Director of Payroll

The Midtown Group is searching for a Global Director of Payroll for an international legal services company that is growing rapidly. This role is highly strategic in nature and offers the chance for the hired professional to lead and take an already strong department to the next level during an exciting time.

This position can be based out of the firm's New York, Philadelphia, or DC office and requires four days of onsite work per week. Regular travel is to be expected and will include visits to offices overseas.

Here are the additional details:

The Global Director of Payroll leads a high-impact, strategic function that shapes the firm's financial integrity and global capability. As our growth accelerates across the United States and EMEA/APAC, this role blends visionary leadership with hands-on execution to drive payroll excellence, compliance, and operational transformation.

Strategic mandate and impact

Strategic payroll leadership across U.S. and EMEA/APAC: shape how we scale payroll processes to support rapid growth, mergers, and evolving regulatory landscapes.

Centralized governance and standardized controls: design the global payroll control framework that enables consistent, auditable, and risk-adjusted operations.

Subject-matter expert and policy shaper: translate complex payroll regulations into actionable policy, ensuring the firm remains ahead of regulatory changes and industry best practices.

Business partner at scale: align payroll strategy with Human Resources, Legal, Benefits, Accounting & Finance, and external vendors to enable cross-functional decision-making and faster execution.

Leadership and vision

Lead the payroll function and team: inspire, coach, and develop global payroll talent to become industry-leading practitioners.

Direct oversight of Senior Payroll Manager(s): empower regional experts while maintaining a unified, globally consistent standard.

Vendor and partner leadership: steer relationships with external providers to optimize cost, quality, and service delivery across regions.

Operational excellence with a strategic lens

Global payroll governance and policies: establish and maintain policies, controls, documentation standards, and escalation protocols that scale with growth.

End-to-end global operations oversight: ensure accurate processing for Attorneys, Staff, and Partners across monthly, bi-weekly, and periodic distributions.

Regulatory mastery: ensure compliance with U.S. federal/state/local laws and international/regional requirements (EMEA/APAC) while anticipating regulatory shifts.

Process design and improvement: lead the development and execution of global payroll processes aligned to firm policies and financial controls; continuously seek efficiency, accuracy, and risk reduction.

Performance metrics and reporting: define and monitor KPIs (accuracy, timeliness, compliance, vendor performance) and provide actionable insights to leadership.

Risk management and remediation: proactively identify payroll compliance risks and lead remediation initiatives to close gaps quickly.

Key responsibilities in practice

Payroll policy and governance: establish enterprise-wide standards for policies, controls, documentation, and escalation.

Global operations oversight: manage payroll execution across offices and time zones, ensuring precision for all employee types and compensation elements.

Regulatory and tax compliance: maintain mastery of U.S. and international wage, tax, and labor compliance (including IRS/FLSA considerations) and regional regulatory nuances.

Strategic process design: partner with HR, Legal, Benefits, and Finance to design scalable processes that support business goals, governance needs, and financial controls.

Performance visibility: implement dashboards and reporting to monitor accuracy, timeliness, compliance, and vendor performance; translate data into executive-ready insights.

People leadership: lead, mentor, and grow a world-class global payroll team; foster a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous learning.

What success looks like in this role

A globally consistent payroll operating model that scales with the firm’s growth.

A proactive risk and compliance posture with minimal remediation needs.

Strong cross-functional partnerships driving faster, better decisions around compensation and policy.

A highly engaged payroll team recognized as trusted strategic partners to business leaders

Requirements

Education:

• BS in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related discipline
• Certified Payroll Professional designation preferred

Experience:

• 10 years of progressive payroll experience
• Leadership experience in complex, multi-state and multi-country environments
• Experience in professional services or partnership environment preferred
• Experience with international payroll operations (EMEA/APAC preferred)
• Experience managing external payroll providers
• Experience navigating multi-jurisdictional compliance

Skills:

• Deep knowledge of payroll laws and regulations
• Understanding of global payroll governance and risk management
• Proven leadership and team management capability
• Strong analytical and interpersonal skills
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Experience with Ceridian and/or Workday (or similar systems)
• High attention to detail and discretion
• Ability to lead cross-border initiatives
• Strong understanding of payroll controls, audit readiness, and compliance frameworks