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Canva

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Head of Payroll – Americas, EMEA

PayrollPayrollFull TimeRemoteLeadTeam 1,001-5,000Since 2013H1B SponsorCompany SiteLinkedIn

Location

California + 1 moreAll locations: California | Europe

Posted

3 days ago

Salary

$169K - $250K / year

Seniority

Lead

Bachelor Degree8 yrs expEnglishC++

Job Description

Head of Payroll – Americas, EMEA

Canva

• Join the team redefining how the world experiences design • Lead payroll operations across two of Canva’s fastest-growing regions • Influence global payroll strategy and support expansion into new markets • Drive payroll transformation initiatives, including automation, AI, and process innovation • Partner with leaders across Finance, People, Legal, Systems, and Equity to shape the future of payroll at Canva • Build scalable processes and controls that support Canva’s continued hyper-growth • Develop and mentor payroll talent while helping create a world-class global payroll function • Own end-to-end payroll processing across the Americas and EMEA regions, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timeliness • Serve as the go-to resource and subject matter expert for all payroll-related matters, including future payroll or Employer of Record (EOR) expansions • Stay up to date with payroll legislation, tax regulations, employment requirements, and compliance obligations across multiple jurisdictions • Ensure payroll processes remain compliant with local regulations and internal policies • Lead the resolution of complex payroll issues and escalations, delivering an exceptional employee experience • Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing payroll team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and operational excellence • Build strong relationships with stakeholders across Finance, People, Legal, Systems, Equity, and external partners • Act as a trusted advisor on payroll-related matters, providing guidance and recommendations to support business decisions • Partner with regional and global teams to communicate and implement payroll-related changes, policies, and procedures • Support payroll readiness activities for new country launches, entity setups, acquisitions, and workforce expansions across the Americas and EMEA • Partner with cross-functional teams to assess payroll, compliance, and operational impacts of expansion initiatives • Lead payroll-related projects, including system implementations, upgrades, integrations, and process redesign initiatives • Continuously evaluate and implement best practices to support a scalable and efficient payroll function • Champion the use of AI-powered tools, automation, and emerging technologies to improve payroll efficiency, accuracy, compliance monitoring, reporting, and employee support • Identify opportunities to streamline processes, reduce manual effort, and enhance operational scalability • Leverage payroll data and analytics to identify trends, provide insights, and support informed decision-making • Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance payroll operations, controls, reporting capabilities, and employee experience • Establish and maintain robust payroll controls, governance frameworks, and audit-ready processes • Manage relationships with payroll providers, EOR partners, tax authorities, auditors, and external advisors • Compile, analyse, and present payroll data and reporting to management and key stakeholders • Develop and maintain payroll KPIs, SLAs, and operational metrics, ensuring high levels of accuracy and service delivery • Support internal and external audits and ensure timely resolution of findings and recommendations • Be part of a fun, agile, and supportive team that continuously learns, evolves, and helps each other succeed in a hyper-growth environment • Contribute to building a payroll function that is innovative, scalable, and employee-centric

Job Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, or a related field
  • CPP, GPMI, CIPP, or other payroll-related certification is highly regarded
  • 8+ years of payroll experience managing complex, multi-country payroll operations across the Americas and EMEA
  • Experience leading and developing globally distributed payroll teams
  • Strong knowledge of payroll regulations, tax laws, and employment compliance requirements across multiple jurisdictions
  • Experience supporting global expansion initiatives, entity launches, acquisitions, or EOR transitions
  • Proven experience leading payroll transformation, automation, system implementations, or process improvement initiatives
  • Curiosity and enthusiasm for emerging technologies, including AI and automation tools, with a demonstrated ability to leverage technology to improve operational efficiency
  • Experience managing payroll vendors, global payroll providers, and external compliance partners
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret payroll data and provide meaningful business insights
  • Experience with payroll and HRIS platforms such as Workday, Paylocity, ADP GlobalView, ADP Celergo, or similar systems
  • Advanced proficiency in Excel and Google Sheets; experience with large datasets, reporting, and dashboard development is highly desirable
  • Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills
  • Strong attention to detail and commitment to delivering accurate, high-quality outcomes
  • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and constantly evolving environment
  • High levels of integrity, discretion, and professionalism when handling confidential employee information and sensitive payroll data

Benefits

  • Equity packages - we want our success to be yours too
  • Health benefits plans to support you and your wellbeing
  • 401(k) retirement plan with company contribution
  • Inclusive parental leave policy that supports all parents & carers
  • An annual Vibe & Thrive allowance to support your wellbeing, social connection, office setup & more
  • Flexible leave options that empower you to be a force for good, take time to recharge and supports you personally

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