Payroll Manager, Americas

Payroll Manager, Americas

Location: San Jose, Costa Rica.

The Payroll Manager leads a team of Payroll Coordinators and Time Experts, managing payroll and time processes supported by third-party payroll providers. This role is accountable for ensuring timely, compliant, and accurate payroll delivery across the assigned countries and for overseeing payroll governance, vendor performance, and continuous process improvement. The Payroll Manager collaborates with internal and external stakeholders and contributes to strategic projects related to payroll transformation, compliance, and employee experience. The post holder will be responsible for team management and development and driving SLA and case management compliance, reporting back to the Head of HR Services Americas. The position will also be first point of contact for regional escalations and technical queries, attending vendor performance reviews and initiate payroll change requests.

What you will get:

• An agile career and dynamic working culture.

• An inclusive and ethical workplace.

• Compensation programs that recognize high performance.

• A variety of benefits dependent on role and location.

What you will do:

• Lead and develop payroll and benefits teams across Americas to ensure timely, accurate payroll via third-party providers.

• Drives the day-to-day performance of the payroll team by utilizing data and feedback on the service provision

• Motivates and develops the team including attendance, performance, and career development

• Works with Head of HR Services Americas to standardize the process and improve efficiencies within the team and processes; also collaborating with the global teams

• Ensure Managers, employees, and HR community are adequately informed on changes, processes, and tools in the new outsourced payroll environment

• Drive collaboration between global payroll providers, local third-party providers, and Lonza payroll & benefits specialists to ensure any issues are escalated and resolved effectively.

• Lead ad-hoc projects as necessary and perform any other job duties.

What we are looking for:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or related areas.

• Working experience in leading continuous improvement projects.

• Extensive experience in Payroll Operations (Outsourced and In-house) within a shared service center environment.

• Proficient experience in people management with experience managing a team within periods of substantial change.

• U.S. Payroll experience required and LATAM preferred.

• Local finance certificates (IOFM is nice to have).

• Advanced English Level.

About Lonza

At Lonza, our people are our greatest strength. With 30+ sites across five continents, our globally connected teams work together every day to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow. Our core values of Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, Passion and Integrity reflect who we are and how we work together. Everyone’s ideas, big or small, have the potential to improve millions of lives, and that’s the kind of work we want you to be part of.

Innovation thrives when people from all backgrounds bring their unique perspectives to the table. At Lonza, we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you’re ready to help turn our customers’ breakthrough ideas into viable therapies, we look forward to welcoming you on board.

Ready to shape the future of life sciences? Apply now.

Reference: R71930