Financial Consulting Director - Payroll Services
RSMAbout the role
We are the leading provider of professional services to the middle market globally, our purpose is to instill confidence in a world of change, empowering our clients and people to realize their full potential. Our exceptional people are the key to our unrivaled, culture and talent experience and our ability to be compelling to our clients. You’ll find an environment that inspires and empowers you to thrive both personally and professionally. There’s no one like you and that’s why there’s nowhere like RSM.
Global Director, Payroll Outsourcing
The role
RSM’s Payroll Services practice helps middle-market clients design, run, and optimize payroll across multiple HCM platforms and geographies. As Global Director, Payroll Outsourcing, you will lead the strategy, delivery, and growth of our managed payroll outsourcing offering U.S. domestic, multi-country, and emergency/temporary engagements and shape how our team delivers in the era of AI-enabled work (Microsoft Copilot + Cowork).
This is a player-coach role: you will set the operating model, develop the team, and stay close enough to delivery to be credible with sophisticated clients and complex transitions.
What you will do
Practice leadership — Define and execute the global payroll outsourcing strategy — service catalog, country coverage model, pricing architecture, and delivery technology (including Copilot + Cowork adoption).
Service Quality and Assurance — Own P&L for the managed payroll book: utilization, margin, realization, and revenue growth. Establish SLAs, KPIs, and continuous-improvement rhythms. Drive efficiencies to improve client experience and margin growth.
Client Relationship – Establish and maintain trust with clients and engage in continuous QBR and status activities focused on client satisfaction and growth opportunities.
Client leadership — Lead complex payroll transitions and transformations (ADP → Workday, Dayforce stand-ups, UKG Ready optimizations, multi-country consolidations). Serve as executive sponsor and escalation owner on flagship engagements.
Growth — Partner with sales and account leadership to qualify, scope, price, and win managed payroll opportunities; build alliances with HCM vendors and in-country payroll providers.
Team — Lead and grow a multi-disciplinary team of payroll managers, analysts, and SMEs; build a global delivery bench (onshore + nearshore/offshore) aligned to demand.
Delivery and Execution – Execute on tactical tasks as required to ensure successful client delivery.
Requirements:
14+ years of progressive payroll leadership, including 5+ years running global/multi-country payroll operations or outsourced delivery at scale.
Deep U.S. multi-state payroll expertise plus practical experience coordinating in-country Global payroll across multiple regions.
Demonstrated success leading large-scale payroll transformations across systems such as ADP, Workday Payroll, Dayforce, and/or UKG Ready/Pro.
Strong consulting orientation: comfortable scoping, pricing, and presenting to leadership audiences; experience leading complex escalations and turnarounds.
Bachelor’s degree or Associate's or equivalent working payroll experience.
CPP, FPC, or international payroll credential (e.g., GPMI) preferred.
Preferred:
Track record of owning a managed-services P&L or sizable client portfolio with measurable growth and margin outcomes.
Preferred: Big Four, large consulting, BPO, or HCM vendor delivery leadership background; hands-on familiarity applying AI assistants (Copilot, Cowork) to payroll operations; experience standing up nearshore/offshore payroll delivery centers.
At RSM, we offer a competitive benefits and compensation package for all our people. We offer flexibility in your schedule, empowering you to balance life’s demands, while also maintaining your ability to serve clients. Learn more about our total rewards at https://rsmus.com/careers/working-at-rsm/benefits.
All applicants will receive consideration for employment as RSM does not tolerate discrimination and/or harassment based on race; color; creed; sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances; sex (including pregnancy or disabilities related to nursing); gender; sexual orientation; HIV Status; national origin; ancestry; familial or marital status; age; physical or mental disability; citizenship; political affiliation; medical
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