Job Summary

Action Against Hunger seeks a highly skilled and detail-oriented Payroll Manager to join our international non-governmental organization (NGO). As a Payroll Manager, you will be responsible for tax regulations and insurance compliance across multiple countries. You will work closely with the HR team and finance department to ensure accurate and timely payment of salaries, benefits, and taxes for our diverse global workforce. This role requires a strong understanding of international payroll practices, compliance management, exceptional organizational skills, and a commitment to maintaining confidentiality.

The ideal candidate is someone who cares deeply about ending hunger and improving the lives of food-insecure communities. She/he/they are detail-oriented and thorough with superior analytical skills.

Purpose: Serve as a manager for payroll-related functions, including all tax activities and ensuring compliance with local, state, federal, and international regulations across multiple countries.

Engagement: Engages with external stakeholders, primarily corporate donor representatives and leadership. In addition, some internal communications are required with External Relations colleagues, international field staff, and Action Against Hunger’s global network. Some engagement is also required with various consultants/contractors.

Delivery: The Payroll Manager works within the Human Resources Department under the supervision of the Associate Director of People Strategies and Operations.

Essential Job Duties

• Implement, maintain, and review payroll processing systems to ensure timely and accurate processing of payroll transactions, including salaries, benefits, garnishments, taxes, and other deductions.
• Responsible for oversight of all payroll tax activities, including compliance with local, state, federal, and international regulations, including communications related to tax set-up, answers questions, and addresses tax-related issues from employees, including questions regarding tax forms
• Files all appropriate state-mandated filings and monitors filings for updates or changes
• Monitors state and local tax requirements to ensure company and employee-level compliance
• Determines proper employee setup in Ceridian systems and troubleshoots errors, conducts quarterly and annual Ceridian compliance reports and filings
• Conducts quarterly review of employee data and corrects any issues, including all communication and development of procedures
• Conducts quarterly review of company-level tax setups and registrations and corrects all issues
• Managing audit support successfully through strong partnerships with the internal audit team and external auditors to ensure control standards are upheld. This includes coordination of internal and/or external audits and advising remediation efforts for exceptions identified.
• Develops tools, guidelines, and training materials consistent with corporate policies and best practices
• Managing audit support successfully through strong partnerships with business HR and Payroll, internal audit team, and external auditors to ensure control standards are upheld. This includes coordination of internal and/or external audits and advising remediation efforts for exceptions identified.
• Registers with state and local agencies for tax withholdings. Determines methodology for withholding state unemployment and other mandated deductions and ensures compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, including mandatory postings, communications, policies, etc.
• Reviews wage and tax registers, reviews Quarterly tax verification letters, State Unemployment Insurance rates (check status and accounts), and statements of 940 and 941
• Discuss emerging compliance issues related to HR-specific insurance with management or employees.
• Responsible for unemployment and worker compensation insurance regulatory policies and procedures, documentation, implementation, and communications.
• Act as POC for miscellaneous requests that have compliance requirements, such as Census surveys, unemployment claims, etc.
• Keep stakeholders informed of any anticipated compliance updates
• Recommend new approaches, policies, and procedures to effect continual improvements in the efficiency of Payroll services performed
• Manages relationships with external clients, vendors, partners, and consultants
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as required by the immediate supervisor or executives

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately within short time frames under stressful situations in the context of a moderately noisy office with interruptions.
• To travel to the field, the employee must attest to a level of physical fitness capable of enduring physically difficult, highly stressful situations, which may include the necessity to walk long distances, eat a limited diet, and/or reside in potentially uncomfortable housing or tents.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

• The duties of the job require regular job attendance at least five days per week. Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as required by contact with the missions, mission security, or other obligations.
• Must be able to travel as required for standard domestic and international business travel as well as to the missions if appropriate. While visiting the field, the employee may be exposed to precarious settings under high-security risks and/or very basic living conditions and outside weather conditions, as well as to infectious diseases.

Gender Equality Commitments & Zero Tolerance to Abuse

• Foster an environment that reinforces the values of people of all genders and equal access to information.
• Provide a work environment where people of all genders must be evaluated and promoted based on their skills and performance.
• Promote a safe, secure, and respectful environment for all stakeholders, particularly for children, beneficiaries, and members of staff.
• Help to prevent any type of abuse, including workplace harassment and sexual abuse and exploitation.
• Respect beneficiaries’ women, men, and children (boys and girls) regardless of gender, sex orientation, disability, religion, race, color, ancestry, national origin, age, or marital status.
• Value and respect all cultures.

Required Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree required; Master’s Degree a plus

Required Skills & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field. Professional certification in payroll (e.g., Certified Payroll Professional) is a plus.
• Proven work experience as a Payroll and Compliance Manager, preferably in an international NGO or a similar global organization.
• Strong knowledge of international payroll practices, including tax regulations, social security, and labor laws across multiple countries.
• Familiarity with payroll software and systems (e.g., ADP, SAP, Workday) and proficiency in using spreadsheet software (e.g., Microsoft Excel). Specific experience with Paylocity and Ceridian Dayforce is preferred.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in data entry and calculations.
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and maintain high levels of integrity and professionalism.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to reconcile payroll discrepancies and resolve payroll-related issues.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex payroll information to employees and stakeholders.
• Exceptional organizational skills and the ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and work efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Team player with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.