Why This Job is Featured on The SaaS Jobs
### Why this Role is Featured on The SaaS Jobs
Global payroll is increasingly a product problem in SaaS, not only an operations function. This role sits at that intersection inside a platform built for distributed work, where payroll accuracy depends on how well workflows, data models, and compliance logic are translated into reliable software. The remit spans multi-country complexity and internal product ownership, a combination that reflects how mature SaaS companies operationalise regulated domains.
For SaaS career development, the standout value is learning to run programs that are inseparable from the underlying system. Managing audits, M&A integrations, reporting, and controls while shaping a multi-quarter technology roadmap builds a toolkit that transfers across fintech, HR tech, and other compliance-heavy SaaS categories. The emphasis on analytics, validation, and governance also maps closely to how SaaS organisations scale operational trust as customer volume and regulatory exposure grow.
The section above is editorial commentary from The SaaS Jobs, provided to help SaaS professionals understand the role in a broader industry context.
Job Description
Who we are is what we do.
Deel is the all-in-one payroll and HR platform for global teams. Our vision is to unlock global opportunity for every person, team, and business. Built for the way the world works today, Deel combines HRIS, payroll, compliance, benefits, performance, and equipment management into one seamless platform. With AI-powered tools and a fully owned payroll infrastructure, Deel supports every worker type in 150+ countries—helping businesses scale smarter, faster, and more compliantly.
Among the largest globally distributed companies in the world, our team of 7,000 spans more than 100 countries, speaks 74 languages, and brings a connected and dynamic culture that drives continuous learning and innovation for our customers.
Why should you be part of our success story?
As the fastest-growing Software as a Service (SaaS) company in history, Deel is transforming how global talent connects with world-class companies – breaking down borders that have traditionally limited both hiring and career opportunities. We're not just building software; we're creating the infrastructure for the future of work, enabling a more diverse and inclusive global economy. In 2024 alone, we paid $11.2 billion to workers in nearly 100 currencies and provided healthcare and benefits to workers in 109 countries—ensuring people get paid and protected, no matter where they are.
Our momentum is reflected in our achievements and customer satisfaction: CNBC Disruptor 50, Forbes Cloud 100, Deloitte Fast 500, and repeated recognition on Y Combinator’s top companies list – all while maintaining a 4.83 average rating from 15,000 reviews across G2, Trustpilot, Captera, Apple and Google.
Your experience at Deel will be a career accelerator. At the forefront of the global work revolution, you'll tackle complex challenges that impact millions of people's working lives. With our momentum—backed by a $17.3 billion valuation and $1 B in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) in just over five years—you'll drive meaningful impact while building expertise that makes you a sought-after leader in the transformation of global work.
Role Purpose
The Global Payroll Programs & Product Manager is a hybrid role responsible for driving global payroll programs and serving as the technical owner for Deel’s internal payroll product from within the Payroll organization.
This role bridges Payroll Operations, Product, and Payroll Technology, ensuring the Deel Payroll product is correctly configured, production-ready, and capable of supporting accurate, compliant payroll at scale. The role leads global payroll programs (audits, M&A, compliance, reporting) while partnering closely with Product and Engineering to design, prioritize, and deliver payroll system solutions rooted in real operational needs.
What You’ll Do
Product Subject Matter Expertise (Deel Payroll)
Become the definitive payroll product subject matter expert for the Deel Payroll suite.
Deeply understand internal payroll workflows and PRM operational pain points to translate them into technical and functional system requirements.
Payroll Program Management
Partner with the Global Payroll Director to define payroll program strategy, priorities, and delivery roadmaps.
Lead global payroll programs across regions (NA, EMEA, LATAM, APAC), including audits, compliance initiatives, M&A integrations, and global reporting.
Develop and manage end-to-end program plans including scope, milestones, risks, dependencies, and delivery timelines.
Establish scalable payroll governance, documentation standards, and operating models to support growth.
Coordinate cross-functional initiatives with PMO where appropriate, while retaining payroll subject-matter ownership.
Continuously identify payroll process friction points and champion automation to reduce manual intervention and improve data integrity.
Payroll Product & Technical Ownership (Deel Payroll)
Serve as the primary Payroll Product owner from the Payroll organization for the Deel Payroll product.
Develop and maintain a multi-quarter payroll technology roadmap focused on reliability, scalability, and system stability.
Partner with Payroll, Benefits, Finance, Compliance, Product, and Engineering to identify system gaps and design technical solutions.
Translate payroll operational and regulatory requirements into clear functional and technical requirements for the Deel Payroll product.
Partner with Product and Engineering to prioritize payroll system enhancements, fixes, and integrations based on business risk and operational impact.
Review payroll system configuration, calculation logic, and business processes to ensure accurate data flow and payroll outcomes.
Lead and support payroll system upgrades and enhancements, including prioritization, functional design, documentation, testing, validation, deployment, and support model definition.
Perform system analysis across legacy, acquired, and Deel payroll platforms to support integration planning, timelines, and execution.
Build payroll analytics capabilities to support decision-making and measure program effectiveness.
Data, Reporting & Validation
Build and maintain standard and custom payroll reports to support operations, audits, reconciliations, analytics, and decision-making.
Own complex data extracts, reconciliations, and validation activities across large, high-risk payroll datasets.
Design and implement payroll validation controls to ensure data is correctly interpreted and processed by the system.
Partner with Payroll Operations to ensure reporting, analytics, and controls meet day-to-day operational needs.
Issue Resolution & Operational Enablement
Act as a senior escalation point for complex payroll system issues, troubleshooting root causes and driving resolution in partnership with Engineering and Product.
Own the end-to-end lifecycle for payroll feature requests and defects, including prioritization, tracking, and resolution.
Lead enablement and training to ensure payroll teams are prepared for system releases.
Investigate system defects, calculation errors, and data issues quickly and thoroughly to minimize payroll impact.
Provide technical guidance and support to internal payroll teams to improve system usage, data quality, and operational confidence.
Ensure payroll systems are production-ready prior to rollout, expansion, or material change.
Risk, Compliance & Security
Embed SOX controls, compliance requirements, and risk mitigation into payroll system design and payroll programs.
Support internal and external audits by owning payroll system documentation, data validation, and evidence preparation.
Collect, document, and maintain payroll system security and access requirements, ensuring appropriate user-level access controls.
Proactively identify payroll system and process risks and drive remediation plans before issues impact payroll delivery.
Qualifications & Experience
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, HR, or a related field.
7+ years of global payroll experience in complex, multi-country environments.
Strong experience owning or influencing payroll systems, products, or technical payroll implementations.
Deep understanding of global payroll compliance, taxation, and statutory requirements.
Hands-on experience with payroll systems, configurations, integrations, and data validation.
Experience leading cross-functional initiatives involving Product, Engineering, and Operations.
Experience supporting audits, controls, and regulatory compliance frameworks.
Skills & Competencies
Strong payroll systems , analytics, and product mindset with the ability to translate business needs into technical solutions.
Excellent program and project management skills with a track record of delivering complex initiatives.
Highly analytical with strong reconciliation, validation, and problem-solving skills.
Skilled at building reports, dashboards, and analytics to monitor payroll accuracy and program effectiveness.
Clear, confident communicator with the ability to influence technical and non-technical stakeholders.
High ownership, accountability, and bias toward action.
Comfortable operating in ambiguity and stabilizing imperfect systems.
Effective in a fully remote, global environment across time zones.
Total Rewards
Our workforce deserves fair and competitive pay that meets them where they are. With scalable benefits, rewards, and perks, our total rewards programs reflect our commitment to inclusivity and access for all.
Some things you’ll enjoy
Stock grant opportunities dependent on your role, employment status and location
Additional perks and benefits based on your employment status and country
The flexibility of remote work, including optional WeWork access
At Deel, we’re an equal-opportunity employer that values diversity and positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, pregnancy or maternity or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
Unless otherwise agreed, we will communicate with job applicants using Deel-specific emails, which include @deel.com and other acquired company emails like @payspace.com and @paygroup.com. You can view the most up-to-date job listings at Deel by visiting our careers page.
Deel is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace that reflects different abilities, backgrounds, beliefs, experiences, identities and perspectives.
Deel will provide accommodations on request throughout the recruitment, selection and assessment process for applicants with disabilities. If you require accommodations, please inform our Talent Acquisition Team via this link and a team member will be in touch to ensure your equal participation. If you have difficulty accessing the form, please email at recruiting@deel.com.
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