Job Description

Title: Director, Global Payroll
Salary: $140,000–$180,000

Industry: Real Estate

A global real estate firm is hiring a Director, Global Payroll to lead U.S. and international payroll operations from its San Diego office. This strategic individual contributor role blends day-to-day payroll oversight with high-level planning, compliance, and process improvement. Ideal candidates have deep experience with multi-country payrolls, payroll tax law, and cross-functional collaboration.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning & Leadership

• Develop and execute a long-term payroll strategy aligned with business goals

• Streamline payroll processes, implement automation, and enhance internal controls

• Serve as the go-to expert for payroll compliance, taxation, and international regulations

• Partner with HR, Finance, Legal, and Treasury teams on compensation, tax, and audit matters

Payroll Oversight

• Manage end-to-end payroll processing for 400+ employees across 20+ U.S. states

• Coordinate international payroll (U.K. and Netherlands) through external vendors

• Review and approve payroll tax filings, reconciliations, and benefit-related deductions

• Ensure accurate handling of employee changes, garnishments, and incentive payments

• Maintain payroll documentation and support internal/external audits

• Generate regular and ad hoc payroll reports for leadership

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of payroll experience, including strong knowledge of California and global payroll laws

• 5+ years in a leadership or managerial payroll role

• Experience managing international payrolls (specifically U.K. and Netherlands)

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field (or equivalent experience)

• Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) required; international certification preferred

• Workday experience strongly preferred; advanced Excel skills required

• Strong understanding of payroll systems, compliance standards, and audit support

• Ability to work independently in a dynamic, cross-functional environment

Compensation includes a competitive base salary, annual discretionary bonus, and eligibility for equity awards. Final package will be determined based on experience, skill set, and internal alignment.

Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply.

EEO Notice

Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR@vaco.com .

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal .

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries (“we,” “our,” or “Vaco by Highspring”) respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here .
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here .
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here .
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here .
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here .

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

• the individual’s skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations;
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.

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