Director, Global Payroll & HR Operations

Purpose of Role

The Head of Global Payroll leads Under Armour’s enterprise payroll function, overseeing end‑to‑end payroll operations for 15,000 teammates worldwide. This leader sets the global payroll strategy, elevates operational excellence, and drives modernization of payroll platforms, data flow, and processes. They partner closely with HR, Finance, Accounting, Tax, Legal, Technology, and regional leadership teams to build a scalable, compliant, digital-first payroll ecosystem.

This leader owns payroll governance, vendor strategy, process optimization, analytics, risk management, and payroll experience across all regions.

• Develop and execute a global payroll strategy aligned with UA’s people, financial, and operational priorities.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing global payroll organization with clear goals, capabilities, and succession planning.
• Champion a culture of data stewardship, operational discipline, and continuous improvement.

• Oversee accurate, compliant, and timely payroll delivery for all teammates across 25+ countries, ensuring consistency in global standards.
• Ensure compliance with all global, federal, state, and local payroll, tax, and wage regulations.
• Manage payroll governance, including global SOX controls, audits, quarterly certifications, and risk remediation.

• Own payroll and timekeeping platforms, partnering on system roadmap and integration strategy (e.g., ADP, Global view, Success Factors EC, Workforce Management, Celergo).
• Drive modernization of global payroll data flow, automation, and AI‑enabled process improvement to reduce manual work and increase accuracy.
• Establish global KPIs and dashboards for payroll performance, efficiency, and service delivery.

• Partner with Accounting on monthly, quarterly, and year‑end close, ensuring payroll results are fully reconciled to the GL with clear ownership of all payroll‑related accounts (accruals, taxes, benefits, stock comp, bonuses, PTO, etc.).
• Align Payroll and Accounting SOX controls, ensuring end‑to‑end documentation across system interfaces, GL posting, and journal approval workflows.
• Ensure timely completion of quarterly and year‑end processes (e.g., 941s, W‑2s, annual statements).
• Collaborate with Accounting on process improvements, automation opportunities, and standardization of global financial processes tied to compensation.

• Lead strategic management of global and regional payroll vendors, contracts, and service levels.
• Build strong cross‑functional relationships with HR, FP&A, Accounting, Tax, Legal, and Technology to support business needs and global expansion.
• Serve as subject matter expert on global workforce impacts on payroll.

• Ensure rigorous, documented processes, policies, and procedures across all regions.
• Oversee regular audits to validate accuracy of earnings, taxes, deductions, and compliance.
• Identify and mitigate risks proactively to protect the company and its employees.

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, HR, or related field.
• 12+ years of payroll experience, including global payroll and tax exposure.
• 5+ years of people leadership in a multinational organization.
• Experience in the retail industry or a similarly-complex organization.
• Experience managing relationships with payroll platforms, particularly ADP.
• Experience in accounting and corporate finance matters.
• Experience with Success Factors Employee Central is a plus.
• Experience leading enterprise‑wide payroll transformations and system implementations.
• Deep and credible technical expertise
• Influences stakeholders to align on common objecties and decisions
• Develops the capabilities of the payroll team
• Creative and analytical; takes a practical approach to problem solving
• Excellent customer service focus and experience
• Communicates effectively with all levels of the organization
• Manages multiple projects and works in multiple systems simultaneously
• Responds flexibly as organizational requirements and systems change
• High…