About this role.
Ping Identity is seeking a senior global payroll leader to direct accurate, compliant, and timely payroll operations across 18 countries. The Director will manage payroll service providers, lead a globally dispersed team, establish automation and scaling strategies, and support country launches, EOR arrangements, and M&A integrations. This role partners closely with Accounting, Treasury, Tax, Legal, HR, Benefits, and Equity Administration on reconciliations, funding, statutory requirements, and equity-related payroll. The ideal candidate brings 15+ years of progressive payroll leadership, deep multi-state US and international expertise, public-company equity experience, SOX awareness, and proficiency with UKG and CloudPay.
Role DNA
A quick view of the complexity, pace, ownership and collaboration implied by the job description.
Job Complexity
5/5Pace & Pressure
5/5Autonomy Level
5/5Communication Load
5/5Salary analysis
Estimated compensation compared with the broader US market for similar roles.
Core skills
Skills and capabilities most closely associated with this opportunity.
Sample interview questions
I begin with a global control framework that defines common data standards, payroll calendars, approval workflows, reconciliation requirements, and service-level metrics. I then document country-specific statutory variations, establish governance with each provider, and use regular KPI reviews and exception reporting to drive consistent execution without overlooking local obligations.
I partner closely with Equity Administration, Tax, HR, and Accounting to map each equity event to payroll and withholding requirements by jurisdiction. I establish clear data-transfer deadlines, validate taxable income and withholding calculations, reconcile payroll outputs to equity records, and maintain documented controls and audit evidence.
I would track on-time and accurate payroll completion, error and off-cycle rates, SLA attainment, response and resolution times, filing timeliness, compliance incidents, root-cause trends, employee inquiry outcomes, and implementation milestones. Quarterly business reviews should convert these metrics into accountable improvement plans and escalation decisions.
I would create a cross-functional implementation plan covering entity or EOR selection, registrations, local tax and benefit requirements, banking and funding, worker data, vendor configuration, payroll calendars, controls, and employee communications. Before go-live, I would run parallel validations where possible and define heightened post-launch monitoring and escalation ownership.
I set clear ownership, operating rhythms, and measurable standards while ensuring team members understand how their work affects employees and compliance. I use regular one-on-ones, structured escalation paths, training plans, and transparent communication to maintain engagement, develop capability, and keep critical work moving during system, provider, or organizational changes.
About Ping Identity:
At Ping Identity, we believe in making digital experiences both secure and seamless for all users, without compromise. We call this digital freedom. And it’s not just something we provide our customers. It’s something that inspires our company. People don’t come here to join a culture that’s built on digital freedom. They come to cultivate it.
Our intelligent, cloud identity platform lets people shop, work, bank, and interact wherever and however they want. Without friction. Without fear.
While protecting digital identities is at the core of our technology, protecting individual identities is at the core of our culture. We champion every identity. One of our core values, Respect Individuality, reminds us to celebrate differences so you are empowered to bring your authentic self to work.
We’re headquartered in Denver, Colorado and we have offices and employees around the globe. We serve the largest, most demanding enterprises worldwide, including more than half of the Fortune 100. At Ping Identity, we’re changing the way people and businesses think about cybersecurity, digital experiences, and identity and access management.
We are seeking an experienced, strategic, and highly motivated Director, Global Payroll to lead our payroll team. Reporting to the SVP Controller, this leader will oversee payroll operations across 18 countries, ensuring payroll is executed accurately, compliantly, and on time across all jurisdictions while enabling an exceptional employee experience.
This is a highly visible role requiring close partnership with Accounting, Treasury, Tax, Legal, HR, Benefits, and Equity Administration teams. The ideal candidate combines deep US and international payroll expertise with operational experience scaling complex global payroll functions in a fast-growing technology company.
Responsibilities
Global Payroll Operations
- Oversee end-to-end global payroll operations across all entities, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant payroll processing.
- Actively manage day-to-day and strategic relationships with payroll managed services partners, including SLA adherence, KPIs, escalations, and quarterly business reviews.
