Senior Payroll Lead

Job Description

This role is responsible for providing strategic oversight and governance of U.S. and global executive payroll activities, with a strong focus on payroll tax compliance, vendor performance, operational controls, and continuous improvement. The Senior Payroll Lead serves as a senior payroll representative in multifunctional work groups and exercises independent judgment on complex, high-impact matters. This role provides direction and oversight rather than focusing solely on day-to-day processing, ensuring that payroll activities, third-party services, tax obligations, and related initiatives are executed accurately, consistently, and in alignment with GM policies and applicable regulations.

The successful candidate will oversee executive payroll-related activities and vendor relationships, guide the implementation of corporate payroll tax initiatives, and provide governance across multiple payroll processes and jurisdictions. They will collaborate with Tax, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, vendors, and other business partners to identify risks, resolve complex issues, support strategic decisions, and achieve desired business results.

Responsibilities

• Provide oversight and governance for U.S. and global executive payroll activities, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant execution.

• Perform payroll tax compliance activities related to executive processing, including federal, state, and local requirements.

• Own the process for W-2 reconciliations and company tax tie-outs, ensuring variances are identified, researched, resolved, and appropriately documented.

• Audit wages and tax implications of employees working, transferring, or being paid across multiple jurisdictions.

• Maintain effective working relationships across multiple vendors and internal stakeholders, coordinating activities and escalating risks when appropriate.

• Ensure compliance with internal control requirements, payroll policies, and tax regulations.

• Review, analyze, verify, and present payroll and tax data to support management decision-making.

• Provide financial analysis, risk assessment, and decision support to internal and external stakeholders as needed.

• Proactively identify process improvement opportunities and lead change initiatives that improve accuracy, efficiency, control, and employee experience.

• Lead or support special projects and global initiatives, including cross-functional implementations and operational readiness activities.

• Serve as a subject matter expert and escalation point for complex executive payroll, payroll tax, vendor, and jurisdictional matters.

• Lead project teams and influence outcomes across functions without direct authority when required.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.

• Five or more years of payroll, payroll tax, or global mobility experience.

• Experience overseeing payroll operations, vendors, compliance activities, or cross-functional initiatives.

• Experience with W-2 reconciliations and company tax tie-outs.

• Understanding of the tax implications associated with employees working or being paid in multiple jurisdictions.

• Ability to exercise independent judgment on complex and sensitive matters.

• Ability to lead project teams and work independently.

• Advanced written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong interpersonal, collaboration, and team-building skills.

• Strong understanding of corporate executive personnel policies and procedures.

• Ability to work under pressure and balance multiple priorities and projects.

• Thorough knowledge of payroll systems and end-to-end payroll business processes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) certification.

• Experience with stock-based compensation and related payroll and tax considerations.

• Familiarity with automation and data analysis tools, including Excel and KNIME.

• Experience supporting executive compensation, global mobility, or complex multi-jurisdiction payroll programs.

Location: Hybrid. This role is categorized as hybrid. This means the successful candidate is expected to report to the - Global HQ Warren MI three times per week, at minimum [or other frequency dictated by the business]

Relocation: This role is NOT eligible for relocation benefits.

GM DOES NOT PROVIDE IMMIGRATION-RELATED SPONSORSHIP FOR THIS ROLE. DO NOT APPLY FOR THIS ROLE IF YOU WILL NEED GM IMMIGRATION SPONSORSHIP NOW OR IN THE FUTURE. THIS INCLUDES DIRECT COMPANY SPONSORSHIP, ENTRY OF GM AS THE IMMIGRATION EMPLOYER OF RECORD ON A GOVERNMENT FORM, AND ANY WORK AUTHORIZATION REQUIRING A WRITTEN SUBMISSION OR OTHER IMMIGRATION SUPPORT FROM THE COMPANY (e.g., H-1B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.)

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