Senior Payroll Manager

Senior Payroll Leader | Global Financial Services Firm

New York, NY | Hybrid (2-3 days onsite)
Total Compensation: $350,000 – $400,000

Oakleaf Partnership is partnering on a highly confidential search for a Senior Payroll Leader to join a prestigious global financial services organization.

This is a high-impact leadership opportunity for an experienced payroll professional to take ownership of a complex, multi-jurisdiction payroll function within a fast-paced, highly controlled environment. The role offers significant visibility across senior leadership and the opportunity to partner closely with HR, Finance, Legal, Compensation, Benefits, and Global Mobility teams.

This individual will lead the payroll function across the US, broader Americas region, and expatriate population, ensuring seamless payroll delivery, robust controls, and best-in-class compliance standards.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to step into a strategically important leadership role within a sophisticated financial services environment.

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of payroll operations across the US, Americas, and expatriate employee populations

• Oversee payroll processing, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, compliance, and strong governance

• Act as the internal subject matter expert for payroll tax, regulatory compliance, and risk management

• Partner with Compensation, Benefits, Finance, Legal, and Global Mobility teams on complex payroll matters

• Manage deferred compensation, executive compensation-related payroll impacts, taxable benefits, relocation/mobility matters, and other specialized payroll components

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing payroll team

• Drive process improvement, controls enhancement, automation, and operational efficiencies

• Manage vendor relationships and ensure best-in-class payroll service delivery

• Support audits, reporting requirements, and regulatory compliance initiatives

• 12+ years of progressive payroll leadership experience within complex organizations

• Strong financial services experience is highly preferred (asset management, hedge funds, private equity, investment banking, trading environments strongly considered)

• Deep expertise across US payroll tax, multi-state payroll compliance, expatriate payroll, and regulatory governance

• Experience operating in fast-paced, detail-oriented, highly controlled environments

• Strong familiarity with complex compensation structures including deferred compensation, bonuses, equity, and executive payroll considerations

• Experience leading teams and partnering with senior stakeholders across multiple business functions

• Exposure to Workday payroll or comparable enterprise payroll systems preferred

• Highly competitive compensation package

• Hybrid working model (2-3 days onsite in New York
  )

• Opportunity to join a highly respected global financial services platform

• Significant scope, visibility, and long-term growth potential

• High-calibre stakeholder exposure in a sophisticated environment