Director Global Payroll Strategy & Governance in London

The role is responsible for leading Vertex's global payroll strategy, governance, and operating model across countries, vendors, and enabling systems. It has end-to-end accountability for payroll accuracy, timeliness, compliance, controls, and scalability, while ensuring local statutory requirements are met within a strong, audit-ready environment. As the Global SOX Process Owner for Payroll, this leader will establish global standards, drive performance management, and lead continuous improvement across payroll operations. The role partners closely with HR, Finance, Tax, Treasury, DTE, Internal Audit, external payroll providers, and related Global Accounting Services functions to strengthen processes, reduce risk, and support business growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the global payroll operating model, including governance, standards, policies, SOPs, controls, and payroll calendars.
• Establish and drive global payroll performance through KPIs, SLAs, dashboards, and escalation processes.
• Serve as the Global SOX Process Owner for Payroll, including control design, documentation, evidence standards, testing support, and remediation.
• Ensure payroll operations are compliant, controlled, scalable, and aligned with business and regulatory requirements across geographies.
• Partner cross-functionally with HR, Finance, Tax, Treasury, IT, and Internal Audit to support effective end-to-end payroll processes and controls.
• Support finance transformation initiatives, including payroll-to-GL integration, reconciliations, close dependencies, and reporting requirements.
• Oversee payroll vendor governance, including service delivery, performance management, transitions, and continuous improvement.
• Provide oversight for related payroll processes and integrations, including Time & Attendance, payroll payments, shadow payroll, and equity-related withholding.
• Build strong partnerships across key Corporate Accounting functions, including Employment Mobility Tax, Stock Administration, and Fleet Management, to ensure payroll-related compliance, taxable benefits, equity events, deductions, and employee transactions are coordinated effectively.
• Drive standardization, simplification, automation, and scalable ways of working to improve payroll quality, compliance, and employee experience.

Knowledge and Skills

• Deep expertise in global payroll operations, governance, compliance, controls, and outsourced delivery models.
• Strong knowledge of SOX-controlled processes, audit readiness, control design, and remediation.
• Understanding of payroll-related integrations, including HRIS, Time & Attendance, payroll processing, payments, and finance interfaces.
• Ability to lead in a complex, global, matrixed environment with multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong vendor management and service governance capabilities.
• Effective business partnership skills with the ability to influence across HR, Finance, Tax, Treasury, IT, and Global Accounting Services.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data and metrics to drive decisions and improvements.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to translate complex payroll and control issues into clear business implications and action plans.
• Demonstrated ability to lead process improvement, standardization, and operational change at scale.
• Strong judgment, risk awareness, and focus on operational excellence and employee experience.

Company Information

Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation. Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law. Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition.