RTR Service Delivery Lead – Payroll Accounting

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Job Description
The Service Delivery Lead – Global Payroll Accounting is responsible for end-to-end oversight of global payroll accounting service delivery, ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant financial reporting across all regions. This role leads the preparation and review of high-risk and complex payroll journal entries and reconciliations, drives issue resolution initiatives and ensures consistent, high-quality period-end close execution. As a senior leader and critical thinker, the Service Delivery Lead identifies accounting risks, strengthens internal controls, ensures audit readiness, and implements sustainable process improvements. The role oversees daily service delivery performance against SLAs, KPIs, and productivity targets while collaborating closely with Payroll Operations, HR, Finance, Audit, and Tax stakeholders. In addition, the Service Delivery Lead mentors and develops global teams, establishes strong governance and standardization, and drives a culture of accountability, quality, and continuous improvement across the global payroll accounting organization.

• Own end-to-end global payroll accounting service delivery, including governance over reconciliations and journal entry processes across all regions
• Ensure close process, month-end review and flux analysis for payroll accounting is completed accurately and on a timely basis
• Accountable for the staffing and role elevation of the Payroll Accounting team to meet technical expectations and achieve agreed metrics; Lead, coach, and develop global payroll accounting teams, providing direction, escalation support, and performance oversight
• Provide oversight and approval for complex and high-risk payroll-related journals, including unpaid salaries and wages, bonuses and incentives, unused vacation and leave balances, statutory accruals, employer statutory contributions, and other region-specific transactions.
• Lead analysis and resolution of payroll accounting variances globally, including timekeeping vs. GL discrepancies, hours worked vs. paid, overtime and leave mismatches, payroll output vs. accrual differences, and cost center or wage type mapping issues
• Ensure global compliance with internal financial controls, accounting policies, and external audit requirements, maintaining audit-ready documentation and consistent application of standards
• Drive and govern strategic payroll accounting initiatives to reduce cycle time, eliminate recurring variances, standardize processes, and embed preventive controls and checkpoints across the payroll lifecycle
• Support Finance and Operations providing accurate and timely reports and ad-hoc analysis to aid in decision making
• Partner with Finance, HR, Payroll Operations, Timekeeping, Tax, and Audit teams to ensure accurate, timely, and transparent payroll accounting and reporting worldwide
• Own service delivery performance management, including SLA and KPI reporting, root cause analysis of misses, and execution of action plans to consistently meet or exceed productivity and quality targets

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accountancy, Finance or a related field; advanced degree is an advantage
• 10+ years of progressive experience in finance or accounting within a global or multi-region environment
• Minimum of 5 years in people and service delivery leadership roles, with a strong controllership, governance, and internal controls background
• Deep expertise in global payroll accounting reconciliations and accruals, with hands-on exposure to systems such as Workday, ADP, Oracle, or equivalent platforms; experience in a timesheet/project cost-based environment preferred
• Demonstrated success in leading large-scale process improvement, standardization, and transformation initiatives while strengthening compliance and audit frameworks
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence across Finance, HR, Payroll Operations, and Audit teams globally
• Expertise in SOX and operational compliance in shared services
• CPA or equivalent professional certification preferred

Additional Information
Attributes:

• Excellent executive-level communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to manage sensitive and confidential information across global and regional stakeholders
• Proven leadership capability in leading multi-region teams, managing performance against SLAs and KPIs, and driving operational excellence and efficiency at scale
• Strong analytical and risk-based mindset with a focus on quality, continuous improvement, and consistent delivery against tight close timelines and service level commitments

About AECOM
AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, and service recognition awards.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients' complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2024. Learn more at

What Makes AECOM a Great Place To Work
You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you'll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you've always envisioned. Here, you'll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community—where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.