GDS Tax - Payroll Program Manager

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Job Purpose

The Global Payroll Implementation Program Manager holds primary responsibility for leading all global payroll implementation programs within EY GDS for the Global Payroll Operate business, under the People Advisory Services division of the Tax service line. This role requires experience in global payroll implementation, project management, client engagement, transformation, business acumen, and change management to successfully deliver large-scale implementations for clients across multiple geographies.

Responsibilities

• Lead large-scale global payroll implementation programs across multiple regions and countries, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and client expectations.
• Apply recognized best-practice methodologies (risk management, governance, quality assurance, issue resolution, and reporting) to deliver projects on time and within scope & budget
• Act as the primary point of contact for client stakeholders, ensuring clear communication, expectation management, and satisfaction throughout the project lifecycle.
• Oversee integration of payroll technology platforms with client systems (Inbound & Outbound), ensuring seamless data flow and compliance.
• Manage cross-functional teams, including internal resources and third-party vendors, fostering collaboration and accountability.
• Oversee multiple country-level implementation projects, ensuring alignment to global methodology and timelines. Identify and mitigate risks, ensuring compliance with global payroll regulations and standards.
• Manage end-to-end payroll implementation lifecycle including planning, discovery, design, configuration, testing, parallel runs, cut-over, go-live & stabilization.
• Manage client expectations, scope, and change control. Build strong relationships with external clients and internal stakeholders. Report executive-level stakeholder updates and drive steerco meetings.
• Develop client facing materials that orient and prepare the client for a successful understanding and execution of implementation to operational production including training, tools, processes, contact lists, escalation procedures, operational performance measures, etc.
• Ensure high levels of customer satisfaction by delivering project cost, schedule and quality objectives.
• Define ongoing key performance measures that identify and report on client satisfaction and team performance related to implementation activities.
• Review project outcomes to identify and implement corrective actions that improve future delivery in terms of cost, quality, and customer satisfaction.
• Interview, onboard, develop and grow talent that continually meets or exceeds job requirements. Mentor project managers, project stakeholders to align with global standards.
• Possesses experience in team management and feedback communication, with the ability to encourage project managers and unite everyone as a cohesive team.
• Capable of defining program goals, vision, and success metrics that align with and support the overall business strategy.

Functional & Technical skills

• End-to-end global payroll implementation knowledge is essential. Thorough understanding of upstream and downstream processes that impact Payroll.
• Should have managed multi-country Payroll implementations in a shared service environment.
• Flexibility and good team working skills. Excellent communication, presentation, and leadership skills.
• Highly organized with excellent customer service skills and comfortable in a client-facing environment.
• Strong IT and functional integration knowledge (Workday, SuccessFactors, HRIS, payroll platforms, T&A & various HRMS Modules).
• Proven capability to define, document and rollout procedures and processes across multiple departments and/or groups.
• Expertise in UAT, scenario testing, payroll parallel runs, data validation, and go-live cutover.
• Ability to effectively engage with prospects or clients to properly position the value and scope of services provided by the team.
• Ability to work with internal/external customers globally and/or virtual basis. Ability to develop standard implementation methodology, tools and templates.

Qualifications & Experience

• Graduate or Post Graduate in Accounting / Finance / Administrations/ Operations. MBA or Business Management skills preferred.
• An overall 10 -15 years’ experience with at least 8 years of relevant hands-on experience in Payroll implementations for large organizations.
• Strong program and project management experience (PMP, Prince2, Agile preferred).
• Experience with AI-powered analytics, automation, or intelligent payroll operations.

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