Director, Global Payroll

Joining Collibra’s Payroll team

As our Director Global Payroll, you will drive the full payroll function for our global tech organization across 12 countries. This is a hands-on leadership role, offering end-to-end accountability for accuracy, tax compliance, and global execution.  You will maintain personal ownership of US payroll tax operations, including quarter-end and year-end processing within Dayforce and Workday, while directing international payroll through in-country specialists and vendors. We are looking for a seasoned US payroll tax professional ready to expand their impact into global leadership. By ensuring our people are paid accurately and on time, you show up to win for Collibrians everywhere. Your work is vital to maintaining One Collibra as we scale our presence across Europe—including Belgium, the UK, Poland, and the Czech Republic—and beyond. You will report to our VP & Corp. Controller and help mature our processes to support our rapid growth. This role is an ideal career opportunity for an authentic and proactive leader who enjoys both technical execution and strategic oversight.

Join us in creating an inclusive and efficient global payroll experience for all our team members. We look forward to seeing the measurable outcomes you will drive as part of our high-performing. 

Directors, Global Payroll at Collibra are responsible for

• Own US and Canada payroll tax compliance across all jurisdictions, including local earned income tax and nexus for the remote workforce.
• Direct global payroll across Belgium, the UK, Poland, the Czech Republic, and eight additional countries, maintaining oversight of local calendars and compliance mandates.
• Execute technical tax adjustments in Dayforce and Workday, including mid-year corrections and off-cycle filings.
• Lead quarter-end close, reconciling liabilities and validating 941 filings ahead of deadlines.
• Drive year-end processing, including US W-2 production and corrections.
• Serve as the payroll-tax subject matter expert for People and Finance, and resolve employee inquiries directly.
• Coordinate tax registration lifecycles with Legal and Finance partners as the company scales.
• Partner on tax-sensitive events such as equity vesting and relocation, ensuring accurate reporting of complex compensation.
• Lead, develop, and back up in-country specialists, and manage vendor relationships with partners like Partena, Cintra, and Forvis Mazars.
• Direct global audits, providing technical documentation and reconciliations, and resolve cross-functional escalations.
• Drive AI, automation, and process improvements to streamline global payroll workflows and documentation.

You have

• 10+ years of end-to-end US multi-state payroll experience, including 7+ years in a leadership role owning global coordination, year-end delivery, and complex tax lifecycles.
• Demonstrated use of AI tools (e.g., Claude, Gemini, ChatGPT, Copilot) to solve business challenges and streamline workflows.
• Hands-on mastery of Workday and Dayforce, able to independently run US payroll cycles and technical tax functions (adjustments, 941 reconciliations, local returns, W-2/W-2c).
• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent related working experience is required
• This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

You are

• A hands-on leader who directs and develops the team while still owning US payroll and tax execution personally, and who wants that technical work to stay central as scope expands globally.
• Comfortable directing international payroll through in-country specialists and vendors rather than processing each cycle yourself.

Measures of success

• Within your first month, you will complete a full US payroll cycle independently in Dayforce and Workday, map all active in-country vendor relationships and compliance calendars across our 12 countries, and identify any open gaps in payroll tax registrations.
• Within your third month, you will own and deliver your first quarter-end close — including 941 reconciliation and liability validation — and establish direct working relationships with all in-country specialists and vendors (Partena, Cintra, Forvis Mazars). You will have also surfaced your top 2–3 process improvement or automation opportunities.
• Within your sixth month, you will lead year-end readiness planning end-to-end (US W-2 production and international equivalents), launch at least one automation or process improvement initiative using AI, and present a global payroll operations roadmap to the VP, Controller.