Head Of Payroll (Americas & EMEA)

TL;DR

Head of Payroll (Americas & EMEA): Leading and shaping payroll operations across the Americas and EMEA regions with an accent on compliance, process scalability, and global expansion. Focus on leveraging AI and automation to drive operational excellence and building a world-class global payroll function.

Location: Must be based in the US (San Francisco hub available; flexible work arrangements offered).

Salary: $169,000 – $250,000 yearly.

Company

Canva is a global visual communication platform empowering the world to design.

What you will do

• Lead and develop a high-performing payroll team across the Americas and EMEA.
• Own end-to-end payroll processing, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and timeliness.
• Partner with Finance, People, Legal, and Systems teams to support global expansion and entity launches.
• Champion the use of AI and automation to streamline payroll processes and improve efficiency.
• Establish robust payroll controls, governance frameworks, and audit-ready processes.
• Manage relationships with external payroll providers, EOR partners, and tax authorities.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience managing complex, multi-country payroll operations in the Americas and EMEA.
• Proven experience leading and developing globally distributed payroll teams.
• Strong knowledge of payroll regulations, tax laws, and employment compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
• Experience with payroll and HRIS platforms such as Workday, Paylocity, or ADP.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and Google Sheets for data analysis and reporting.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States and capable of managing US-based operations.

Nice to have

• Payroll-related certifications such as CPP, GPMI, or CIPP.
• Experience with global expansion initiatives, acquisitions, or EOR transitions.
• Background in building scalable payroll processes for hyper-growth environments.

Culture & Benefits

• Equity packages to share in company success.
• Comprehensive health benefits plans.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company contribution.
• Inclusive parental leave policy.
• Annual Vibe & Thrive allowance for wellbeing and office setup.
• Flexible leave options to support work-life balance.