Position Summary
Eli Lilly and Company is seeking a Senior Director, Payroll, Time Tracking & Absence (PATT) to lead one of the most operationally critical functions within our global HR Technology & Operations organization based in Indianapolis.
This role owns end-to-end payroll for the USand is the process owner for global time management and absence. Additionally, the role will be a key influencer of crafting payroll strategies globally.
Lilly PATT primarily operates within Workday as our core HCM platform.
This is a leadership role that will work at the intersection of people, technology, and financial integrity — partnering closely with Finance, Legal, Global Mobility, and our broader HR leadership team to transform, streamline and automate PATT capabilities.
The Senior Director will implement an AI-forward payroll capability, drive Workday PATT product excellence, govern third-party vendor relationships and ensure full SOX compliance for all payroll cycles.
The ideal candidate brings Workday PATT expertise, a track record of redefining business operations at scale, and the leadership presence to continuously elevate team performance.
Key Responsibilities
Global Payroll Operations
- Own end-to-end payroll operations for Lilly US ensuring payroll is processed accurately, compliantly, and on time.
- Be responsible for equity-related payroll events including the management of KPMG (our mobile taxation processor), award processing, and special, limited scope payments.
- Lead payroll readiness and execution for new country and acquired company launches. Lead entity changes including regulatory setup, vendor selection, and integration into Lilly's global payroll framework.
- Serve as the senior customer concern point for sophisticated cross-border, multi-jurisdictional, and executive-level payroll matters.
- Maintain and continuously improve payroll governance, controls, and audit readiness — including full SOX compliance payroll accounting practices.
HR Technology & AI Transformation
- Lead the strategic product roadmap for Workday Payroll, Time Tracking, and Absence — including feature adoption, configuration governance, release planning, and improvements.
- Lead the marketplace in the use of HR technology, agentic AI, and the digital employee experience to boldly streamline operations while maintaining or improving accuracy.
- Own and simplify the PATT technology portfolio — reducing vendor complexity, retiring legacy tools, and enabling protocols across regions.
- Partner to optimise integrations between Workday and downstream payroll, finance, benefits, equity administration, and reporting systems.
Vendor & Third-Party Governance
- Develop and drive strategic vendor relationships example PWC — set clear SLAs, conduct performance reviews, and hold partners accountable to quality standards.
- Consult on outsourced payroll service agreements, ensuring cost-effectiveness and service excellence for all Lilly markets.
- Partner with Procurement and Legal on contract renewals, critical issue frameworks, and vendor risk management.
Compliance, Risk & Financial Integrity
- Ensure compliance with employment tax regulations, labour laws, and data privacy requirements in the US — maintaining active awareness of regulatory changes.
- Lead payroll's contribution to year-end financial close and external reporting, including MD&A readiness, 401(k) audit support, and payroll-driven disclosures.
- Be responsible for payroll for stock compensation that incorporates multi-jurisdictional tax requirements.
- Maintain robust internal controls and coordinate with Internal Audit and external auditors on SOX testing and payroll-related control assessments.
Team Leadership & Capability Development
- Lead, develop, and inspire a team of PATT professionals in the US — cultivating a culture of ownership, continuous improvement, and psychological safety.
- Model the leadership philosophy of HRTO — removing barriers, granting permission, and enabling the team to perform at their highest level.
Stakeholder Partnership & Executive Engagement
- Partner closely with Finance, Legal, Compensation, Benefits, Global Mobility, and HR Business Partners to ensure payroll supports Lilly's broader people and business agenda.
- Represent PATT in enterprise-level programmes including M&A activity, system implementations, and compensation policy changes.
- Prepare and present executive-level reporting on payroll operations, compliance posture, risk indicators, and pivotal initiatives to HRTO and CFO-area leadership.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, or a related field.
- 10+ years experience in global payroll operations, including shown ability to transform and scale.
- Demonstrated Workday Payroll expertise, with strong solid understanding of Time Tracking and Absence modules.
- Proficiency in SOX compliance, GAAP payroll accounting, and multi-jurisdictional employment tax and labour law.
- Track record of leading payroll transformation initiatives — including system implementations, process automation, and AI-enabled improvements.
- Experience in a large global public company (Fortune 500 equivalent), ideally in life sciences, technology, or a similarly regulated industry.
- Qualified applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Lilly will not provide support for or sponsor work authorization or visas for this role, including but not limited to
- F-1 CPT, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, J-1, H-1B, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, or L-1.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree (MBA, MSHR) preferred.
- Workday certification preferred.
- Shown experience leading large-scale payroll vendor relationships (e.g., ADP, third-party country payroll providers).
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP) designation.
- Exceptional customer engagement skills — able to operate with credibility across Finance, Legal, HR, and executive leadership.
- Experience with equity and stock-based compensation payroll across multiple tax jurisdictions.
- Prior experience with Workday Orchestrate, RPA tools, or AI-driven payroll automation.
- Familiarity with KPMG, EQ (Equatex), ADP Workforce Now, and Experian as payroll ecosystem partners.
- Experience leading payroll through M&A integrations, entity expansions, or significant organisational transformation.
$154,500 - $226,600