Payroll Controls Lead

Position: Payroll Controls Lead

Location: Schenectady, NY (100% Remote)

Hiring: Fulltime with Hexaware Technologies

We are seeking an experienced Payroll Controls Lead to oversee payroll accounting, reconciliations, tax compliance, cash disbursements, and financial controls across payroll operations. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in payroll-related accounting processes, internal controls, compliance, and financial reporting, with the ability to drive operational excellence and risk mitigation.

Key Responsibilities:

Payroll Accounting & Financial Controls

• Manage payroll accounting processes, including journal entries, accruals, and month-end close activities.
• Ensure payroll transactions are accurately recorded in the general ledger.
• Establish and maintain strong internal controls over payroll-related financial processes.
• Support SOX and internal/external audit requirements.

Reconciliations

• Lead payroll balance sheet and bank account reconciliations.
• Reconcile payroll, tax, benefits, deductions, and third-party payments.
• Investigate and resolve reconciliation variances in a timely manner.
• Develop and implement reconciliation governance and monitoring processes.

Payroll Tax Compliance

• Oversee federal, state, local, and international payroll tax compliance activities.
• Ensure timely filing and remittance of payroll taxes.
• Partner with tax, finance, and external vendors to resolve payroll tax issues.
• Monitor regulatory changes and assess impacts on payroll operations.

Cash Disbursements & Treasury Coordination

• Manage payroll funding and cash disbursement processes.
• Coordinate with treasury and banking partners for timely payroll payments.
• Monitor payroll cash forecasting and funding requirements.
• Ensure compliance with payment authorization controls and approval workflows.

Risk Management & Governance

• Identify process risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Drive control standardization and process improvements.
• Establish KPIs and dashboards for payroll control effectiveness.
• Support compliance reviews, audits, and regulatory assessments.

Stakeholder Management

• Partner with Payroll, Finance, Accounting, Treasury, Tax, HR, and External Vendors.
• Communicate risks, issues, and control improvements to senior leadership.
• Lead discussions with auditors and compliance teams.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor s degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in Payroll Accounting, Payroll Controls, Finance Operations, or Shared Services.
• Experience supporting large global organizations.

Ideal Profile: A payroll finance leader with hands-on expertise in payroll accounting, reconciliations, tax compliance, and payroll cash disbursement controls, capable of driving governance, compliance, and operational excellence.