Sr. Manager, Payroll LATAM

BUILD SOMETHING BIGGER THAN YOURSELF 

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise with the following business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, Disney Parks, and Experiences and Products. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

How you will contribute to our magical experience?

The Payroll Sr. Manager will lead a diverse group of time and payroll resources in their commitment to provide high-quality payroll services across multiple lines of business for countries within the LATAM region of The Walt Disney Company, through the application of effective leadership principles and steadfast customer support to a wide-ranging group of stakeholders.

The Sr. Manager, Payroll will be responsible for:

• Demonstrate strategic leadership for regional payroll team members, developing direct reports and succession plans to mitigate risk to payroll operations.
• Ensure payroll processing functions meet or exceed established Service Level Agreement (SLA) measures, local statutory compliance thresholds, and minimum control standards, whether they are performed by internal team members using SAP or a multi-country payroll outsourcer (MCPO).
• Act as the senior escalation point on all Disney LATAM payroll service issues and support resolution with MCPO vendor as well as timely resolution of payroll-related queries from HR partners and legal entity stakeholders.
• Primary lead supporting continual business evolution through implementation of best practice models/system solutions for five (5) countries across LATAM.
• Ensure employees receive accurate remuneration on the published pay dates, thereby ensuring that the Company meets its contractual obligations.
• Coordinate and carefully maintain relationships between third party payroll providers and Disney internal partners to ensure timely and accurate payroll process.
• Approve monthly, quarterly, annual and other periodicity reports to the management of the Company, local authorities and other recipients.
• Build and sustain positive, productive relationships with internal stakeholders, thereby enabling a collaborative day-to-day business environment.
• Provide analytical support to the Finance/Accounting teams for annual AOP and quarterly forecasts processes.
• Resolve legal entity concerns regarding payroll-related processes.
• Oversee required payments to third parties and ensure statutory deadlines are met.
• Oversee and ensure payroll compliance in accordance with Audit SOX controls and procedures. Provide Human Resources (HR) and Finance partners with payroll-related audit support.
• Troubleshoot Workday technical issues at a high level, ensuring improvements and efficiencies.
• Manage regional budgets and partner with Finance for forecasting costs.
• Manage and analyze SLA and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for MCPO vendors.

Operational Lead

• Oversee Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) and Long-Term Incentive Compensation (LTIC) payments for local and country transfers.
• Support defining local technical and functional requirements as required
• Manage LATAM-specific MCPO agreements and billing to ensure compliance.
• Facilitate payroll involvement with global and local initiatives, as appropriate.
• Strategic support for ongoing payroll operations and team members.
• Pursue root cause analysis and resolution resulting from internal and external service failures.
• Drive adoption of best practices/processes/systems across countries. Share best practices with regional peers in pursuit of potential global improvement opportunities.
• Serve as escalation point for stakeholders and leaders across the LATAM region.
• Identify and manage appropriate relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and authorities/bodies for the benefit of the business.
• Provide advice and direction regarding payroll-related processes, compliance, and best practices/processes.
• Facilitate collaboration between local payroll teams and other global/regional functional teams to implement new programs/initiatives, resolve issues, and share solutions.
• Ensure consistency in compliance with SOX and Internal Controls.

Experience:

• Significant experience managing multiple payroll teams within a large, highly complex, multi-national employer.
• Expertise in financial operations, payroll, payroll tax and wage and hour compliance requirements.
• Strong knowledge of payroll practices, regulations, and taxes across a broad spectrum of countries within LATAM.
• Experience supporting MCPO-supported payroll models.
• Ability to work independently, act with absolute discretion and maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Proven ability to drive transformational change and lead change management.
• Proven experience of reviewing and developing payroll procedures and policies.

Skills & Competencies:

• Ability to lead a regional Payroll team of diverse team members, including the establishment of team and individual objectives.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills; keen awareness of emotional intelligence and the ability to build/sustain strong working relationships with other business functions.
• Flexible and able to adapt, evolve and grow with the business.
• Excellent interpersonal skills - Treats people with respect; is approachable, open & direct; able to develop effective working relationships with team members. 
• Advanced level of English is a must.
• Outstanding decision-making skills.
• Experienced project management skills.
• Possesses a flexible approach to work; able to adapt to dynamic business requirements.
• Strong focus in customer service.
• Unquestionable integrity; diplomatic, discreet and confidential.
• Demonstrable interest/knowledge of information systems.
• High attention to detail with good analytical and numeracy skills.

Additional Information:

At Disney, we believe it takes great people to create memorable experiences, products and services our consumers know and love. We are a team of storytellers and hire under equal opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability and gender identity. We foster a corporate culture of belonging and inclusiveness, which empowers our staff and company to thrive. At Disney, everyone has the opportunity to speak up and participate, grow and share ideas.

“You can design and create and build the most wonderful place in the world. But it takes people to make the dream a reality.” Walt Disney