Associate Director, Payroll

Join a Legacy of Innovation 125 Years and Counting!

Daiichi Sankyo Group is dedicated to the creation and supply of innovative pharmaceutical therapies to improve standards of care and address diversified, unmet medical needs of people globally by leveraging our world-class science and technology. With more than 125 years of scientific expertise and a presence in more than 20 countries, Daiichi Sankyo and its 18,000 employees around the world draw upon a rich legacy of innovation and a robust pipeline of promising new medicines to help people. In addition to a strong portfolio of medicines for cardiovascular diseases, under the Group’s 2025 Vision to become a “Global Pharma Innovator with Competitive Advantage in Oncology,” Daiichi Sankyo is primarily focused on providing novel therapies in oncology, as well as other research areas centered around rare diseases and immune disorders.   

Summary

The Payroll Head is responsible for leading and managing all aspects of Payroll for close to 2,000 employees and supporting the strategic payroll needs of a company poised for continued growth. These responsibilities will include management of all day-to-day payroll operations and activities for all US (multi-state) and Canada regions, ensuring compliance with company policies and statutory regulations. This position will be responsible for providing exceptional client service to the employee population, promptly addressing all related queries and concerns, and streamlining and improving our payroll and accounting processes to ensure "best in class" services. This person is instrumental in identifying strategic initiatives to support changing payroll tax regulations and supporting a complex array of tax and deduction calculations for existing locations and future growth and expansion, while managing a team of two in a fast-paced, rapidly growing environment. This role will be responsible for managing multiple vendor relationships, internal and external auditors and payroll and tax providers. The individual will also effectively interface and liaise with Human Resources, Finance & Accounting, Tax, Compliance and Legal team members to ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory, accounting, tax and internal requirements. This person leads the timely and accurate delivery of payroll services and is responsible for maintaining the payroll system and related technologies.

Responsibilities

Manages all payroll supporting processes and controls which include:

Provides audit support for internal and external auditors. Ensures State and federal agencies inquiries and other reporting requirements are met. Provides information to other internal departments where deemed appropriate.

Develop project plans and manages the Year-End payroll project activities with the Payroll, HR, IT, and Finance members. Ensures all activities are performed according to the plan that results in the issuance of accurate and timely W-2 information to all employees and tax authorities.

Maintaining and updating all processes and procedures for the Payroll department. Ensures that all internal controls and documented procedures are created and followed. Benchmark process by developing and maintaining payroll measurements and scorecards. Performs transaction error analysis and initiates best practices and process improvement activities were warranted.

Functions as the primary contact for interactions with the primary payroll business partner vendor - ADP. Follows up directly with the partner to resolve any issues and escalates to executive management if required. Responsible renewing contract terms and reviewing and approving invoices according to the terms of the contract

Oversees and direct staff to appropriately handle employee and other inquiries for the department. Manages and monitors the help desk support tool to ensure inquiries are timely and successfully resolved. Manages context on the Payroll intranet site. Provides payroll training for all new employees.

Responsible for overseeing all the record keeping activities for the department which are maintained electronically. Administers information confidentiality principles by enforcing restricted access to the payroll area and files, directs staff to destroy confidential information according to the record retention policies, limits authorizations to the payroll and time attendance systems.

Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies. Regularly disseminates this knowledge to the payroll staff.

Oversees wage garnishment requirements by completing forms; adjusting payroll records, documenting and transmitting withholdings; negotiating with collection agencies to convert garnishments to wage assignments.

Closely works will the Equity Team to manage a complex process to properly pay and tax LTI awards
- Oversees and manages staff to accurately and timely process all payroll runs. Reviews and verifies the pay, payroll taxes, and deductions for each payroll. Manages and approves the payment processing for each payroll. Establishes project plans and calendars for the payroll activities and directs and monitor staff members of their actions during the payroll cycles. Ensures the data files transmitted by the various upstream systems (Workday, T Rowe Price, Business Solver, SAP ERP) are correctly processed. Responsible for processing the GL payroll and accrual interfaces for Accounting. Prepares and distributes reports. Initiates investigations and performs corrective adjustments as required.

- Oversees and directs staff to configure, maintain and support the Payroll and Time and Attendance systems. Ensures the systems are appropriately configured and maintained. Manages the employee data management processes. Ensures the HR master data is transmitted to the Payroll and Time and Attendance systems is correctly processed and all other employee data elements are properly maintained. Support and maintain the PTO time interface to the RD Project Time system. Works closely with IT, HR, Equity, Accounting and Payroll professionals to implement new enhancements and modifications as required. Remain current on system developments within the industry and provide direction to company management for improvement where applicable. Develops and supports RPA automation processes for highly repetitive activities

- Key payroll contact for the 401k and Executive Savings Plan administrator - T.Rowe Price. Ensure all file transfers are processed correctly and acts as the conduct point to address inaccuracies and performs corrective actions. Closely monitors deferred compensation, Executive savings, and 401k plans to ensure amounts are correct. Directs quarterly audits to confirm all the T Rowe Price system data reconciles with the payroll system. Responsible for providing key support for the annual 401K (5500) audit and ensure all deadlines are met. Regularly leads audit support activities for Federal and State audits as well as Internal and Tax audits.

- Responsible to effectively coach, manage, and provide ongoing feedback to direct reports through formal and informal discussions. Activities include all necessary employee HR processes including objective setting sessions, Mid-Year Assessments, Year-End Assessments. Leads an employee development planning with each direct report. Sustains the payroll staff by recruiting, selecting, orienting, and training employees.

Qualifications: Successful candidates will be able to meet the qualifications below with or without a reasonable accommodation.

Education Qualifications (from an accredited college or university)

- Bachelor's Degree required
- Certified Payroll Professional (CPP); or the candidate possesses significant domain experience with the DSI payroll operations preferred
- ADP Vantage Certifications preferred

Experience Qualifications

- 7 or More Years of progressive payroll experience required
- ADP Payforce\Vantage and eTime expertise required
- SAP and Workday Experience preferred

Travel

Ability to travel up to 5%. No travel requirements except for attending User Group Meetings or Payroll Conferences

Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.