- Develop and execute a long-term global payroll strategy focused on scalability, standardization, process excellence, and risk mitigation.
- Develop and execute a payroll automation roadmap, including maintenance and enhancement of existing systems, to drive efficiency.
- Lead payroll implementations and support global geographic expansion efforts, including new country setup, EOR management, and M&A integration activities.
Leadership & Cross-Functional Alignment
- Lead and develop a high-performing global payroll team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Serve as an escalation point for complex payroll matters and employee inquiries, ensuring timely resolution and effective communication.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams on processes and systems including:
- Partner with the Accounting and Equity Administration team on payroll accruals, reconciliations and variance analysis, equity compensation processing, and financial reporting.
- Partner with Treasury to support payroll funding activities, global cash forecasting, and new country setup activities.
- Partner with the HR teams on employee lifecycle, statutory benefits, and other related employee processes.
Compliance & Risk Management
- Oversee accurate payroll administration of complex compensation elements (including salary changes, bonuses, commissions, equity-related payments, leaves, deductions, garnishments, severance, and one-time payments)
- Ensure adherence with all local, state, federal, and international laws and regulations
- Manage payroll-related compliance activities, including withholdings, payroll tax and statutory deposits, multi-state registrations, audits, and government inquiries.
- Oversee year-end payroll reporting requirements globally, including W-2s and comparable international forms, as well as payroll tax filings and annual statements
- Proactively identify and mitigate payroll-related risks; maintain robust internal controls to prevent errors, fraud, and compliance violations.
Qualifications
- Proven Global Track Record: 15+ years of progressive payroll leadership, with a deep technical command of both multi-state US and international payroll environments.
- People Leadership: Demonstrated success in leading globally dispersed teams of 5+ employees through periods of significant growth and change.
- Quality & Excellence: Strong operational and problem-solving capabilities with commitment to accuracy and continuous improvement.
- Growth Mindset: A self-starter who thrives in high-velocity environments, with the ability to manage multiple complex workstreams simultaneously.
- Employee-Centric: A commitment to providing an elite, high-trust experience for every Ping Identian.
An ideal candidate also has:
- Technical Credentialing: Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation or equivalent global certification.
- Global Expertise: Highly proficient in interpreting and researching local and international rules and regulations. Strong baseline understanding of statutory deductions, tax rates, social security requirements and benefits regulations in EMEA/APAC/North America.
- Tech Stack: Proficiency with UKG and CloudPay and familiarity with other tech solutions such as Smartsheets, Google Sheets, and AI-enabled tools.
- Public Company Experience: Expertise managing payroll complexities related to public company equity (RSUs and ESPP) and strong awareness of SOX control requirements.
Compensation Range: $180,000 – $210,000 base + variable bonus
In accordance with Colorado’s Equal Pay for Equal Work Act (SB 19-085) the approximate compensation range for this role in Colorado is listed above. Final compensation for this role will be determined by various factors, such as knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Life at Ping:
We believe in and facilitate a flexible, collaborative work environment. We’re growing quickly, but remain true to the innovative, can-do startup values that got us here. Most importantly, we keep hiring talented, smart, fun, and genuinely nice people because that’s who we want to succeed with every day.
Here are just a few of the things that make Ping special:
- A company culture that empowers you to do your best work.
- Employee Resource Groups that create a sense of belonging for everyone.
- Regular company and team bonding events.
- Competitive benefits and perks.
- Global volunteering and community initiatives
Our Benefits:
- Generous PTO & Holiday Schedule
- Parental Leave
- Progressive Healthcare Options
- Retirement Programs
- Opportunity for Education Reimbursement
- Commuter Offset (Specific locations)
Ping is the collective sum of all our individual experiences, backgrounds and influences and we pride ourselves in growing and learning together. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse environment where everyone’s individuality is respected and everyone has an Identity. In recruiting for new colleagues, we welcome the unique contributions you can bring and encourage you to be your best self.
We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
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