International Payroll Operations

At OpenAI, payroll is not a back-office function , it is mission-critical infrastructure. We are seeking a seasoned International Payroll lead to scale and continuously improve the global payroll and payroll-support ecosystem that serves one of the fastest-growing and most technically sophisticated organizations in the world.

Responsibilities

• Lead the international payroll processing team and oversee end-to-end payroll delivery across EMEA and APAC, ensuring employees are paid accurately, on time, and in compliance with local requirements.
• Own day-to-day operations with outsourced payroll and BPO partners, including payroll calendars, inputs, reconciliations, service-level performance, quality standards, issue resolution, and escalations.
• Lead the payroll workstream for global expansion and new-country launches, including payroll registrations, in-country vendor setup, implementation, testing, systems integration, and go-live readiness.
• Partner with People, Finance, Tax, Legal, Benefits, Equity, and Treasury teams to ensure accurate upstream inputs, funding, accounting, and downstream reporting.
• Draft and maintain payroll documentation, process maps, operating procedures, and internal controls to support compliance, audit readiness, and business continuity.
• Proactively identify and resolve payroll discrepancies and employee inquiries within SLAs, determine root causes, and implement controls that prevent recurrence.
• Use data, automation, and AI-enabled tools to improve controls, reduce manual work, and increase the scalability and effectiveness of international payroll operations.

Requirements

• 6+ years of progressive experience in international payroll operations, preferably in a fast-paced or high-growth environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading multi-country payroll delivery across EMEA and APAC, including management of outsourced payroll or BPO providers.
• Hands-on experience supporting new-country payroll implementations, vendor onboarding, testing, and systems integrations.
• Hands-on experience using AI tools to enhance, automate, and strengthen payroll workflows and controls.
• Strong working knowledge of international payroll regulations, tax withholding, social insurance, statutory reporting, and standard payroll practices.
• Hands-on experience with Workday HCM and global payroll systems.
• Ability to independently manage priorities, take ownership of outcomes, and deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Clear and concise communication skills, with the ability to partner effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, HR, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.