Job Description

Location: U.S. - East Coast 

Summary:

The Global Director of Payroll will lead and oversee the global payroll operations spanning 50 countries. This role is responsible for ensuring timely, accurate, and compliant payroll processing across all regions, aligning payroll strategy with corporate objectives, managing global payroll vendors, and leading transformation initiatives to enhance scalability and efficiency. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in global payroll, regulatory compliance, and leadership in complex, high-volume environments.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute a global payroll strategy that supports the company’s growth and compliance needs across approximately 50 countries
• Partner with Finance, HR, Legal, and Tax teams to align payroll operations with broader corporate goals and objectives

Global Operations Oversight

• Oversee payroll processing for all global employees, ensuring timely and accurate disbursement in compliance with local labor laws, regulations, and statutory reporting
• Oversee payroll-related benefits deductions and retirement plan withholdings across locations, ensuring compliance with local statutory requirements and seamless integration with benefits administration platforms
• Process and report on equity incentive plans such as RSU’s and ESPP’s, as well as tax withholding and compliance
• Manage a global team of payroll professionals and third-party providers to deliver consistent, high-quality service
• Lead payroll integrations related to M&A activity, new country expansion, and system implementations

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure compliance with all regulatory, tax, and labor requirements across jurisdictions, including SOX controls, GDPR, and local withholding/taxation rules
• Own the preparation and oversight of external payroll audits and financial audits and coordinate with internal audit and external auditors

Process Optimization & Technology

• Identify and implement process improvements, automation opportunities, and best practices in payroll systems and reporting
• Collaborate with IT and Finance on system upgrades and the deployment of a global payroll platform

Reporting & Financial Integrity

• Ensure payroll costs are accurately reported and in collaboration with Finance, reconciled in the general ledger
• Provide executive leadership with regular payroll metrics, insights, and compliance updates

Team Leadership & Development

• Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing, geographically dispersed payroll team
• Foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement
• Promote cross-functional collaboration with internal stakeholders (HR, Finance, Legal, etc.) to achieve payroll objectives and enhance overall efficiency
• Demonstrate leadership through a ‘one-team’ mentality and a growth mindset

Skills/Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 15+ years of progressive experience in global payroll leadership roles, with responsibility across multiple countries
• Expertise in international payroll compliance, tax, and regulatory environments in all global regions (North America, EMEA, LATAM, and APAC)
• Demonstrated success in leading large-scale payroll transformations
• Experience in a publicly traded environment with strong understanding of SOX and internal controls
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• Proficiency in global HCM and ERP platforms (e.g., Workday, Dayforce)
• Requires sitting or standing at will while performing work on a computer
• Ability to travel less than 10% per year

About Bentley Systems

Around the world, infrastructure professionals rely on software from Bentley Systems to help them design, build, and operate better and more resilient infrastructure for transportation, water, energy, cities, and more. Founded in 1984 by engineers for engineers, Bentley is the partner of choice for engineering firms and owner-operators worldwide, with software that spans engineering disciplines, industry sectors, and all phases of the infrastructure lifecycle. Through our digital twin solutions, we help infrastructure professionals unlock the value of their data to transform project delivery and asset performance.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Bentley is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, pregnancy, protected veteran status, religion, national origin, age, genetic information or any other protected characteristic. This commitment extends to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, compensation, and training.  Know Your Rights as an applicant under the law.

Request an Accommodation:

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Bentley is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. We encourage you to request a reasonable accommodation if you are not able to fully use or access our online application system. You can make an accommodation request by calling 610-458-5000 or sending us an email at disabilityrequest@bentley.com

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