Director, Global Payroll Operations

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Global Payroll Operations to coordinate and expand our global payroll operations. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely payroll delivery across all countries where we operate. The Director will coordinate payroll strategy, vendor management, compliance, systems optimization, and team leadership while working closely with Finance, HR, Legal and Tax.

The ideal candidate brings deep global payroll expertise, strong operational rigor, and the ability to drive transformation in a fast-paced, growing organization.

Key Responsibilities Global Payroll Planning & Direction

Develop and implement a global payroll strategy aligned with business growth and geographic expansion.

Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing global payroll team.

Establish scalable processes and governance models to support multi-country payroll operations.

Serve as the executive point of contact for global payroll matters.

Payroll Operations & Compliance

Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant payroll processing across all jurisdictions.

Maintain compliance with local labor laws, tax regulations, statutory reporting, and filing requirements.

Coordinate/support audits (internal and external) related to payroll and ensure remediation of findings.

Manage payroll-related SOX controls and risk mitigation frameworks.

Systems & Process Optimization

Evaluate, implement, and optimize global payroll systems and integrations with HRIS and finance systems.

Lead payroll transformation projects, including automation and process standardization.

Drive continuous improvement to improve employee experience and operational efficiency.

Vendor & Collaborator Management

Coordinate relationships with global payroll providers and regional vendors.

Partner closely with HR, Total Rewards, Finance, Accounting, Legal, and Tax teams.

Global Expansion & M&A Support

Support new country expansions, entity setups, and workforce transitions.

Lead payroll integration efforts for mergers and acquisitions.

Qualifications

Required

12+ years of progressive payroll experience, including significant global payroll leadership.

Experience managing payroll across multiple countries and regions (e.g., Americas, EMEA, APAC).

Solid understanding of worldwide payroll rules, tax regulations, and legal requirements.

Experience with large-scale HRIS and payroll systems (e.g., Workday, UKG, Dayforce, etc.).

Demonstrated experience managing audits and internal controls (SOX experience preferred).

Demonstrated capability to guide and grow international teams.

Preferred

Experience in a high-growth or multinational public company environment.

Experience with worldwide payroll transformation projects.

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field, or equivalent experience (MBA a plus).

Key Proficiencies

Strategic problem solver with strong operational execution

Outstanding attention to detail and risk management

Strong cross-functional collaboration skills

Change leadership and transformation approach

Excellent communication and executive presence

Why Adobe

At Adobe, you’ll be part of a culture that values innovation, accountability, and inclusion. We believe payroll is not just a back‑office function—it’s foundational to trust, employee experience, and business success. You’ll have the opportunity to build the future of global payroll at scale while working with dedicated teams around the world!

Adobe Capabilities (How We Work)

Be a Leader: Build and encourage high-performing global teams.

Be Focused: Drive operational excellence with rigor and accountability.

Be Creative: Reimagine payroll through automation, simplification, and innovation.

About Adobe

Adobe empowers everyone to create through innovative platforms and tools that unleash creativity, productivity and personalized customer experiences. Adobe’s industry-leading offerings including Adobe Acrobat Studio, Adobe Express, Adobe Firefly, Creative Cloud, Adobe Experience Platform, Adobe Experience Manager, and GenStudio enable people and businesses to turn ideas into impact, powered by AI and driven by human ingenuity.

Our 30,000+ employees worldwide are creating the future and raising the bar as we drive the next decade of growth. We’re on a mission to hire the very best and believe in creating a company culture where all employees are empowered to make an impact. At Adobe, we believe that great ideas can come from anywhere in the organization. The next big idea could be yours.

Let’s Adobe together

At Adobe, we believe in creating a company culture where all employees are empowered to make an impact. Learn more about Adobe life, including our values and culture , focus on people, purpose and community , Adobe for All , comprehensive benefits programs , the stories we tell , the customers we serve, and how you can help us advance our mission of empowering everyone to create.

Adobe is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on gender, race or color, ethnicity or national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. Learn more.

Adobe aims to make our Careers website and recruiting process accessible to any and all users. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation to navigate our website or complete the application process, email [email protected] or call +1 408-536-3015.

AI Use Guidelines for Interviews

Our interviews are designed to reflect your own skills and thinking. The use of AI or recording tools during live interviews is not permitted unless explicitly invited by the interviewer or approved in advance as part of a reasonable accommodation. If these tools are used inappropriately or in a way that misrepresents your work, your application may not move forward in the process.

At Adobe, we empower employees to innovate with AI — and we look for candidates eager to do the same. As part of the hiring experience, we provide clear guidance on where AI is encouraged during the process and where it’s restricted during live interviews. See how we think about AI in the hiring experience .

Expected Pay Range: Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The U.S. pay range for this position is $156,500 -- $266,950 annually. Pay within this range varies by work location and may also depend on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for the job location during the hiring process.

In California, the pay range for this position is $184,300 - $266,950

At Adobe, for sales roles starting salaries are expressed as total target compensation (TTC = base + commission), and short-term incentives are in the form of sales commission plans. Non-sales roles starting salaries are expressed as base salary and short-term incentives are in the form of the Annual Incentive Plan (AIP).

In addition, certain roles may be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of a new hire equity award.

State-Specific Notices

California

Fair Chance Ordinances

Adobe will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with state and local laws and “fair chance” ordinances.

Colorado

Application Window Notice

If this role is open to hiring in Colorado (as listed on the job posting), the application window will remain open until at least the date and time stated above in Pacific Time, in compliance with Colorado pay transparency regulations. If this role does not have Colorado listed as a hiring location, no specific application window applies, and the posting may close at any time based on hiring needs.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Legal Notice

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.