Senior SAP EC Payroll Functional Lead Consultant

Overview:

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior SAP Payroll Functional Lead Consultant (ECP or HCM) to lead a large-scale, complex U.S. payroll implementation. This strategic role is responsible for the end-to-end payroll solution design, ensuring alignment with business requirements and compliance standards. The consultant will collaborate closely with payroll configurators to ensure accurate and effective configuration, and partner with integration leads to guarantee seamless data flow and process integration from a payroll standpoint.

As the overall payroll project lead, you will oversee multiple workstreams, facilitate requirement-gathering workshops, manage configuration and testing phases (including SIT, UAT, and parallel payroll runs), and ensure successful cutover and post-go-live support. This role demands a proactive leader with deep SAP Payroll expertise, strong stakeholder management skills, and the ability to deliver scalable, compliant, and high-quality payroll solutions in a dynamic, global environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and own the design of the payroll solution, ensuring it meets strategic, operational, and compliance objectives.
• Conduct and facilitate requirement-gathering workshops with business stakeholders to define and document payroll needs.
• Collaborate with payroll configurators to ensure configuration aligns with the approved solution and business requirements.
• Partner with integration lead to ensure robust and seamless integration between payroll and related systems (e.g., SAP FI, Time Management, Benefits, Compensation, Third-party vendors).
• Oversee all phases of the payroll implementation lifecycle, including:
  • Solution build and configuration
  • Parallel payroll runs
  • System Integration Testing (SIT)
  • User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
  • Cutover planning and execution
  • Post-go-live support
• Provide functional expertise in:
  • Gross-to-net calculations
  • Tax reporting and BSI Tax Factory integration
  • Garnishments and levy management
  • Year-end processing and accrual setup
• Troubleshoot payroll issues, apply support packs, and develop custom rules and operations as needed.
• Maintain payroll catalogs including wage types, off-cycle payroll, and other key components.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders, providing timely updates, managing risks, and driving resolution strategies.
• Ensure project milestones are met with high quality and within timelines.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Minimum 12+ years of hands-on experience in SAP Payroll (ECP or HCM), with a strong focus on U.S. Payroll.
• Proven success in leading and delivering complex payroll implementations, including full lifecycle experience.
• Expertise in:
  • Wage type configuration
  • Off-cycle payroll processing
  • Garnishment handling
  • Tax reporter setup
  • Integration with BSI Tax Factory
• Experience in at least 5+ full lifecycle SAP U.S. Payroll implementations.
• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement, and client-facing skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Information Systems, or a related field.
• Familiarity with SAP SuccessFactors, Payroll Control Center (PCC), and automation/process optimization tools.
• 5–7 years of experience executing parallel payroll testing.

Additional Attributes

• Self-driven, proactive, and adaptable in navigating complex configurations.
• Skilled at building consensus and maintaining alignment across diverse, global teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with a focus on delivering high-quality results quickly.

At Strada, our values guide everything we do:

• Anticipate Customer Needs – We stay ahead of trends so our customers can grow and succeed.
• Own the Outcome