Director, Global Payroll Operations

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Global Payroll Operations to coordinate and expand our global payroll operations. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll delivery across all countries where we operate. The Director will coordinate payroll strategy, vendor management, compliance, systems optimization, and team leadership while working closely with Finance, HR, Legal and Tax.

The ideal candidate brings deep global payroll expertise, strong operational rigor, and the ability to drive transformation in a fast-paced, growing organization.

Key Responsibilities

Global Payroll Planning & Direction

• Develop and implement a global payroll strategy aligned with business growth and geographic expansion.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing global payroll team.
• Establish scalable processes and governance models to support multi-country payroll operations.
• Serve as the executive point of contact for global payroll matters.

Payroll Operations & Compliance

• Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant payroll processing across all jurisdictions.
• Maintain compliance with local labor laws, tax regulations, statutory reporting, and filing requirements.
• Coordinate/support audits (internal and external) related to payroll and ensure remediation of findings.
• Manage payroll-related SOX controls and risk mitigation frameworks.

Systems & Process Optimization

• Evaluate, implement, and optimize global payroll systems and integrations with HRIS and finance systems.
• Lead payroll transformation projects, including automation and process standardization.
• Drive continuous improvement to improve employee experience and operational efficiency.

Vendor & Collaborator Management

• Coordinate relationships with global payroll providers and regional vendors.
• Partner closely with HR, Total Rewards, Finance, Accounting, Legal, and Tax teams.

Global Expansion & M&A Support

• Support new country expansions, entity setups, and workforce transitions.
• Lead payroll integration efforts for mergers and acquisitions.

Qualifications

Required

• 12+ years of progressive payroll experience, including significant global payroll leadership.
• Experience managing payroll across multiple countries and regions (e.g., Americas, EMEA, APAC).
• Solid understanding of worldwide payroll rules, tax regulations, and legal requirements.
• Experience with large-scale HRIS and payroll systems (e.g., Workday, UKG, Dayforce, etc.).
• Demonstrated experience managing audits and internal controls (SOX experience preferred).
• Demonstrated capability to guide and grow international teams.

Preferred

• Experience in a high-growth or multinational public company environment.
• Experience with worldwide payroll transformation projects.
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field, or equivalent experience (MBA a plus).

Key Proficiencies

• Strategic problem solver with strong operational execution
• Outstanding attention to detail and risk management
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills
• Change leadership and transformation approach
• Excellent communication and executive presence

Why Adobe

At Adobe, you’ll be part of a culture that values innovation, accountability, and inclusion. We believe payroll is not just a back‑office function—it’s foundational to trust, employee experience, and business success. You’ll have the opportunity to build the future of global payroll at scale while working with dedicated teams around the world!

Adobe Capabilities (How We Work)

• Be a Leader: Build and encourage high-performing global teams.
• Be Focused: Drive operational excellence with rigor and accountability.
• Be Creative: Reimagine payroll through automation, simplification, and innovation.

About Adobe

Adobe empowers everyone to create through innovative platforms and tools that unleash creativity, productivity and personalized customer experiences. Adobe’s industry-leading offerings including Adobe Acrobat Studio, Adobe Express, Adobe Firefly, Creative Cloud, Adobe Experience Platform, Adobe Experience Manager, and GenStudio enable people and businesses to turn ideas into impact, powered by AI and driven by human ingenuity.

Our 30,000+ employees worldwide are creating the future and raising the bar as we drive the next decade of growth. We’re on a mission to hire the very best and believe in creating