Global Portfolio Leader - Payroll Technology...

The Portfolio Leader for HR Payroll Technology will serve as the strategic owner and thought leader for IBM’s global Payroll technology ecosystem, with primary focus on SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll (ECP) and adjacent HR, finance, and compliance systems.

This role will be accountable for defining the product vision, strategy, governance, and multi-year portfolio roadmap that ensures global payroll accuracy, compliance, scalability, and innovation.

This role directly leads a team of product managers/business analysts, and partners closely with HR operations, CIO/IT, Finance, and Compliance, and acts as an enterprise-level influencer driving decisions that impact employees globally.

Leaders are expected to spend time with their teams and clients and therefore are generally expected to be in the workplace a minimum of three days a week, subject to business needs.

Key Responsibilities

1. Portfolio & Product Strategy Leadership

• Define and continuously evolve the payroll technology strategy, roadmap, and long-term architecture across SAP ECP and integrated HR/Finance systems.

• Set and drive a unified vision for payroll technology modernization, innovation, automation, and risk reduction.

• Lead outcome-based planning, portfolio prioritization, and resource allocation for payroll products and platforms.

• Champion a platform-oriented approach that ensures scalable design, performance, and global adaptability.

1. Payroll Product Ownership & Governance

• Serve as the executive-level product owner for Payroll technology and oversight of other global payroll systems.

• Own end-to-end governance of solution design, configuration standards, integrations, data quality, and compliance across all payroll technology assets.

• Provide guidance on regulatory changes, design best practices, and SAP roadmap impacts for ECP and related platforms.

1. Cross-Functional Leadership & Stakeholder Influence

• Build strong partnerships with Payroll Operations, HR Transformation, CIO/IT teams, Finance, Legal, and Compliance.

• Lead executive-level communication, business reviews, and decision forums for payroll technology.

• Influence global decision-making by aligning diverse stakeholders to a common vision and reducing cross-functional friction.

• Represent payroll technology at enterprise governance bodies, HRSP cycles, and digital transformation committees.

1. People Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead and grow a team of Payroll Technology Product Managers, Analysts, and SMEs.

• Mentor and develop talent, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, psychological safety, and operational excellence.

• Ensure team members demonstrate growth behaviours (customer-centricity, trusted collaboration, outcome-focused delivery).

• Create succession pipelines and support team members in professional certification paths (e.g., SAP ECP, Agile).

1. Execution Excellence & Operational Delivery

• Ensure driving team for timely and compliant execution of payroll releases, patches, enhancements, and year-end activities across geographies.

• Oversee defect management, root cause analysis, and continuous improvement initiatives across payroll systems.

• Drive rigorous quality assurance processes including SIT, Regression Testing, and UAT cycles for payroll changes as required.

• Champion delivery excellence through best practices in Agile, design thinking, and outcome-driven product development.

1. Data, Analytics & Risk Management

• Define KPIs and metrics to measure payroll accuracy, efficiency, processing stability, adoption, and compliance.

• Monitor platform health, replication integrity, integration performance, and financial posting controls.

• Lead risk assessments and implement controls across payroll processes, integrations, and financial posting flows.

• Provide actionable insights to improve employee experience, process efficiency, and operational resilience.

• Overall 15+ years of experience including 10+ years of HR Technology or Payroll Technology leadership experience, with deep ownership of large-scale payroll systems.

• SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll professional certification is a must.

• Demonstrated success in owning portfolio-level strategy, managing complex cross-functional programs, and driving multi-year transformation.

• Strong experience leading global teams and managing people in product/technology roles.

• Proven track record of influencing senior executives and aligning diverse stakeholder groups.

• Strong analytical, financial acumen, and data-driven decision-making skills.

• Expertise in Agile product management, platform governance, and enterprise-grade technology delivery.

Preferred technical and professional experience

• Experience with global payroll operating models (North America, EMEA, APAC, LATAM).

• Knowledge with finance posting, reconciliation, and payroll audit controls.

• Background in product-led organizations or enterprise tech transformation programs.

• Prior experience with automation, AI/ML in payroll operations, or digital process optimization.

• 5+ years of direct hands-on experience with SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll (ECP).

• Operates as a thought leader, shaping direction and strategy across the enterprise.

• Demonstrates exceptional communication and ability to galvanize cross-functional teams.

• Builds trust by making transparent, data-driven decisions and enabling teams to act autonomously.

• Shows resilience, strategic problem solving, and the courage to drive organizational change.

• Acts as a mentor and leader, helping build future product and payroll technology talent.

• Proficiency in applying Agile and Design Thinking principles with a growth mindset expected.

At IBM Corporate Headquarters (CHQ) and Other Functions, diverse teams such as marketing, finance, legal, operations, HR, and more work together to keep IBM moving forward. These functions play a vital role in solving complex challenges, supporting our clients’ success, and creating collaborative environments for IBMers worldwide. Working in CHQ and Other Functions means contributing your expertise to a global network that values teamwork, problem-solving, and innovation. You’ll have opportunities to grow your career while helping IBM operate with excellence and scale its impact across industries. With a culture that emphasizes learning, inclusivity, and career development, IBM offers the platform to apply your skills where they matter most. At the heart of our business.