroll operations, including leading payroll projects and process improvement initiatives.
• Direct experience with M&A payroll integration, including system consolidation, data migration, and harmonization of pay and time practices.
• Hands-on experience leveraging Workday HCM to support payroll processes, compliance, and operational excellence, including configuration, testing, and reporting.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. and international payroll tax rules, filings, and compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional projects and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to partner effectively with People Team Operations, Benefits, Finance, and Technology.
• Experience with ADP payroll platforms preferred.
• Experience with CloudPay or similar global payroll aggregator/outsourcing platforms preferred.
• Prior experience operating at VP or AVP level within a payroll, HR operations, or shared services organization preferred.

Education

• Professional payroll certification (e.g., CPP, Global Payroll Management Institute certification, or equivalent) preferred.

Responsibilities

Moody's is seeking an experienced payroll leader to join Global Payroll Operations at the VP or AVP level, depending on the candidate's experience and demonstrated scope of impact. This individual will own the end-to-end delivery of payroll-related projects, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) integration work, and process improvement/automation initiatives across Moody's global payroll footprint. The successful candidate will bring hands-on experience leveraging Workday HCM to support payroll processes, compliance, and operational excellence, a strong command of U.S. and international payroll tax rules, and a track record of partnering effectively with cross-functional teams to deliver complex, time-sensitive initiatives.

• Lead and manage global payroll projects from initiation through completion, including scoping, planning, stakeholder alignment, risk management, and post-implementation review.
• Own payroll workstreams for mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, including due diligence support, payroll system/data integration, harmonization of pay practices, and post-close stabilization.
• Identify, design, and implement process improvement and automation initiatives that increase payroll accuracy, reduce manual effort, and strengthen controls.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on Workday HCM functionality, configuration, and reporting; partner with HRIS/Technology teams on enhancements, testing, and issue resolution.
• Maintain strong working knowledge of ADP payroll processing and, where applicable, CloudPay, to support in-country and outsourced payroll delivery models.
• Partner closely with the People Team, including People Team Operations and Benefits, to ensure seamless coordination of payroll-impacting processes, including new hires, terminations, leaves, benefits deductions, and total rewards changes.
• Work closely with the VP of Americas Payroll and the VP of International Payroll to align on shared priorities, coordinate cross-regional projects and M&A integrations, and ensure consistent payroll standards and controls globally.
• Apply a strong understanding of U.S. and international payroll tax rules to ensure compliant payroll processing, tax filings, and reporting across multiple jurisdictions.
• Develop and maintain payroll process documentation, controls, and standard operating procedures to support audit readiness and regulatory compliance.
• Provide regular reporting and updates to senior leadership on project status, risks, and key payroll metrics.
• Mentor and, depending on level, manage members of the payroll operations team, fostering a culture of accuracy, continuous improvement, and collaboration.
• Maintain a risk register for global payroll, tracking open items, owners and remediation plan using Moody's GRC tool.
• Partner with internal audit, SOX team on payroll related audits and ensuring timely responses.
• Oversee end to end time and attendance administration, ensuring accurate capture, approval and integration of employee data into payroll processing.
• Ensure time tracking practices comply with local working-time laws, partnering with legal and compliance.

About the Team

Moody's Global Payroll Operations team is responsible for the accurate, compliant, and timely delivery of payroll for employees across multiple countries. The team partners closely with People Team Operations, Benefits, Finance, and Technology to ensure payroll processes support the broader employee experience and comply with all applicable tax and regulatory requirements.

What Success Looks Like

• Payroll projects and M&A integrations are delivered on time, within scope, and with minimal disruption to employees.
• Automation and process improvements measurably reduce manual effort and error rates over time.
• Payroll remains compliant with all applicable U.S. and international tax and regulatory requirements.
• People Team Operations and Benefits partners view Global Payroll Operations as a responsive, reliable, and collaborative partner.

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the role and is not exhaustive. Responsibilities, qualifications, and level (VP/AVP) may be adjusted based on the successful candidate's experience and business needs.

For US-based roles only: the anticipated hiring base salary range for this position is $163,300.00 - $236,800.00, depending on factors such as experience, education, level, skills, and location. This range is based on a full-time position. In addition to base salary, this role is eligible for incentive compensation. Moody’s also offers a competitive benefits package, including not but limited to medical, dental, vision, parental leave, paid time off, a 401(k) plan with employee and company contribution opportunities, life, disability, and accident insurance, a discounted employee stock purchase plan, and tuition reimbursement.

Moody’s is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender, age, religion or creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Moody’s also provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities or based on a sincerely held religious belief in accordance with applicable laws. If you need to inquire about a reasonable accommodation, or need assistance with completing the application process, please email View email address on us.fitly.work . This contact information is for accommodation requests only, and cannot be used to inquire about the status of applications

For San Francisco positions, qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

This position may be considered a promotional opportunity, pursuant to the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act.

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Candidates for Moody's Corporation may be asked to disclose securities holdings pursuant to Moody’s Policy for Securities Trading and the requirements of the position. Employment is contingent upon compliance with the Policy, including remediation of positions in those holdings as necessary.