Senior Manager, Payroll Compliance & International Operations

About the role

Figma is seeking a leader to oversee international payroll operations and compliance as the company scales. You will manage payroll processes across APAC and EMEA, working with internal teams and external vendors to ensure accuracy and regulatory adherence. This role requires a strategic mindset to navigate complex regulatory landscapes and drive operational excellence. The successful candidate will own the end-to-end payroll lifecycle for multiple regions, ensuring compliance and efficiency. You will act as the central point of accountability for payroll execution and control in these geographies. Collaboration with stakeholders will be critical to align payroll strategy with business growth objectives. You will champion best practices and continuous improvement in all payroll activities.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Orchestrate and supervise payroll execution for APAC and EMEA regions to guarantee precision and punctuality in all employee payments.
• Forge and maintain strategic alliances with local payroll providers and global vendors to uphold service level agreements and expeditiously resolve operational issues.
• Architect and sustain compliance calendars, meticulously tracking statutory filing obligations and critical regulatory deadlines across all jurisdictions.
• Conduct proactive surveillance of legislative amendments and regulatory updates, translating these changes into actionable guidance for leadership to mitigate potential risks.
• Steward the management and enhancement of audit documentation, reinforcing internal control frameworks and ensuring the integrity of payroll processes.
• Engineer and implement standardized international payroll reporting formats and operational workflows to drive consistency and comparability.
• Provide leadership and direction to a distributed operational team, including direct reports in EMEA and outsourced contractors based in the Philippines.
• Liaise closely with Legal, Accounting, HRIS, and People teams to align on cross-functional payroll initiatives, manage vendor relationships, and support system implementations.
• Drive initiatives for process standardization and efficiency, including the evaluation and management of global payroll vendor consolidation where applicable.
• Ensure robust governance and adherence to SOX controls, maintaining meticulous records and supporting internal and external audit processes.
• Analyze payroll data and trends to identify discrepancies, drive resolutions, and provide insights that improve overall payroll accuracy and employee experience.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for complex payroll issues, coordinating resolutions across internal departments and external partners.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation for payroll procedures and controls to support training and operational continuity.
• Contribute to special projects related to payroll transformation, system optimization, and compliance strategy as requested by senior leadership.

Requirements

• Bring a minimum of 10 years of cumulative experience managing payroll operations across multiple countries or on a global scale.
• Demonstrate deep, specialized expertise in payroll compliance frameworks, regulations, and best practices within both the APAC and EMEA regions.
• Show a proven track record of successfully leading geographically distributed teams and fostering high performance in remote and local environments.
• Exhibit advanced管理能力 in developing, negotiating, and managing relationships with global payroll service vendors and third-party providers.
• Possess an extensive understanding of SOX compliance principles as they apply to payroll, including the design and testing of internal controls.
• Display strong proficiency in managing complex, cross-functional priorities and balancing competing deadlines and stakeholder demands.
• Have a history of managing audit readiness, including the preparation of control documentation and supporting evidence for payroll processes.
• Show commitment to accuracy and compliance with a meticulous approach to meeting statutory and regulatory obligations in various jurisdictions.

Nice to have

• Acquire direct experience within high-growth SaaS or technology companies, navigating rapid scaling and change.
• Participate in international market entry or expansion projects, understanding the complexities of new payroll implementations.
• Engage with expatriate, mobility, or equity compensation payroll programs and their unique compliance requirements.
• Utilize advanced skills with global payroll systems such as ADP, Workday, and other major platforms to drive efficiencies.
• Lead efforts in global process standardization or initiatives aimed at payroll vendor consolidation and optimization.

Practical notes

• Candidates must ensure their cameras are on during all video interviews as a requirement for engagement.
• Successful applicants are required to complete onboarding in person at the designated location.
• Figma is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities; specific inquiries regarding this can be directed to accommodations-ext@figma.com.
• All personal data submitted during the application process will be handled in accordance with the Figma Candidate Privacy Notice and applicable data protection laws.