Senior Payroll Manager Jobs in Indiana (NOW HIRING)

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 & Operationsorganization based in Indianapolis.

This role owns end-to-end payrollfor the USand is the process owner for globaltimemanagementand absence. Additionally,therolewill bea keyinfluencerof craftingpayrollstrategiesglobally.

LillyPATT primarilyoperateswithinWorkdayas our core HCM platform.

This is a leadership rolethatwill 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 willimplement an AI-forwardpayrollcapability, drive Workday PATT product excellence, govern third-party vendorrelationshipsand ensure full SOXcomplianceforall payroll cycles.

The ideal candidate brings Workday PATTexpertise,a track recordof redefiningbusinessoperations at scale, and the leadership presence tocontinuouslyelevate teamperformance.

Key Responsibilities

Global Payroll Operations

• Own end-to-end payroll operationsforLillyUSensuring payrollisprocessed accurately, compliantly, and on time.

• Be responsible for equity-related payroll eventsincluding the management of KPMG (our mobile taxation processor), awardprocessing, and special, limited scopepayments.

• Lead payroll readiness and execution for new countryandacquiredcompanylaunches.Leadentity changesincluding 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 ofHR technology, agentic AI, andthedigital employee experienceto boldly streamline operationswhilemaintainingor improvingaccuracy.

• Own and simplifythe PATT technologyportfolio-reducingvendor complexity, retiring legacy tools, and enablingprotocolsacross regions.

• Partner to optimise integrations between Workday and downstreampayroll,finance, benefits, equity administration, and reporting systems.

Vendor & Third-Party Governance

• Develop and drivestrategic vendor relationshipsexample PWC-set clear SLAs, conduct performance reviews, and holdpartners accountable to quality standards.

• Consulton outsourcedpayroll 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 requirementsin the US-maintainingactive 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 payrollfor stock compensationthat incorporatesmulti-jurisdictional taxrequirements.

• 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 professionalsin 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 globalpayrolloperations, includingshown ability to transform and scale.

• Demonstrated Workday Payrollexpertise, 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 recordof 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 tooperatewith 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.

Other Information:

Indy based role - relocation supported.