Director, Global Payroll

We are seeking a strategic and experienced Director of Global Payroll to lead the transformation of our global payroll operations with a strong focus on SAP SuccessFactors integration and end-to-end payroll modernization. This role is critical in aligning payroll strategy with our core HCM system (SuccessFactors) to deliver a unified, compliant, and scalable global payroll operation.

You will lead a global payroll team, drive process automation, and spearhead the optimization of payroll systems across multiple countries, ensuring alignment with both local compliance and global business needs.

Payroll Strategy & Transformation

• Lead the global payroll transformation roadmap, leveraging SAP SuccessFactors  & Employee Central as foundational platforms.
• Align payroll processes and infrastructure with corporate goals, ensuring global standardization while supporting local compliance.
• Define and implement best practices around automation, workflow efficiency, and payroll-HCM data integrity.

System Integration & Optimization

• Own the integration strategy leveraging SAP SuccessFactors and Employee Central, ensuring seamless data flow across HR, time, benefits, and finance.
• Collaborate with HRIS, IT, and Finance teams to optimize end-to-end payroll interfaces (e.g., time collection, GL posting, tax reporting).
• Drive enhancements, upgrades, and new implementations within the SAP ecosystem, including SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll (ECP), Time, and other relevant modules.

Operational Excellence & Compliance

• Oversee accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing for all global regions.
• Implement global governance, audit controls, and compliance frameworks in alignment with local tax and labor laws.
• Develop and monitor KPIs and metrics to ensure service quality and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

Team & Vendor Management

• Lead, coach, and develop a global payroll team across multiple regions and time zones.
• Manage relationships with key vendors and implementation partners, including SAP, third-party payroll providers, and system integrators.
• Oversee vendor selection, contract negotiation, and SLA adherence.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Act as a strategic partner to senior leadership, Finance, HR, Legal, and IT, translating business goals into scalable payroll solutions.
• Lead cross-functional payroll projects, including M&A integration, international expansions, and regulatory change management.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, HR, or related field; Master’s degree or relevant certifications (e.g., CPP, PMP, SAP SuccessFactors) a plus.
• 10+ years of global payroll leadership experience, including SAP Payroll and SuccessFactors implementation and integration.
• Deep knowledge of SAP HCM, SuccessFactors Employee Central, and Employee Central Payroll (ECP).
• Proven success in leading large-scale payroll transformation or system migration programs.
• Strong understanding of global payroll regulations, statutory compliance, and data privacy requirements (e.g., GDPR).
• Experience with shared service models, multi-country payroll, and centralized governance.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and change management skills.

In addition to salary, we work flexibly and provide 25 days holidays, excellent family friendly benefits such as attractive employer pension contribution, life assurance, income protection and private medical. With Waters, there are plenty of opportunities for you to grow, develop and contribute.

Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT) is a global leader in analytical instruments, separations technologies, and software, serving the life, materials, food, and environmental sciences for over 65 years. Our Company helps ensure the efficacy of medicines, the safety of food and the purity of water, and the quality and sustainability of products used every day. In over 100 countries, our 7,600+ passionate employees collaborate with customers in laboratories, manufacturing sites, and hospitals to accelerate the benefits of pioneering science. 

Diversity and inclusion are fundamental to our core values at Waters Corporation. It benefits our employees, our products, our customers and our community. Waters complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to sex, race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, religion, age, marital status (including civil unions), military service, veteran status, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions), genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, legally recognized disability, domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Waters is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. All hiring decisions are based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.