[Hiring] Director, Global Payroll @Collibra

Role Description

As our Director Global Payroll, you will drive the full payroll function for our global tech organization across 12 countries. This is a hands-on leadership role, offering end-to-end accountability for accuracy, tax compliance, and global execution. You will maintain personal ownership of US payroll tax operations, including quarter-end and year-end processing within Dayforce and Workday, while directing international payroll through in-country specialists and vendors.

Directors, Global Payroll at Collibra are responsible for:

• Own US and Canada payroll tax compliance across all jurisdictions, including local earned income tax and nexus for the remote workforce.
• Direct global payroll across Belgium, the UK, Poland, the Czech Republic, and eight additional countries, maintaining oversight of local calendars and compliance mandates.
• Execute technical tax adjustments in Dayforce and Workday, including mid-year corrections and off-cycle filings.
• Lead quarter-end close, reconciling liabilities and validating 941 filings ahead of deadlines.
• Drive year-end processing, including US W-2 production and corrections.
• Serve as the payroll-tax subject matter expert for People and Finance, and resolve employee inquiries directly.
• Coordinate tax registration lifecycles with Legal and Finance partners as the company scales.
• Partner on tax-sensitive events such as equity vesting and relocation, ensuring accurate reporting of complex compensation.
• Lead, develop, and back up in-country specialists, and manage vendor relationships with partners like Partena, Cintra, and Forvis Mazars.
• Direct global audits, providing technical documentation and reconciliations, and resolve cross-functional escalations.
• Drive AI, automation, and process improvements to streamline global payroll workflows and documentation.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of end-to-end US multi-state payroll experience, including 7+ years in a leadership role owning global coordination, year-end delivery, and complex tax lifecycles.
• Demonstrated use of AI tools (e.g., Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, Copilot) to solve business challenges and streamline workflows.
• Hands-on mastery of Workday and Dayforce, able to independently run US payroll cycles and technical tax functions (adjustments, 941 reconciliations, local returns, W-2/W-2c).
• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent related working experience is required.
• This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Requirements

• A hands-on leader who directs and develops the team while still owning US payroll and tax execution personally, and who wants that technical work to stay central as scope expands globally.
• Comfortable directing international payroll through in-country specialists and vendors rather than processing each cycle yourself.

Measures of success

• Within your first month, you will complete a full US payroll cycle independently in Dayforce and Workday, map all active in-country vendor relationships and compliance calendars across our 12 countries, and identify any open gaps in payroll tax registrations.
• Within your third month, you will own and deliver your first quarter-end close — including 941 reconciliation and liability validation — and establish direct working relationships with all in-country specialists and vendors (Partena, Cintra, Forvis Mazars). You will have also surfaced your top 2–3 process improvement or automation opportunities.
• Within your sixth month, you will lead year-end readiness planning end-to-end (US W-2 production and international equivalents), launch at least one automation or process improvement initiative using AI, and present a global payroll operations roadmap to the VP, Controller.

Compensation for this role

The standard base salary range for this position is $168,000 - $210,000 per year. This position is not eligible for additional commission-based compensation. Salary offers are based on a combination of factors, including, but not limited to, experience, skills, and location.

In addition to base salary, we offer a competitive total rewards package, including bonus potential, equity for eligible roles, a Flex Fund monthly stipend, pension/401k plans, and more.